Robert Michel

• February 2013

  France may have established that the grapes of Bordeaux go very well together, but that essential blend can now be found in excellent wines worldwide, from South Africa to Washington State.California does particularly well with the black grapes of Bordeaux: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. California Bordeaux ... Read More

  From the article Top 15 California Bordeaux Blend Wines Under $125

  
  
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  January 2013

  Robert Michel Cornas la Geynale 2000

  Snoothrank:

  No written review

  Wine review by Barberolo

  
  

• September 2012

  As a Californian, I have felt the loss of such old names as Almaden, Christian Brothers and Inglenook.  (OK, I guess Almaden still exists as a mocking shell of its former being.  OK, I know it never was great, but their bottles did have corks.  Maybe I am the only person who feels a sense of loss of Almaden.)  Another of the old abused names is ... Read More

  Forum post in the topic Buena Vista Winery

  
  

• March 2012

  Wanting to refresh my memory on certain French vintages in the Rhône Valley I came across (as I often do) the Robert Parker Vintage Chart.  Parker includes vintages from 1970 through 2010 on his website and scores them on the usual 100 point scale.  He claims that scores of 70-79 are "average" while those of 80-89 are "above average to excellent... Read More

  Forum post in the topic Robert Parker's Vintage Ratings

  
  

• October 2010

  Just released, a 60-page French comic book brings up the same "Mondovino type" of attacks against Robert Parker, Michel Rolland, les Garagistes and modernists in general... I have read it, and found it funny, but also not to be taken too seriously (of course, it is but a comic book). But it got me thinking - yet again - about modernism and tradi... Read More

  Forum post in the topic Parker's Seven 'heady' sins:...

  
  

• August 2010

  Last October, I purchased a cellar to store my homemade wines and to give me the ability to store and age some commercial wines.  Though I consider what I do with my commercial wines "collecting", the wines I'm purchasing and aging don't really fall into what most deem "collectible" wines.  I don't spend $300 on a bottle of wine.  I rarely spend... Read More

  Forum post in the topic Building a cellar of wines...

  
  

• April 2010

  Recently tried Esser Zinfandel American Canyon Napa County-2005 at just under $8 a bottle.  Great "cheap" Zin.  I would love to hear from others about this or your favorite under $10 bottle.   Read More

  Forum post in the topic Your favorite under $10 a...

  
  

• January 2010

  Here's an article I just ran across that points to an issue that has been looming larger for several years now:http://www.napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/wine/columnists/dan-berger/article_704bc688-0712-11df-a231-001cc4c002e0.htmlThe sentiments in it have been expressed several times on these boards. GregDP has moaned recently... Read More

  Forum post in the topic What's wrong with California...

  
  

• December 2009

  This week I interviewed a local wine maker here in Western Pennsylvania for my podcast. He makes all of his wines from hybrid grapes because they grow best here in Western PA. His logic is that pretty much once a decade we have a winter cold enough to kill vitis vinifera grapes and they would never be able to reach their full potential here. Do ... Read More

  Forum post in the topic Hybrids vs. vitis vinifera

  
  
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  December 2009

  Château Cos d'Estournel Red Bordeaux Blend St. Estèphe 2005

  Snoothrank:

  Robert Parker 98 PointsWhile I am not convinced the 2005 Cos d'Estournel will eclipse the compelling 2003 Cos, it is unquestionably another superb classic from proprietor Michel Reybier and his brilliant winemaker, Jean-Guillaume Prats. Made from an unusually high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%) and the balance mostly Merlot with a tiny d... Read More

  Wine review by garyswine

  
  

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