Description

Below is a summary of issue #181-183, published Sept-Dec 2018 and Jan-Feb 2019. This issue is available for purchase online by clicking “Add to Cart” below.

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Featured in This Issue

On-Premise Wine Forecast & What’s Trending in Wine On-Premise

What lies ahead in 2019 on-premise? We have some thoughts and observations. And we single out 7 wine categories that are thriving…

Is Red Bordeaux Rising On-Premise?

We taste 80 leading wines from the celebrated vintage, and recommend 74. Of these, 21 wines receive 5-star ratings—i.e., exemplary wines in their price categories—one wine each from Listrac-Medoc, Moulis-en-Medoc, and Pomerol; two wines each from St. Estephe and St. Julien; three wines each from Margaux and Pessac-Leognan; and eight from St. Emilion. We also taste 46 wines from the good—but lesser—2013 vintage, and find more than a dozen wines that truly impress.

Conversations with New Master Sommeliers

In the US in 2018, seven persons earned the prestigious Master Sommelier title. We speak with five of them:

• Morgan Harris, MS, Angler, San Francisco, California
• Dana Gaiser, MS, Fine Wine Sales, Lauber Imports, Ltd., New York, New York
• Maximilian Kast, MS, Broadbent Selections, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• Douglas Kim, MS, Sommelier, Picasso, Bellagio, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Steven McDonald, MS, Wine Director, Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, Houston, Texas

Harris passed in September. The others in December.

An Extraordinary Range of Top Wines Recommended:
775 Wines from 14 Countries Reviewed

USA

• Very fine 2016 Chardonnays
• 2017 Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Gris, and Roses
• Wonderful Cabernet Sauvignons & Merlot, from Napa to Washington State
• Superb 2015 & 2016 Pinot Noirs, with a focus on Russian River Valley
• Rhone-style blends & varietals
• Petite Sirah, from Monterey to St. Helena

Special Report: Wines of Montefalco

Outstanding white and red wines from this noted district in Umbria, including some of the best Rossos we have tasted.

Other Highlights:

Great values from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, and Uruguay.

• Fine Australian Shirazs
• Inniskillin Icewines
• 2016 White Burgundy
• 2016 Cru Beaujolais
• 2015 Rhone Valley reds
• Tokaj Estate Furmints
• Top Brunellos
• Top Barolos & Barbarescos
• Great Gimblett Gravels reds
• Outstanding Douro reds
• Exceptional Riojas