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2023 Weingut August Kesseler, R Riesling Qualitätswein, Rheingau, Germany.My first visit to the Rhein region of Germany included a wondrous hike through the Niederwald forrest from Rüdesheim to Assmanshausen and…

2000 Château Lafon-Rochet, Saint-Estephe, Grand Cru Classé, Red Bordeaux, France.A big thank you to Tommy Struhm of Le Grand USA, maker of French oak barrels, who kindly shared this 2000…

2024 Domaine Zafeirakis, Assyrtiko, Tyrnavos, Greece.The brightly crisply and Summery Domaine Zafeirakis Assyrtiko, comes, rather than Santerini, from Tyrnavos, which is ocated in the foothills of Mount Olympus, the seat…

2024 Cantine Garrone, Munaloss, Vino Rosso IGT, Piemonte, Italy.I saw, a value priced, small production alpine red from Cantine Garrone available for under $20, and I couldn’t resist, especially coming…

2023 Familie Friedrich Becker, Pinot Blanc, Pfalz, Germany.German Pinot Blanc is a thing, and the Becker Family version is not only an exceptional wine, it is also a fabulous value…

1975 Mirassou, Petite Sirah, Harvest Selection, Monterey County.A big and pleasing surprise the other night was just how good and how remarkably well this bottle of Mirassou Harvest Selection Monterey…

2024 Lady of the Sunshine, Albariño, Bossi Vineyard, San Luis Obispo Coast.One of California’s new cool climate terroirs and AVA, the SLO Coast, is home to some exciting projects, like…

2016 Arnot-Roberts, Pinot Noir, Peter Martin Ray Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains.One of the surprise wines of the night at a recent gathering was this exceptional 2016 Peter Martin Ray Vineyard…

2023 Kuentz-Bas, Riesling, Tradition, Alsace, France.The latest basic Riesling from Kuentz-Bas is a pale gold gem of a wine with lovely aromatics, a dry crisp palate and just enough generosity…

2024 Weingut Bründlmayer, Grüner Veltliner, Terrassen, Kamptal DAC, Austria.Sitting at Nepenthe, the famous burger joint overlooking some of Big Sur’s most beautiful coastline on a summery January day required something…