Palazzina Le Macioche Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Le Macioche 2011
Virtually unknown in the US, Le Macioche is in the same neighborhood as Biondi Santi—their stylish 2011 Riserva is a study in lightness and complexity. Aromas of menthol, incense, pomegranate, leather, mushroom, and forest floor give way to an understory of well-integrated, ultra-fine tannins. The acid here is quite pretty, too—it crescendos mid-palate, and softly […]
Domaine Saint AIX Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rosé 2015
Consistently good, the Saint Aix AIX Rosé 2015 is pale peach in the glass. Aromatically expressive, it’s a kaleidoscope of white peach, melon, golden raspberries and line dried linen. In the mouth, it’s refreshing. It’s light, but layered too—here, minerality emerges and signs against a backdrop of ever-changing fruit. A great entertaining wine. 13.0% ABV […]
Château Marjosse Bordeaux Blanc 2014
Slightly smoky, flinty notes precede underripe pineapple, canned pear, gooseberry and grass. The 2014 Château Marjosse Bordeaux Blanc is inexpensive, moderate in weight, expressive in temperament—fleshy tropical and orchard fruit give way to leaner tones of white grapefruit. The oak component serves as more or less a backdrop, and the finish tapers off without fanfare. […]
Dinastía Vivanco Rioja Blanco 2016
Soft in tone and texture, Vivanco’s 2016 Rioja Blanco is a non-traditional blend of 50% Viura, 35% Tempranillo Blanco, and 15% Maturana Blanca. It’s the color of sun-bleached straw, and with a swirl radiates underripe pineapple, yellow apple, pear, lemon blossom, and barley flour. Lees contact has graced this Rioja blend with deceptive softness on […]
Château Auney l’Hermitage Graves Blanc 2015
Château Auney’s Graves Blanc 2015 is an elegant composition of 65% Semillon, 20% Muscadelle, and 15% Sauvignon Blanc harvested from small, organically farmed two-hectare parcel planted in gravel, clay and limestone soil. Barrel aging has graced it with softer tones of lemon curd, golden apple, and pear layered with a pinch of forest honey and […]
Domaines Schlumberger Les Princes Abbés Pinot Noir Alsace 2014
From Pinot Noir vines grown in limestone and marl, the initial impression is somewhat vegetative—dried moss and damp tilth, with a daub of iron ore. It’s a quality that burns off like morning fog. With time and air, a different suite of aromas surface, classic notes of alpine strawberries and sour cherries. It’s sweet, round […]
Cappellano Barolo Piè Rupestris Otin Fiorin 2011
Served blind at a recent lunch in Vancouver with fellow Cascadia Fine Wines colleagues, JoJo captured the tone of this outstanding Barolo when he described the 2011s as “charming” wines. Charming, indeed. A deliciously perfumed nose of rose petals, aged leather, fresh pie cherries, dried mint and spice. It’s nimble on the palate, gossamer and […]
Clos du Joncuas Côtes du Rhône Villages Séguret Domaine de la Garancière 2015
From organically farmed old-vine Grenache, with a smidge of Carignan and Cinsault. The 2015 Domaine la Garancière Seguret radiates black fruit on the nose—a bit deceptive because the true red-fruited character of Grenache comes through on the palate. Layered flavors of raspberry turnover, roasted strawberries, and a suggestion of black blackstrap molasses dissolves into chewy […]
Szent Tamás Hárslevelű 2012
Mad is the second label of Szent Tamás Winery, and both are masterfully crafted by 18th generation winemaker István Szepsy Jr. Like Furmint, Hárslevelű is indigenous to Tokaj, it differs from Furmint in that it’s lush as opposed to linear, and generously fruited. As a blend, it forms the mid-palate. Here, it shows of oxidized […]
Poggio Al Tesoro Bolgheri Superiore Sondraia 2012
Supple and stylish, Poggio Al Tesoro is part of the Allegrini family of wineries. This decidedly modern Cabernet, Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend is frife with earth, leather, plums, and cellar dust. With a core that’s juicy and plush, and cradled in soft, ripe tannins it’s hard to resist the pure hedonism in this glass. […]