I always look forward to tasting with Paul. He’s not just the winemaker, he’s a fan! Which means you never know what you’re going to end up tasting & pouring, but you know it’s always going to be fascinating and… Read More ›

1984 Monte Bello
When Naming Your Wine Publication …
I am in the Wine Industry, and so of course I do read the “major” publications. Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Wine Advocate, etc. And I recently got to thinking about the publication titles: Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Wine Advocate. What’s… Read More ›
A Leap Year Anniversary for California’s Very First Poet Laureate!
On this date in history, February 29, in the year 1928, Ina Coolbrith passed on. This is a passing we can note only in years such as these. Leap years. Ina Coolbrith was the very first poet laureate of California,… Read More ›
A Monte Bello Vertical: Video Prep & Haiku Notes
I very recently had the opportunity to prepare, serve, and taste a rather preposterously fine vertical of Monte Bello: the 2011 first assemblage, a 2010 barrel sample, and the 2009, (which is in bottle, but not yet released), plus the 1978,… Read More ›
Belated Holiday Wine Highlights: My Top 3!
Silly, really, that it’s already the 14th of January, 2012, and I’m only just now getting to this post. But as I’m still reasonably certain the concerns of Y2K and Enron were in fact front and center only a few years… Read More ›
We Three Wines Of Origin Are …
We three wines of origin are Bearing gifts from vineyards afar We flow like a fountain, down from the mountain Into your glass at the bar! Seriously though, I just tried a really, really delicious trio of… Read More ›
Today with Paul Draper, More Monte Bello! #cabernet
#cabernet again, eh? Why, yes I am! And here’s the layout, post-tasting, of a tasting, in which 2007, 1995, 1992, and 1984 Monte Bellos were, well, tasted!