Château Trians Reserve De Trians Côteaux Varois en Provence 2015
Château Trians Reserve De Trians Côteaux Varois en Provence 2015″ width=”200″ height=”200″ /></a>The perfect antidote to winter, a good Provence rosé is summer in a glass—and this obliging bottle of 2015 Château Trians Reserve de Trians Coteaux Varois certainly lifted the spirits after days of snow and bitter temperatures in Portland. It’s salmon-hued with golden […]
Château La Freynelle Bordeaux Blanc 2015
An under-appreciated category in the United States, Bordeaux blanc—usually a blend of Sauvignon blanc and Sémillon and sometimes Muscadelle—often poses a great value. There is a side of Bordeaux that is inexpensive, and the wines can be quite good in excellent vintages. The 2015 Château La Freynelle is one such example, displaying grassy aromas and […]
Boutinot La Côte Sauvage Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne 2012
Flat out pretty the 2012 Boutinot La Côte Sauvage Côtes du Rhône Cairanne is a warm embrace. Juicy black cherries, plums, lavender, vanilla and perhaps even a whiff of blackberry cobbler, fresh from the oven. It’s satiny smooth, with moderate acidity and body with ultra-fine tannins to match. This is a wine that will deliver […]
Evening Land Seven Springs ‘Anden’ Pinot Noir 2014
A knee-weakening Pinot Noir, Evening Land’s Seven Springs ‘Anden’ comes from fruit harvested in a single pass through a phylloxerated section of historic Seven Springs vineyard. The 2014 is whole cluster fermented and aged in 100% New oak—it would seem that there’s a method to winemaker Sashi Moorman’s madness in the rather unusual approach to […]
Rdv Vineyards Rendezvous 2011
My first Virginia wine, this particular bottle was a gift from a dear friend. First impression—it’s developed nicely, with brooding black cherries and plums lending weight to lighter aromas of cedar, earth, spice and pink peppercorn. The 2011 Rendezvous is a polished blend of 69% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Petit Verdot and certainly, it […]
Cave de Tain l’Hermitage Crozes-Hermitage Grand Classique 2016
A lovely winter white, the Cave de Tain Crozes-Hermitage Grand Classique 2016 is composed of 100% Marsanne, sourced from granitic slopes of Hermitage. It’s got that classic Marsanne profile; Asian pear, white peach, blanched almond and just a touch of lanolin. I love the tension in this wine, one that perpetually borders on silky richness […]
Brooks Duex Vert Vineyard Melon de Bourgogne 2015
Brooks Melon de Bourgogne Duex Vert Vineyard 2015″ width=”200″ height=”200″ /></a>Pleasantly surprised by Brooks’ 2015 Melon de Bourgogne, with it’s filigreed nose of ripe pear, honeysuckle and chalkboard dust. It’s not as lean and leesy as some of my favorite examples from Muscadet Sèvre et Maine (Melon de Bourgogne is the variety used in Muscadet). […]
Bluebird Hill Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2015
Bluebird Hill Cellars is an ultra-boutique winery owned by my dear friends Sue and Neil Shay. I’ve watched them plant vines over the years expanding the blocks that surround their sprawling hilltop home, and more recently they’ve transformed their garage into a small tasting room. The 2015 Willamette Valley Pinot is bright ruby red, displaying […]
Bodega Catena Zapata Chardonnay High Mountain Vines 2015
Catena’s High Mountain Vines Chardonnay is sourced from three vineyard sites, ranging from 3,100-4,757′ in altitude, hence the name. The soils are predominantly gravelly or stony, and all of these sites are cool climate—these factors are reflected in the profile of this fresh and restrained Argentine Chard. Acacia honey, lemon blossom, pear and citrus round […]
King Estate NxNW (North by Northwest) Walla Walla Valley Syrah 2013
From King Estate’s North by Northwest project in Walla Walla is this 2013 Syrah. Ripe and heavy with black cherries, plums, cedar and incense. Juicy black fruit leads the charge on the palate, cradled in moderate toast and lovely earthy-leathery undertones. There’s a nice streak of acidity to add lift to a wine that has […]