Wine Spectator October 15, 2019

This issue is packed with wine information. You’ll find reports on California’s exceptional Pinot Noirs; Spain’s amazing diversity; Germany’s distinctive dry whites; and a spectrum of delicious values from around the world. It may be too early to crown Pinot Noir the new king of California reds; Cabernet Sauvignon still holds that title. But in recent years, Pinot’s progress has been extraordinary. In our cover story this issue, Kim Marcus, our Napa bureau chief and lead taster for these wines, analyzes his recent tastings of Pinot Noirs from all across the Golden State. Marcus reports that the rapid improvement in California Pinot quality is due primarily to location, location, location. Vintners have gained a better understanding of the soil and climatic conditions that are crucial to creating great Pinots; they are seeking…

An August Issue Your Aug. 31 issue touched on many issues close to my heart. My wife and I spent several days at San Ysidro Ranch and ate at [Grand Award] Stonehouse several times shortly before it was damaged in the fires and flooding that hit the community (“Restoring Stone-house”). Its wine list was superb and we ended one night with a glass of Château d’Yquem that was just amazing. I am glad it has reopened and we are looking forward to a visit in the future. A letter from another reader (Feedback) noted the beauty of Texas wine. I can attest to that. For two years I have ridden my bicycle in the Hill Country and spent time at a number of vineyards. These wines are as good as any in…

A Glass of Wine Before Bed Is a Good Sleep Aid Sure, drinking alcohol can make you feel sleepy, but it’s not a good idea to use alcohol to help you snooze. Thanks to alcohol’s sedative effects, a tipple before hitting the hay will help you fall asleep faster, and there is even evidence that some wine grapes contain high amounts of the sleep aid melatonin. But that sleep is less likely to be restful and restorative. A study published in 2015 in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research revealed that subjects who drank alcohol experienced an increase in deep sleep early in the night, but then experienced sleep disruption and more time spent awake later. Though you probably won’t cause any major sleep problems if you drink moderately in the…

One of Burgundy’s biggest names in wine has acquired a well-known smaller player. The Boisset family is purchasing Maison Alex Gambal, founded by an American wine-lover 22 years ago. The deal, expected to be finalized by mid-September, includes 30 acres of vineyards planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, a winery and current inventory. The sale price was not disclosed. “We have a great respect for the work Alex has been doing,” Nathalie Boisset, spokes-woman for the family, told Wine Spectator. “We share the same philosophy we have had for years with our vineyards, mainly biodynamics and a fantastic domaine with nice vines and great wines.” Alex Gambal, 62, moved to France in 1993 and founded his wine business in 1997. Two years ago he began to think about the future of his…

You may not be as talented as Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci, but you can at least drink the wine he grew. Yes, Leonardo was a vintner—not surprising for a man who wrote of the “divine juice of the grape”—but his small parcel in Milan was lost until a team of researchers brought it back to life in 2015. And now, 500 years after Leonardo’s death, his wine is ready to drink. On the cusp of the 16th century, Leonardo was gifted a vineyard from the Duke of Milan, his friend and patron, who a few years earlier had commissioned the masterpiece The Last Supper. According to Jacopo Ghilardotti, historian at Museo Vigna di Leonardo in Milan, the original vineyard was about 2.5 acres. The vineyard was destroyed by Allied bombs in…

After nearly four decades as Wine Spectator’s leading voice on all things culinary, and having reviewed more than 35,000 wines for the publication, editor at large Harvey Steiman has retired. “I’m very happy for Harvey. His retirement after 38 years with Wine Spectator is well-deserved,” said editor and publisher Marvin R. Shanken. “On a personal note, I am very sad. Harvey has been a cornerstone of our company, a true inspiration who gave the magazine a unique voice. His cover features were among my favorites. He is irreplaceable.” Steiman began his career in journalism in 1969 as a sports writer for the Miami Herald; in 1977, he became food and wine editor at San Francisco newspaper The Examiner; and in 1982 launched The KSBS Kitchen, a food talk show broadcast on a…