Boutinot Les Côteaux Côtes du Rhône Villages 2015
Boutinot’s 2015 Les Côteaux Côtes du Rhône Villages is a cuvée of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah assembled from cru parcels in Sablet, Séguret, and Cairanne. The nose ripples with baritone, atramentous aromas of black cherry, blackberry, black olives, saddle leather, pain grille, savory herbs, and lilacs. Medium-bodied on the palate with well-integrated tannins—menthol, Tellicherry […]
Denner Mother of Exiles 2016
A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, Denner’s 2016 Mother of Exiles is totally opaque in the glass with legs as dark as indigo. It’s slightly tight on opening, but swirling in the glass reveals wild blueberries and crème de cassis submerged beneath more ephemeral tones of […]
Bodegas Riojanas Rioja Monte Real Reserva 2014
Soft and seductive, this 100% Tempranillo from Bodegas Riojanas, the 2014 Monte Real Reserva slowly blooms in the glass with plums and black cherries interweaving notes of dusty earth, wet terra cotta, and mahogany wood. In the mouth, tannins are gathered at the fore and mid-palate—they’re fine, yet still tightly wound. Stewed prune and dried […]
Hōm Merlot by Robert Eden 2018
Vibrant purple on the meniscus, Hōm Merlot is part of a new collection from acclaimed biodynamic winemaker, Robert Eden of Château Maris. It’s a fresh and vivid Merlot, with aromas of blueberry crumble, black cherries, lilacs, spice, and cinnamon bark. The wines are vinified in the first cellar made from hemp that passively consumes carbon […]
J Vineyards California Pinot Gris 2017
The color of liquid sunshine, J Vineyards 2017 Pinot Gris unfurls to reveal perfumed layers of d’Anjou pear, white peach, freshly cut green apple, granulated honey, and elder flowers. Gentle, whole cluster pressing has created a wine that is crisp and refreshing—a burst of lemon-infused acidity subsides to dulcet mineral tones. This would pair beautifully […]
The sunset faded to twilight
I began walking, therefore, in a big curve, seeking some point of vantage and continually looking at the sand.
Yarden Malbec 2014
A well-crafted example of an Israeli Malbec, Yarden’s 2014 vintage is generously imbued with aromas of plums, mulberries, star anise, vanilla, and dried herbs. There’s ample, mouth-filling black fruit on entry, couched in ripe, chewy tannins. It’s a wine that will continue to improve over the next five to eight years. 14.0% ABV | Sample Golan Heights […]
Denner Viognier 2016
Aged for 15 months in 350 L cigar-shaped barrels, Denner’s 2016 Viognier shows off depth, dimension and a lithe mineral edge. The wine undergoes full malolactic fermentation and is bottled without fining or filtration. Pale green reflexes shimmer at the meniscus as aromas of Asian pear, mandarin, lanolin and dried honey bloom beneath ethereal secondary […]
Ferraton Pere & Fils Saint-Joseph La Source Rouge 2015
Displaying classic Northern Rhône character, the Ferraton Père & Fils Saint. Joseph “La Source” 2015 is opaque quinacridone violet in the glass with an aromatic profile awash in smoky plums, blackberries, earth, sun-dried tomato, braised meat, and anise. Crafted from 100% Syrah that has been biodynamically farmed and aged concrete and new and neutral oak […]
Domaine Santa Duc Vacqueyras Les Aubes 2010
This bottle disappeared in a hurry—the 2010 Santa Duc Les Aubes is a strapping blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. Blackberry compote, black olives, smoldering embers, venison terrine, and cracked black pepper form the stratified layers of the nose. Full-bodied, earth and underbrush wash over the palate just before a vein of acidity surfaces […]