Barra Of Mendocino Petite Sirah 2014
From old vine, estate fruit that’s been organically farmed, Barra Of Mendocino’s 2014 Petite Sirah is a deep dive into ruby-hued velvet. Palate drenching black cherries, plums and steeped blackberries are couched in velvety tannins. This is a soulful, baritone, and smoldering wine, imbued with incense, smoky dark chocolate, and a pinch of dried herbs […]
Tablas Creek Vineyard Patelin de Tablas Blanc 2016
Tablas Creek has long been one of my favorite Paso Robles producers. From the care they put into their vineyards—biodynamic farming, noisy sheep, a rambunctious trio of winery dogs, and a resident shepherd—the good folks at Tablas turn out elegant wines that are nuanced, superbly balanced and long aging. For the price, they’re just that […]
Vina Robles WHITE 4 2016
A prosaic blend of Viognier 45%, Sauvignon Blanc 27%, Verdelho 17%, and Vermentino 11%, the 2016 Vina Robles WHITE4 opens with soft tones of lemon drop and candied orange peel. There is too a slinky herbal undercurrent—but it’s diffuse and hard to tease out from this wines mineral foundation. Medium bodied, with a burst of […]
Santa Julia Tintillo Malbec-Bonarda 2016
The 2016 Santa Julia Tintillo, a blend of both Malbec and Bonarda is awash in plums, black cherries, cedar and bay leaf. For those of you who have yet to try Bonarda, it’s safe to say that this Piedmontese grape is as happy-go-lucky as the average golden retriever. Certainly, this amiable bottle is crammed with […]
Laurent Perrachon Juliénas Les Vignes Centenaires 2015
A bright, angular wine with an acid core that serves as the fulcrum around which other aspects of this wine flows. The 2015 Laurent Perrachon Juliénas Vieilles Vigne Centenaires displays slightly chewy tannins encasing bright cranberries and rose hips that merge with crushed watercress and chervil followed by stratified, rock strewn soil. 13.0% ABV | […]
Bollig-Lehnert Trittenheimer Apotheke Riesling Kabinett 2014
Perhaps the most thrilling aspect of the 2014 Bollig-Lehnert Trittenheimer Apotheke Kabinett Riesling is the mouth-tingling interplay of salinity and acid set against a backdrop of unctuous yellow peach and apricot. It delivers the palate tension that just goes on and on, with a mouthwatering burst of lime zest and green tea. An outstanding Mosel […]
Illahe Project 1899 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2014
Illahe’s winemaker Brad Ford is a former English and poetry teacher—tasting his wines it’s impossible to ignore the prose in them. Pinot Noir used in the 1899 is delivered to the winery by a team of horses, and it’s racked by way of a bicycle pump, in short it’s a wine made entirely without electricity. […]
Domaine Nicolas-Jay Pinot Noir 2014
July 07, 2017—I tasted the 2014 Nicolas-Jay Pinot Noir last October and earlier this week with winemaker Tracy Kendall. Since then the tannins are a bit more integrated, it’s softened a bit. As with Jean-Nicolas’ native Côte d’Or Domaine Méo-Camuzet, there is a clear thread of stylistic consistency between the two brands. Both for me […]
Blason-Louis Sancerre 2012 (Flacon)
A new and novel offering from Blason Lewis—these flacons are the equivalent of a 3.5 oz glass. Robed in bright translucent ruby, the 2012 Blason Lewis Sancerre is fresh and vibrant, boasting aromas of red currants, raspberries, pie cherries, and damp earth. In the mouth, fine tannins and bright acidity add lift and structure to […]
Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Dry Riesling 2015
Demure nose—a pretty bouquet of spring blossoms, lemon drop, and white peaches. What the 2015 Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Dry Riesling lacks in aromatic vim, it makes up for on the palate, which full and round on entry with a surprisingly punchy burst of white grapefruit and lemon pith that ricochets through the core. Finishes with a […]