2019 Brunello di Montalcino is “…the vintage we’ve all been waiting for,” so “Buckle your seatbelts,” and strap on your helmets because the newest vintage from Montalcino is “…an embarrassment of riches for collectors and fans of the appellation” (Eric Guido, Vinous Media). The hotly anticipated Brunellos have “…definitely lived up to [their] lofty reputation as an excellent vintage across Montalcino” (Kerin O’Keefe). It showcases the extraordinary qualities of Sangiovese, Tuscany’s most famous and beloved grape variety, and its ability to exploit the region’s phenomenal terroir. This “…magical year…” (Giacomo Neri of Casanova di Neri) of “radiance and appeal” (Eric Guido) will likely set a new benchmark for Brunello wines for years to come.
According to Italian wine expert, Kerin O’Keefe, she has “…never tasted so many drop-dead-gorgeous young Brunellos from a single vintage.” She confesses that many of the best wines stopped her in her tracks, generating that “…magical moment
I ask if Argentina is the New Spain because I remember four or five years ago when Spanish wines were very popular and becoming everyone's go-to wines that offered exceptional quality for their modest price tags. In today's wine world, Spain has kind of taken a backseat, and it seems I get asked more and more about wines from Argentina. In particular, it's the Malbecs from this great region that have become the new go-to wines for value seekers.
Chateau Montelena is a Napa Valley winery established in 1882 located just north of Calistoga at the base of Mount Saint Helena, its name actually a contraction of Mount Saint Helena. The Estate vineyard is comprised of sedimentary, alluvial and volcanic soils on various hillsides and flats which help in creating complex flavors and aromas in their wines. In 1976 at what is now called The Judgment of Paris, Chateau Montelena helped to bring California to the forefront of the world wine stage by scoring the highest placement amongst ten White Burgundies and California Chardonnays. However, it is probably their iconic Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, first released in 1978, that most people have collected over the years. As Robert Parker has mentioned: "Buying Montelena's Estate Cabernet Sauvignons is equivalent to buying blue-chip stock. The home vineyard is so consistent that even in difficult vintages such as 1989 and 1998, this wine is far better than its competition."
With the fall season in full swing now, we are all looking forward to the bounty of fall vegetables, roasted meat and vegetable dishes, and of course some great red wines to enjoy alongside. You have, no doubt, already received your Sokolin Fall Catalog and hopefully, you've had a chance to go through it and are already in the process of enjoying some of these great wines at your home. 
PSI is the third wine of one of Spain's most legendary producers, Dominio de Pingus. Pingus was established in the mid-1990s by Danish winemaker & visionary, Peter Sisseck. Dominio de Pingus was unexpectedly (and joyously!) put on the map in 1996 after the managing director of a UK wine company discovered the wine at the very end of a long and drawn out Bordeaux tasting. He then insisted that a Mr. Robert Parker try the wine. After a 96-100 point rating and receiving the back page of the Wine Advocate, the rest is winemaking history!
Last week, I was out west with a bunch of non-wine drinkers. And I had a task to fill - they wanted to drink wine, and they wanted it to be good. Fortunately for me, we have a TON of great wine at unbeatable price points. 
1. Peel 1 celery root and slice paper thin on a slicing machine if possible
In our lives there are times when one opens a bottle of wine and enjoys it and thinks “that was nice.” Then there are times in which a person may find themselves thinking how incredibly fortunate and lucky they are to try this fermented grape juice. It may have traveled halfway across the world to get into your possession; it’s a beverage that has surrounded cultures from ancient Romans to modern day Michelin restaurants. Over the weekend, I had the latter experience. When I reflect on all of the wine that I’ve experienced, it amazes me!
As a Northern Rhone wine lover and resident guru, my clients often ask me my personal opinions on their selections from this gorgeous yet misunderstood region. I inevitably end up discussing the wines from Delas, a fabulous producer, at some point. Here are some of the particulars: In 1835, Charles Audibert and Philippe Delas purchased a wine merchant company in Tournon-sur-Rhone. Previously called Maison Junique, they renamed it Audibert and Delas. The links between the two familes would be pulled ever tighter when the two Delas sons, Henri and Florentin, married two Audibert daughters. In 1924, Henri and Florentin took over as managers of the company whose name then changed to Delas Frères.