Articles by
John Tilson
MOUNT EDEN VINEYARDS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 41 YEAR RETROSPECTIVE
EVERY VINTAGE FROM 1972 TO 2012: A GREAT REVELATION! I have been visiting, buying, tasting and drinking wines from Mount Eden Vineyards since the early 70s when they began. I also have been writing about and recommending Mount Eden Vineyards wines since the launch of The Underground Wineletter in 1979. (To read the Retrospective […]
Click here to read entire article »VISIT TO CALERA & NEW AND OLD WINES
Recently I visited Calera to taste the 2013 Pinot Noirs nearly all of which were bottled. Earlier I tasted them out of barrel (to see that article click here). While there I also tasted the 2014s out of barrel. I visited with Josh Jensen, the founder, and Mike Waller, the winemaker (to read more […]
Click here to read entire article »2014 FRENCH ROSÉS
When it comes to rosés France has no equal. There are more great rosés made in France than one could ever imagine. Here are notes on many old favorites that I buy every year as well as notes on some that are new to me. Truly, it is hard to go too far wrong […]
Click here to read entire article »MORE 2014 ROSÉS
SELECTED NOTES ON 2014 ROSÉS FROM ARGENTINA, CALIFORNIA, GERMANY, PORTUGAL, ITALY, AND SPAIN Like I have been doing every year for decades, I am buying and drinking a lot of different rosés this year. As I have said earlier, the 2014 rosés seem particularly bright and crisp (to read an earlier article on 2014 rosés […]
Click here to read entire article »MORE ON BIB WINE
My recent article Wine In A Box? (to read the article click here) was a new endeavor for me. As I said, it was the first time I had ever tasted a BiB (bag in box) wine. It generated some questions. So I did a bit more digging for information on BiBs and here […]
Click here to read entire article »WINE IN A BOX?
Yes there is such a thing and guess what pops out? No! But how about this? The bag is not so pretty. And, it is not likely to be a collectable. But, what about the wine inside the bag? Here’s the scoop: 2014 Arrumaco Garnacha Rosé, Vino de España. This is the […]
Click here to read entire article »2014 ROSÉS
The 2014 Rosés are now beginning to arrive in full force. This will continue well into the summer. As I reported in early trade tasting articles on the 2014 rosés (to read those articles click here), the 2014 rosés seem particulary bright and crisp. Below are notes on some of the rosés that are […]
Click here to read entire article »DIAMOND CREEK VINEYARDS
History And Notes On Stunning New Wines Founded in 1968, Diamond Creek is California’s first exclusively Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Vineyard. The first vintage was 1972. Visionary pioneer Al Brounstein defied conventions and planted Bordeaux varietals on secluded Diamond Mountain. Four separate vineyards – Volcanic Hill, Red Rock Terrace, Gravelly Meadow, and Lake – produce a […]
Click here to read entire article »RIDGE VINEYARDS – SPRING 2015 RELEASES
Here is the introduction to a recent Ridge article: Without question, Ridge consistently produces some of the best red wines in California. They have been doing it for over 50 years and have a record that is unmatched by anyone in the state. (To read that article, the history of Ridge Vineyards, and links […]
Click here to read entire article »DOMAINE FRÉDÉRIC ESMONIN
This is an under the radar Red Burgundy producer that is making consistently lovely wines at reasonable prices. I started writing about them with the 2009 vintage. I had already been tasting, buying, cellaring, and drinking Frédérick Esmonin wines for many years. Consistent with my advice to continue to buy the wines you like […]
Click here to read entire article »
