AG Pick Under $20: 2008 Antigal Uno Malbec

As the weather gets cooler, stay warm by opening up a bottle of the 2008 Antigal Uno Malbec.  This big and earthy red from Mendoza, Argentina is a great treat for a fall evening. The Antigal Uno Malbec is easy to spot in any wine shop — just look for the big “1″ on the [...]

AG Pick Under $15: Chalten Reserva Malbec 2008

Take a break from Argentina’s popular Mendoza wine region and try a wine from Neuquén.  For an introduction, pick up a bottle of the 2008 Chalten Reserva Malbec. Neuquén Province is located in the western part of Argentina, at the northern end of Patagonia.  To find it on a map, locate the city of Buenos [...]

It's Time for Wine: New Finds for the New Year

One of our best received series of columns each year deals with the new wineries we have discovered and recommend during our summer spent in California.  For purposes of this article we use the term “wineries” in the broadest possible sense, meaning that while we include the traditional facility, we also include wines that have [...]

AG Pick Under $15: 2006 Tierra Secreta Malbec

Looking for a bold and spicy wine to warm you up on a cool fall evening?  Try a glass of the 2006 Tierra Secreta Malbec. This red wine comes from the southern end of Argentina’s Mendoza region, an area well-known for producing Malbec.  The secret is the vineyards.  The tierra secreta, or secret earth, refers [...]

Highlights from the Grand Tasting

If you’re looking for more wines, beers, spirits and small bites than you could ever hope to taste in one afternoon you’ll find it at the New York City Wine & Food Festival’s Grand Tasting. This year’s event featured an impressive selection of familiar labels and brands as well as new or less well-known ones.  [...]

AG Pick Under $15: 2003 Adagio Reserva Malbec

I like to think that Argentine Malbecs fall into two main categories.  First there are the gaucho Malbecs, rugged wines that evoke images of the Pampas and Andes with their bold, earthy flavors.  Then there are the more polished Malbecs, elegant and fruit-dominated wines that seem restrained at first but come alive more with each [...]

Organic Wines at Heller Estate Vineyards

It used to be that the word “organic” was associated with wines that didn’t taste so great.  But at Heller Vineyards, organic and delicious are not contradictory terms. Heller Estate Organic Vineyards was one of the last wineries I visited during my trip to California’s Central Coast.  It’s located in the Cachagua region of Carmel [...]

AG Pick Under $15: 2005 Side Yard Reserve Malbec

Argentina may be best known for Malbec but its neighbor to the west offers some tasty competition.  If you love the bold spice of Malbec, try the 2005 Side Yard Reserve Malbec from Chile. This zesty wine from the Maipo Valley in central Chile is full of black fruit and pepper.  Juicy flavors of blackberries [...]

AG Pick Under $20: Daglia Canyon 2005 Meritage

Daglia Canyon’s 2005 Meritage from Oakville in the Napa Valley is a blend of the five Bordeaux varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot.  If you’re not familiar with Meritage click here to read my earlier article. The wine is deep garnet red in color.  The nose is a mix of red [...]

Best Value Bordeaux

I don’t like to play favorites when it comes to wine but I must admit Bordeaux is among my favorite wine producing areas in the world, particularly for red wine. Bordeaux is located in southwest France, a region where wine production dates back to the 8th century.  Today there are more than 10,000 wine-producing châteaux [...]