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by HARVEY FINKEL The immense wine resources of the small country of Portugal remind me of those diminutive circus cars from which issue forth endless numbers of clowns. Technology and sophistication have added finesse to the robust vigor we had come to expect. And while no longer nearly giving wine... Read More

by SANDY BLOCK, MW Rarely dramatic or complex in aroma, Pinot Blanc is nonetheless amongst the most evocative white grape varieties, capable of making wine that is subtle in flavor, soft and gentle in texture, and remarkably versatile with food. It doesn’t shout, it whispers. One of my biggest wine... Read More

by HARVEY FINKEL For those who enjoyed its wines during the decade, 1978-1988, of gustatory and technical successes, Plymouth’s first commercial producer, Commonwealth Winery, is still fondly remembered. Commonwealth was also one of New England’s earliest wineries in the modern era. Financial challenges forced its closure. I would see founding... Read More

by PINK LADY Certain occasions simply call for drinking bubbly: New Year’s Eve, the holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, a wedding toast, Sunday morning, and of course, Valentine’s Day. The Negroni Sbagliato is a drink that came about by accident but is the perfect, rosy-hued sparkling aperitif to... Read More

by PINK LADY As the decadence of the holiday season subsides, many turn to austerity in this first month of the New Year. While we aren’t about that binge-purge lifestyle, there is certainly something to be said for going back to basics and recalibrating in January. For many, this includes... Read More

by HARVEY FINKEL The reigning Queen of Pinot Noir is abdicating. Merry Edwards, thus dubbed for her array of peerless Pinot Noirs grown in a complex of vineyards in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, is stepping down as winemaker at Merry Edwards Winery, in favor of Heidi von der Mehden, her... Read More

by ANDY CROUCH If we know one thing in the beer industry it is that consumer interest works like a pendulum, gradually swinging from one direction to another. The swing in recent years has been a rather extended move towards hoppy beers, whether juicy, hazy, or tropical. We are starting... Read More

by HARVEY FINKEL, MD Oh, they try. How they try. Ever since the first report in biblical times of a benefit, much less a health benefit, derived from drinking alcohol, the idea being so repugnant to some a counterreaction immediately started. There are always some who cannot stand the thought... Read More

by SANDY BLOCK, MW Tasting dozens of Pinot Noirs blind, it’s unmistakable how dramatically individual a story each one tells. The grape is a chameleon. Highly reflective of its specific growing conditions, Pinot requires handling with utmost care, both in the vineyard and the winery. Its thin skins bruise easily... Read More