RATINGS AND THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR First and foremost we are absolutely passionate about wine. We love to drink wine. We have been buying wine for over 20 years, predominately Napa and Sonoma reds. While we are collectors, we buy wine to drink and share with our friends. We do not buy wine as an investment. We’re on virtually every mailing list for cult and impossible-to-get wines. These wines cost about as much as a small country, and we constantly question our sanity about purchasing them—while we’re drinking them.

WHY WE LOVE PINOT NOIR If you love red wine but always lament that it is so hard to match the right red with many foods (say any white fish, most salads, anything spicy), then you need to be drinking Pinot Noir. For years, when dining I would generally open two bottles of wine, a white and red, drink the white with the first course and the red with the entree. While this certainly works, truth be told, much of the time, I'd rather drink only red. Fortunately, a few years ago I had a magical experience at a food and wine pairing at Beringer, which showed me how to have my cake and eat it too.

IN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT WINE Searching for the perfect wine always reminds me of The Perfect Storm: despite all the trial and error, planning and preparation, you still never know what’s going to happen. Recently, I was dining in San Diego with my friends Dan and Maria from Texas. Dan is a serious Bordeaux collector, and doesn’t like to drink young wine. He can drink great wine at its prime because he’s been collecting long enough to have a cellar full of first and second growths, dating back to 1982.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE GRAPES Ever wonder why Napa Valley wines are so expensive? Could it be because of the cost of real estate? How about the cost to plant and manage a vineyard? How about the cost for a wine maker and to make the wine? How about special taxes? Do you think the cost of distribution is a factor? Yes, to all of the above. Each item is pricey. And, it all adds up. All of the great California Cabernets come from Napa Valley. That includes Harlan, Araujo, Screaming Eagle, Bryant, Colgin, Grace, Beringer Private Reserve, David Arthur Elevation 1147, Shafer Hillside Select, Opus One, Dominus, Phelps Insignia, Vineyard 29, and on and on.

NEW WORLD vs OLD WORLD What is a New World and Old World wine, and why do you care about this distinction? We believe the answer is simply a matter of determining what you like to drink. Old World wines are those made in Europe while New World wines are made everywhere else. That means Napa Valley, the rest of the States and Australia are all New World wines. The singular difference you may notice from Old World vs New World red wine is the taste and concentration of the fruit.

FRIENDS AND ATMOSPHERE How many times have you attended a wine tasting, munching on water crackers, wondering how the wine you’re sipping might actually taste with your favorite food? Or, for that matter, any food? And how many times have you enjoyed the company of good friends in a pleasant setting, and noticed that a wine you may have thought was good, or very good, turns out to be great or outstanding? Why is this? Enter the effect of friends and atmosphere, and you’re suddenly transported into a world where all wine tastes good, and good wine tastes great. Magic! The wine improves proportional to the company and surroundings.

THE MYTH OF AGING WINE After years of collecting fine wines, I’ve learned a very expensive lesson. Contrary to popular belief, most red wines do not get better with age. There, I’ve said it! In the last two years, I can’t begin to count the number of bottles of wine I’ve opened that were past their prime and no longer enjoyable to drink. Recently, I opened up a 1995 White Cottage Cab. This wine, from an excellent vintage, was just a little over 10 years old. It should have been at its prime.