Best Napa Valley Vintages

Hidden Gem of the Month: Looking for the Best Napa Valley Vintages? The 2013 Scarecrow Has It All

Wine critic Richard Jennings never understood the hype around California cult Cabernet. He admits that these wines are usually ultra-concentrated and flavorful, but, he says, “I also believe the great majority of wines in this category are hardly deserving of the stratospheric prices and disproportionate attention they have received over the years.” However, that was…

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Knowing a Good Wine

Knowing a Good Wine from the Price Tag: Just Because a Wine is Expensive Doesn’t Mean It’s Collectible

When wine lover Dave McIntyre was invited to try a bottle of Screaming Eagle Cabernet with a close friend, he couldn’t believe his ears. The 2011 Screaming Eagle Cab costs more than $3,000 and was still in its infancy, yet McIntyre’s friend insisted on drinking it for a special dinner anyway. Curious whether the Screaming…

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Top Wine Countries in the World

Lesser-Known Regions from the Top Wine Countries in the World Are Growing Fast in Reputation and Quality

When you think of French wine, you probably picture bubbly Champagne, savory Rhone, or rare Bordeaux and Burgundy blends. However, writer Sophia Schweitzer points out that France has so much more going on for it, all hidden in the countrysides of lesser-known regions. In the past, collectors only considered French AOC wines to be worth…

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Vinfolio wine bottle sizes

Wine Bottle Sizes from Magnum to Melchizedek: When Should Collectors Give Large Format Bottles a Try?

Portland-based collector Dave Smith used to be the proud owner of an almost mythical Melchizedek Champagne bottle, which held a whopping 30 liters of wine. Only 20 of these large-format bottles are made every year, so you can imagine Smith’s shock and disappointment when, one day, his Melchizedek exploded. No one knows for sure why…

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