By Jeff Patten
Should the great white wines of Campania be aged? Well, that depends on the grape variety. A top-quality Falanghina can use just a year or two in the cellar to...
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By Jeff Patten
Super Tuscans have earned their place among Italy’s greatest wines, but critics often label them “international” — a backhanded compliment suggesting they lack true Tuscan soul. After all, these wines...
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By Jeff Patten
Yvon Metras has long been Beaujolais' elusive man of mystery. To French winemakers (and drinkers) he is, along with neighbors Lapierre and Foillard, one of the "fathers of natural wine".
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By Jeff Patten
There’s a little-known spot in the middle of Sicily with incredible viticultural treasures. Feudo Montoni's vines are isolated from the rest of the island's viticulture, a small oasis of vineyards...
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By Jeff Patten
In 2022, Domaine Lafarge-Vial produced simply sensational Cru Beaujolais. These are deep, finally balanced wines with a deliciously rich fruitiness that makes these a lot of fun to drink now....
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By Jeff Patten
Jean-François Jacouton became the next generation to own some very special parcels of vines in Saint-Joseph back in 2003. He grew up among those vines, helping his grandfather with the...
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By Jeff Patten
Sangiovese from Tuscany may be the best source of under-$30 red wine in the world. But which Sangiovese exactly? Is it a racy Chianti Classico? An elegant Vino Nobile di...
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By Jeff Patten
For years, producers of Barolo and Barbaresco split into two camps: the modernists and the traditionalists. This dichotomy did consumers no good, as only a small handful of producers managed...
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By Jeff Patten
A few weeks ago we wrote about Ciacci Piccolomini. Ciacci, you may recall if you read the article, was a pioneer in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, a village just to the southeast...
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By Jeff Patten
Nobody makes a lot of Pelaverga and we rarely have much, if any, to offer. Our recent shipment comes from the Castello di Verduno, a property that was split from...
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By Jeff Patten
We've been drinking the wines of Garaudet for many years, and have long admired them for their excellent value. But in our most recent tasting of the wines, something was...
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By Jeff Patten
Chianti — like Beaujolais or Sicily or the Loire Valley — is a region of incredible terroir where you can still actually buy land and start a winery. Thus, we...
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By Jeff Patten
Tiberio is a father, daughter and son team that got started in 2000 when they were excited to come across some very old vines of the heirloom Trebbiano variety known...
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