Articles by
John Tilson
THE WINE EXPERIENCE & THE JOY OF OLD WINES
Recently in a flurry of emails between several very experienced wine drinkers there were many questions and opinions about old wines including decanting, bottle variation, and different opinions on the same wine by different tasters. All the opinions were from people who have spent their lives tasting and drinking the best wines in the […]
Click here to read entire article »2017 STUPID WINE DESCRIPTION WINNERS
For the last couple of years I have published a list of what I think are the most stupid wine descriptions published by some of the 100 point wine writers (to see last year’s winners click here). These wine descriptions are written by 100 point wine writers describing actual wines. But, take a […]
Click here to read entire article »IN REMEMBRANCE – ALBERT GIVTON 1945 – 2017
After an unexpected hiatus from the Underground necessitated by being evacuated from our house and being without internet, it is with great sadness that I am writing this obituary for my old friend and Contributing Editor to The Underground Wineletter, Albert Givton. In late November, just before a fire and then a mudslide forced […]
Click here to read entire article »HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018!
As humans we are all confronted with the fact that none of us can accurately see the future. Yet that does not stop some from professing to have magical predictive powers. But, most of us learn to expect the unexpected. Even so, 2017 brought several twists in my life. For a part of the […]
Click here to read entire article »HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2017!
FOOD AND WINE IDEAS What a great time of the year. It’s almost Thanksgiving again. For as long as I can remember I have loved Thanksgiving. It is a very special time for me and my family and friends. Reproduced below is my first Underground Wineletter article on Thanksgiving. The article is followed by […]
Click here to read entire article »TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD FALL RELEASES
A GRAND SLAM Tablas Creek Vineyard consistently produces really amazing and well-priced wines that few other California wineries can match. The specialty is, of course, Rhone varietals and their wines are beautifully crafted and very food friendly. Since 1997 they have made balanced and harmonious wines year in and year out. Below is […]
Click here to read entire article »DOMAINE ANNE ET HERVÉ SIGAUT
WONDERFUL UNDER THE RADAR BURGUNDIES This small estate has been in existence for four generations. Hervé and Anne Sigaut took over for Maurice Sigaut in 1990 and since that time have made significant improvements in the vineyards and cellar. The winery was updated in 2004 and the wines are made with minimal intervention and judicious […]
Click here to read entire article »RIDGE VINEYARDS – FALL 2017 RELEASES & MORE!
As usual, the new Ridge releases are terrific. I tasted the wines over a period of several days and found all of the wines to be very expressive. They are balanced and harmonious just as you would expect from Ridge. Below are notes on the 5 fall releases. Don’t miss them! Following the notes are […]
Click here to read entire article »BIEN NACIDO ESTATE AND SOLOMON HILLS ESTATE
Beginning in 2005 the Miller family, owners of Bien Nacido Vineyard and Solomon Hills Vineyard, began to make a small amount of wine under their label. Owners of Bien Nacido Vineyards since 1969, this vineyard has been the source of many great wines made by early wineries like Au Bon Climat, Qupé, and Bonny […]
Click here to read entire article »2016 ROSÉS: A GREAT VINTAGE AND MANY BARGAINS
INTRODUCTION A few weeks ago I published an introductory article to the 2016 rosés which contained comments on the extraordinary quality of the vintage and links to other background rosé articles including why, when, and how to buy and drink rosés (to read that article click here). As I have always said, […]
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