Wine Spectator's Straight Talk

It's time to count down Wine Spectator's Top 10 Wines of 2025! And we're talking to the man behind our 2025 Wine of the Year—both before and after he heard the big news.Join host James Molesworth and director Rob Taylor as they reveal the most exciting wines of 2025, and then Château Giscoirs' Alexander Van Beek joins the program to talk about his life in wine, and then tell us what it was like to find out his decades of hard work have been rewarded with our highest honor.And don't forget, there's always more free content at WineSpectator.com!• Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of the Year for 2025• Latest News and Headlines• Ask Dr. Vinny• Sign up for Wine Spectator's free email newsletters• Subscribe to Wine SpectatorA podcast from Wine SpectatorMarvin R. Shanken, Editor and PublisherHost: James MolesworthDirector: Robert TaylorProducers: Gabriela SaldiviaGuest: Alexander Van BeekAssistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Few California wineries can match Opus One for global prestige. A famous partnership between Napa's Robert Mondavi and Bordeaux's Baron Philippe de Rothschild, the winery is still making elite Cabernets long after its founders' passing, thanks in large part to one man whose name you might not know: Michael Silacci.Silacci has guided Opus One for more than two decades, and his résumé lists a Who's Who of winemaking legends, from André Tchelistcheff to Warren Winiarski to Denis Dubourdieu. He joined host James Molesworth in our Napa studio to talk about his life in wine on the newest episode of Wine Spectator's Straight Talk podcast.And don't forget, there's always more free content at WineSpectator.com!• Wine Spectator's Nov. 15 cover Story: Composing Opus One• 2025 Wine Spectator New York Wine Experience Tickets & Info• James Molesworth's Notes on Tasting: Opus One's Old World Approach• Opus One Wine Scores and Tasting Notes• Meghan Zobeck Joins Opus One• Latest News and Headlines• Ask Dr. Vinny• Sign up for Wine Spectator's free email newsletters• Subscribe to Wine SpectatorA podcast from Wine SpectatorMarvin R. Shanken, Editor and PublisherHost: James MolesworthDirector: Robert TaylorProducer: Gabriela SaldiviaGuest: Michael SilacciAssistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He's the man behind some of the most prestigious names in wine, including Bordeaux's Pichon Baron and Portugal's Quinta do Noval, and now AXA Millésimes managing director Christian Seely is behind the mic on the newest episode of Wine Spectator's Straight Talk podcast. "People do not drink Château Pichon because they're trying to get the alcohol content," Seely tells Straight Talk host James Molesworth. "There are a lot cheaper ways of doing that. They drink these wines because they love them. And we have to make sure that the wines we are making give people something to discover, so that magical moment really means something."Seely also shares memories of growing up with his wine writer father, the bottle they shared that sparked Seely's passion, and many more highlights—and insights—from his long and accomplished career in wine.And don't forget, there's always more free content at WineSpectator.com!• 2025 Wine Spectator New York Wine Experience Tickets & Info• Read more about Christian Seely• Read more about Platt Vineyard• Latest News and Headlines• Ask Dr. Vinny• Sign up for Wine Spectator's free email newsletters• Subscribe to Wine SpectatorA podcast from Wine SpectatorMarvin R. Shanken, Editor and PublisherHost: James MolesworthDirector: Robert TaylorProducer: Gabriela SaldiviaGuest: Christian SeelyAssistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Occidental winemaker Catherine Kistler grew up with an in-house wine legend: California Chardonnay icon, and also her dad, Steve. But Catherine came home to make Pinot Noir in 2017, and they landed at No. 2 on Wine Spectator’s 2023 Top 10 Wines of the Year. “In California we’re always self-conscious of being young compared to the Old World,” she tells host James Molesworth. “And to have the opportunity to work with 25-year-old vines now, I’m absolutely excited about it. Are we seeing changes as the vineyard matures? Of course, the answer is ‘Yes.’”.Wine Spectator senior editor for news Mitch Frank joins the program as well, for a chat about the latest wine and health news, what proposed tariffs on wine could mean for consumers, and more.And don't forget, there's always more free content at WineSpectator.com!• 2025 Wine Spectator Grand Tour Tickets & Info• Occidental: Steve Kistler's Final Frontier• Opinion: Surgeon General Opts for Simple Slogans Over Solid Science• Wine Caught in Trade War Crossfire• Opinion: Fear and Tariffs• Wine Spectator's James Laube: 1951–2025• Health News: Wine Does Not Raise Risks for Healthy Older Adults• California Pinot Noir Tasting Report• Latest News and Headlines• Ask Dr. Vinny• Sign up for Wine Spectator's free email newsletters• Subscribe to Wine SpectatorA podcast from Wine SpectatorMarvin R. Shanken, Editor and PublisherHost: James MolesworthDirector: Robert TaylorProducer: Gabriela SaldiviaGuests: Catherine Kistler, Mitch FrankAssistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's our season 2 finale and we're counting down Wine Spectator's Top 10 Wines of 2024!But before James reveals this year's 10 most exciting wines, including Wine Spectator's 2024 Wine of the Year, we're taking a look at the economic state of the U.S. wine market with longtime industry insider Rocco Lombardo, president of Wilson Daniels, and our very own senior editor for news Mitch Frank.And don't forget, there's always more free content at WineSpectator.com!• Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of the Year for 2024• Latest News and Headlines• Ask Dr. Vinny• Sign up for Wine Spectator's free email newsletters• Subscribe to Wine SpectatorA podcast from Wine SpectatorMarvin R. Shanken, Editor and PublisherHost: James MolesworthDirector: Robert TaylorProducers: Gabriela Saldivia, Sam PopkinGuests: Rocco Lombardo, Mitch FrankAssistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.