Content about Oenology

Chile makes some of the world’s best Cabernet Sauvignons, both actually and potentially, and one of its iconic ones is Concha y Toro’s Don Melchor.  Since 1997, Enrique Tirado has been responsible for making Don Melchor, and, like every other winemaker in the world, he is a good son who first gives praise to the virtues of Mother Vineyard, where, as legend and faith have it, every great wi

For many years now, whenever I see a particular gentleman who is one of the most respected and well-known Master Sommeliers in the country, he quickly gets around to asking me the same question: “What’s new?” Early on, I would always think, “Why is he asking me this? Is this a test to see how smart I am?

What makes the wines of Chateau Beaucastel so wonderful? I’d tasted these wines occasionally in the U.S. and always came away impressed by their unusual combination of power, elegance, and intoxicating spiciness. While teaching a travel writing class for The Writer’s Workshop in Vaison la Romaine, France I finally got a chance to visit the storied property.