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Annual Coverage of California's Central Coast
By: Josh Raynolds
Josh Raynolds reports that the generally cool 2011 and 2010 vintages make the case that California's Central Coast can make restrained, graceful wines from a range of varieties--wines that favor finesse over sheer mass and power. He suggests that now is the time for long-time Europhiles to give this part of the New World another shot.
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2011 and 2010 Alsace Wines
By: Ian D'Agata
In September, long-time Alsace wine lover D'Agata experienced the region the IWC way (12-hour days and samples without end), without any loss of enthusiasm for the place, the people and its wines. His in-depth report covers the high-acid, minerally 2010s, a brilliantly ageworthy vintage, and the softer, rounder 2011s, which should give pleasure earlier. D'Agata goes well beyond Alsace's "big three" varieties, offering coverage of grapes like sylvaner, muscat, pinot blanc and chasselas too.
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New Releases from Washington State
By: Stephen Tanzer
The key growing regions of Washington State benefited from back-to-back cooler vintages in 2011 and 2010. In addition to producing some of the best white wines to date from the state, the moderate conditions and extended hang times allowed conscientious growers and winemakers to craft stylish red wines with lovely aromatic complexity, clarity, energy and staying power.
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Vintage Champagne
By: Josh Raynolds
Fans of penetrating, invigorating Champagnes will have plenty to choose from in the excellent 2006 and 2004 vintage, now widely available in the marketplace. Josh Raynolds will follow up his annual coverage of the world's finest vintage-dated sparkling wines with a report on the best non-vintage brut bottlings in early December.
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