Match Vineyards

The 2010 Napa Uncovered Calendar is now available. From their website:"it is a 12 month calendar featuring Napa Valley farmers and ranchers as you have never seen them. The proceeds from this cleverly revealing calendar will support the efforts of Napa County Farm Bureau to protect the agricultu...

Last weekend we dined for the second time at JoLe Restaurant (Calistoga). Both times it has been great. It's currently one of our favorite Napa Valley restaurants and certainly ranks as one of the best up Calistoga way.Highlights included:Chicken Livers with medjool dates and Point Reyes blue c...

Earlier this year, Congress passed credit card reform with the aim of preventing card companies from predatory and unfair practices. The changes were scheduled to take effect February 2010. One can guess why the companies received such a long lead time before the regulations started. They are ...

Next week is Thanksgiving and we'll be spending it with relatives out on Long Island. We need to bring a dish so I dusted off an old recipe we cut out of the SF Chron years ago. Before submitting it to "the public," I needed to practice.It was awesome, if I do say so myself. Not too sweet. In...

Here's a brief report from winemaker Cary Gott after tasting through the barrels today:I just tasted all of the wines we have that are in barrel. Very nice wines.09 Butterdragon, a deep rich wine, a wow!, just finished ML [ed: malolactic fermentation]09 Baconbrook, clean/fresh- firm texture, wi...

Recently, I had a customer describe one of our wines with one of the most vivid descriptors I've ever heard. He said it was like a Northern New Mexico gift shop. My mind and memory went there right away. Leather souvenirs, old cedar floors, piñon tree incense, a wood burning fireplace, berry f...

1996 Joseph Phelps Insignia - USA, California, Napa Valley (11/7/2009)Huge pine forest nose... like walking on to a Christmas tree lot. Flavors of fresh bing cherry, baking spices, cedar, espresso, leather, and a zippy acidity that belies its 13 years of age. Very long finish with a smooth, rich ...

Garibaldis Restaurant in Oakland has been around for years. In the past, each time we'd go there, we'd ask ourselves why we don't go there more often. It's usually very good. Recently the restaurant made a big change. They remodeled, dividing their space into two restaurants. One part remain...

According to research cited in the Canadian newspaper Globe and Mail recently, it does. Study participants were given 3-5 identical -- though they didn't know it -- glasses of wine to taste and then asked to indicate which glass they thought was the best wine.It's commonly accepted, and supporte...

Camino Restaurant was opened a year or two ago by Russell Moore who prior to that spent 13 years as produce buyer and in the kitchen at Chez Panisse. That background under Alice Waters served him well. Camino is a simple concept and one that seems sustainable -- and probably profitable -- in th...

2002 Kistler Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (10/24/2009)Wonderfully mature but still vibrant. Golden color. Perfect for the season because it is like biting into a caramel apple without anything getting stuck to your teeth. Touch of lemon pudd...