James Cluer
James Cluer, MW owns and operates Fine Vintage. Since 1953 only 38 people have qualified to become Masters of Wine in North America. James is a professional wine judge, an author, educator, and consults to airlines, governments and wineries.
Cellaring Wines
WHY START A CELLAR? There’s something magical about going down to a wine cellar and rummaging through stacks of dusty old bottles. After lengthy deliberations with yourself, you select the perfect bottle, and then emerge victorious to rapturous applause from…
WINE REVIEW – Riesling, Markus Molitor, Zeltinger Sonnenhur, Spatlese, 2007
WINE REVIEW Riesling Markus Molitor, Zeltinger Sonnenhur, Spatlese, 2007 Mosel Valley, Germany In 1984, at the age of 20, Markus Molitor assumed responsibility for his family’s estate. He was the 8th generation to make wine in the Mosel. Young and…
Wine Review: Meritage – Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Grand Cru Classe, 2008
WINE REVIEW Meritage – Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac Leognan, Grand Cru Classe, 2008, Bordeaux, France Florence and Daniel Cathiard, former members of the French Olympic ski team, purchased the property in 1991. Smith Haut Lafitte…
Wine Route: Opus One Winery
Opus One A Brief Look at their Origins It began with Château Mouton Rothschild winemaker Lucien Sionneau and Robert Mondavi’s son Timothy who made the partnership’s first vintage at the Robert Mondavi Winery in 1979. The following year the partners…
Wine Review: Hollick 2009 Shiraz
Hollick 2009 Hollick, 2009, Shiraz Wrattonbully, Australia Ian Hollick is regarded as one of the finest producers in Coonawarra, one of the prestigious growing regions in South Australia. Together with his wife, Wendy, he started Hollick Wines back in 1983.…
Wine Review: Champagne Lanson Brut, 1998
A vintage Champagne is only produced in excellent years. Essentially, it is only the finest grapes from the best vineyards. In the winery, vintage Champagne is given special treatment. Notably, it is given longer bottle ageing on the lees to…
WINE REVIEW: Gustav Lorentz Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim 2010 Alsace
Gewurztraminer Gustav Lorentz, Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim, 2010 Alsace, France Gewurztraminer reaches its pinnacle of quality in Alsace. And since 1836 Gustav Lorentz has been producing some of the finest examples. When harvested from a top site, such as…
Wine Route | Napa, California: Heitz Cellars
Video by James Cluer, MW, Contributing Wine Editor – www.finevintagewineclub.com About Heitz Wine Cellars “Heitz Wine Cellars inhabits a pristine valley in the eastern hills of St. Helena known to the locals as Spring Valley. In 1964, Joe and Alice…
