aka Wine Steve

Stunning dessert wines in Rust. A great winery tour to boot!

Blaufränkinsch is a beautiful grape found mainly in Austria. Spicy, bold, tannic- it has structure and aging capacity. It's also the father of Zweigelt, another Central European grape that flies under the American radar. Delicious and affordable. Get some...

Lagrein is native to the Alto-Adige. Rich, tannic, spicy... I wish we had more to choose from at home.

Easygoing, delicious and well balanced. Dornfelder needs more respect- it's a very versatile grape that is low in tannins, juicy and tasty. When in Germany....€8 per bottle.

No tasting notes, just delicious wine paired with Beef cheeks. Munich has some great alternatives to beer and pretzels!

My Oktoberfest pose

I know it's a little early in the season, but the Glühwein was calling. Glockenspiel watching in Munich's town square.

I could show you pics of Oktoberfest beers, but will regale you with a very reasonably priced red we enjoyed pre-dinner in the hotel in Munich.

I've had this before, but this time it was slightly more austere. Grenache and Syrah with no oak treatment. It's also a bit astringent on the back end, but decent with a meal. $25

Spent the weekend teaching on the Chesapeake.

Agreed. There’s the classic Bordeaux style, the Loire versions and of course the Kiwi full-on styles. They do nice Rieslings up in the FLX, that’s where it’s at.

A subtle approach to Sauvignon Blanc, from the Finger Lakes that runs $17. I think I enjoyed it more at the winery.

Italian Chardonnay, even as a blend, is really growing on me. Unoaked, without MLF, it’s a delicious representation of the grape. This one ran me $18 and warrants 91 points.

Cambozola cheese- a cross between Camembert and Gorgonzola. What could be better? Adding a drop of Port, that's what.

A good buddy came over for dinner, we started with Manhattans. The rest is history... #bordeaux #port

I've had several vintages of this blend from Lebanon, each one seems to get better. Grenache Noir, Cinsault and Tempranillo- an interesting combo that gives me more dark fruit (some say red), medium (+) tannins that are grippy, along with juicy acidity. $19

Saperavi is a teinturier grape , found mainly in Georgia. Pink flesh and dark skins make for a brooding ruby wine. This one has delightful chalky tannins, black fruit and deft oak. $18 and 91 points

Indeed- it was more like happy 4 hours!

A few bottles we cracked open for Friday night Happy Hour. The host was pretty generous. My Beringer showed nicely but the Giscours was the WOTN.

Had a spectacular meal at Coral in Greenville, SC where we drank this Burgundy from Bichot. Retailing at $55, we paid just shy of a Benji, making it a 'deal' at restaurant pricing. I would give it 90 points and think it will develop over time.

Malbec for our cocktail hour last night. Super smooth, easy to drink yet showing some nice complexity.

Not sure I love this Nebbiolo- kinda thin. My friends enjoyed so there’s that…..

I usually love every Gran Reserva I buy, but this one is lacking depth and complexity. It's just alright, not worth the money I paid.

Well hello there little beauty. I love this winery, and the '19 is opening up nicely. Paired it with Ribeye Cap steaks.

I loved the '21 Single Vineyard Turtles Malagouzia, have not had other vintages but I expect there will be consistency from them.

Monastrell, aka Mourvèdre, is usually a gamy and spicy red with high tannins. It's usually blended with Grenache and Syrah to make a GSM, or used in rosè production. This bottle happens to be a consistent overperformer that can be had for under $15. It's not 93 points worth, perhaps 90-91.

Zinfandel is a lovely grape, also known as Primitivo in Italy and Crljenak Kaštelanski in its native Croatia. Silky smooth, with lowish tannins and usually very ripe fruit. Seghesio has been a consistent performer in making Zins affordable and delicious. $18 for this beauty at Costco.

Labor Day was fun. We sailed and ate dinner at a riverside Tapas joint. I cherish my time working as a union leader and hope people understand what this holiday is all about.

I was not a huge fan of this wine when I first bought a case but it has evolved nicely over the years and is finally decent. Not great, just decent.

I bought a few different bottles of Italian Chardonnay after our trip to Tuscany. This one is delicious. The acidity builds, the oak is restrained and I doubt there has been any MLF. It's a balanced beauty- 91 points and $28.