Isabella Oddero
Isabella Oddero from the zinfidel on Vimeo. Isabella Oddero of the famed historic Barolo house Oddero speaks about her families wines at Union Square Wines.
Etna and why Sicily is Italy’s most exciting wine region.
I have held for some time now that Sicily is Italy’s most exciting wine region. I am not saying it is the best mind you, just the most exciting. It’s the wild west of Italian wine with the gamut ranging from pioneers like COS to maverick’s like Frank Cornelissen to up and comers like Arianna Occhipinti. ...
Monteraponi Chianti: why it’s like Burgundy, only better.
Monteraponi is not only one of the most up and coming estates in Chianti, but one of the finest. The estate run by Michele Braganti located in Radda in Chianti has been in the family since 1974 but Michele only began making wine in 2003. And in the span of a decade Monteraponi has quickly...
Bordeaux / Brunello / Burgundy / Champagne / Chardonnay / Chianti / France / Italy / Nebbiolo / New York State / Piedmont / Pinot Noir / Rioja / Sangiovese / Spain / Tuscany
Top 10 Wines of 2012
As I reflect back on 2012 I can honestly say that it was my luckiest year yet when it comes to wine. I was fortunate enough to have drunk more great wine more often with more great people than any other year. This is a blessing. And in some ways a curse. Whatever, I have...
Brunello, Now More Than Ever.
After the Brunellogate scandal a few years back and despite the recent criminal tragedy at Soldera, Brunello di Montalcino stands at a moment of renaissance. A second act if you will. With the recent publication of the very fine and wonderfully opinionated book Brunello di Montalcino by Kerin O’Keefe, we may be seeing a lot...
Serralunga Barolo & Governor & Levi Dalton
When you combine a good cause with some of Serralunga’s finest Barolos and Levi Dalton you call it a win, win situation (or is it wine, win?). On a recently chilly New York City night, a group of willing and able folks trekked to Dumbo in order to taste Serralunga’s best Barolo Crus and raise...
Nebbiolo, Fairy Dust, & Unicorns.
Somebody once told me that the difference between Barolo and Burgundy is that Barolo always tastes like Barolo. Well.. I think that’s a load of crap. I can think of no better way to prove this than with two of my favorite Nebbiolo wines which we shared with family this Thanksgiving holiday: Burlotto Monvigliero Barolo...
A Tuscan Wine Dinner & The Meaning of Life
If there is one thing I have learned about wine it’s that wine drunk alone can only be good. To be great it must be drunk with others. This proved true on a recent night when friends new and old came together for a Tuscan wine dinner at Aurora in Brooklyn. I had tried a...
Luca Currado Vietti @ USQ
Luca Currado Vietti from the zinfidel on Vimeo. Luca Currado Vietti is certainly one of the most enthusiastic wine makers one could ever hope to meet. He is also one of the most passionate. He barely took a breath when he spoke to a small crowd recently at Union Square Wines. I have been a...
Barolo Rising Star: Eugenio Bocchino Barolo Lu 2006
After my first introduction to Eugenio Bocchino Langhe Nebbiolo, I was clambering to try their Barolo. And though I might normally lay down a young Barolo, I could not resist sampling the 2006 Eugenio Bocchino Barolo Lu in the name of research. There is not a lot of info out there on this emerging Barolo...
Best Dolcetto Ever: San Fereolo – Dogliani
When’s the last time you drank Dolcetto? Probably Roagna about two years ago for me. I really just have never been that taken with Dolcetto. Perhaps I have not taken it seriously because no one else does. No one else except Nicoletta Bocca of San Fereolo that is. The Dogliani was a recommendation from September...
Barolo / Bordeaux / Burgundy / Cabernet Sauvignon / California / Chardonnay / France / Italy / Jura / Lebanon / Nebbiolo / Piedmont / Pinot Noir
Über Winos Summit: Fall 2012
I live in NYC. Okay, well Brooklyn actually, but you know what I mean. And I have been lucky enough to meet a lot of great people who are involved with wine, be it in the industry or as a consumer, or somewhere in between. So it comes with the territory in a place like...