Articles
“An Uncompromising Line”: Tancredi Biondi-Santi Goes Back to the Future at Montepò
The Biondi-Santi name has been synonymous with Brunello di Montalcino for generations. Now, after leaving the family’s historic estate behind, Jacopo and Tancredi Biondi-Santi are building something new at Castello di Montepò, while bringing a little bit of the old Biondi-Santi magic along with them. I recently asked Tancredi Biondi-Santi about the changes afoot at their Montepò estate, and his answers should get Super Tuscan fans excited about what’s to come.
Beyond Sangiovese: A Tuscan Red Masterclass with Vignamaggio
Staff writer Joe Roberts delves into the red wines of Tuscany’s Vignamaggio, an estate with seven centuries of history behind it, but one that is also staking a claim on modern styles of reds made from varieties beyond Chianti’s ubiquitous Sangiovese.
A Beckstoffer Deep Dive: California’s Next Spot for Premium Cabernet Might Lie in Lake County
Many wine insiders know Andy Beckstoffer as the influential farmer behind some of the highest-scoring Cabernets in Napa Valley History. But as staff writer Joe Roberts recently discovered during a media tasting of wines from Beckstoffer’s vineyard holdings in the Red Hills Lake County AVA, Beckstoffer’s Midas touch (particularly with Cabernet Sauvignon) extends well beyond the storied Napa properties that are his modern claim to American winegrowing fame.
Campanilismo in the Glass: Joe Roberts’ Central Italy Recommendations
Last fall, staff writer Joe Roberts traveled through Central Italy at the invitation of Studio Cru, tasting across a cross-section of historic zones where local identity still defines the wines more than trends or export expectations. What emerged was a powerful reminder of how deeply place-driven Central Italian fine wine remains, exemplified by four producers whose bottles speak unapologetically of their origins.
Sonoma County Buyer’s Guide 2025
Jonathan Cristaldi’s 2025 Sonoma Buyer’s Guide features 340+ wines reviewed and scored from 2021 to 2024 release wines.
