User:Purple-Teeth

I am an avid wine collector who lives in Southern California. I have visited most of the world's great wine regions, including the Cote d'Or, Bordeaux (left and right banks) and Loire Valley, as well as such new world appelations as Napa/Sonoma, Central California Coast, Willamette and Columbia Valleys. I am planning a tasting tour of the Rhone Valley, starting in Lyon and driving my way down to Avignon.

My wine collection is well balanced, and includes a mix of selections from every major region. I do not buy in large quanitities, opting instead to buy three to six bottles of a wine at a time.

I consider myself a wine purist. I believe producers have a responsibility to stay out of mother nature's way, and let the natural characteristics of the grapes' terroir shine through. That means a judicious use of oak and keeping alchohol levels to a modest 13.5% or lower. That is one reason why I do not prefer the "fruit bombs" made in Australia and some parts of California.