Herencia Altés La Peluda 2015
Fortunate to have tasted some absolutely stunning wines while in the Terra Alta region of Spain last week, including this delicious wine from Herencia Altés. La Peluda is from the little known hairy Garnacha, translated, Peluda literally means hairy—despite the name, the wine itself is delicious with earthy, seductive aromas brimming with underbrush, bright red […]
Locations I-4 NV
Of the trio sampled from the Locations project, I-4 is a non-vintage, multi-regional blend featuring Negroamaro and Nero d’Avola from Puglia and Barbera from Piemonte has the most body. Lots of richness in this wine, with an alluring nose of black plums, black cherries, leather, Dr. Pepper, allspice, and anise. It’s voluptuous without being overripe, […]
Locations F-4 NV
From yesterday’s virtual tasting hosted by talented winemaker and founder of Orin Swift, Dave Phinney, this non-vintage blend from the Locations project. The blend from France is especially compelling, laden with black currants, roasted strawberries, and a slightly wild, earthy streak of underbrush, damp tilth, dried mushroom, and spearmint. Fruit sourced from the Rhone, Roussillon, […]
Albert Mann Gewürztraminer 2015
The volume is turned way up on this 2015 Albert Mann Gewürztraminer, it explodes with pungent aromas of canned pear, lychee, musk melon, jasmine, and spice. Nervy acidity cleanly dissect a palate that is rich and viscous—there’s lots of energy and tension in this wine along with a finish strewn with white pepper, jasmine tea, […]
Locations E-4 NV
From yesterday’s virtual tasting with founder Dave Phinney of Orin Swift, this series of Locations wines based on regional blends that defy AOC labeling laws. Locations E-4 (E is for España) boasts a nose of stunning complexity. Cherries and Damson plums, rick dust, and balsam wood overlaid by finer, more savory notes—tomato paste, underbrush, and […]
Maîtres Vignerons de la Presqu’ile de Saint-Tropez Côtes de Provence Fleur de Mer Rosé 2016
The Fleur de Mer Côtes de Provence Rosé 2016 is fresh and genial, expressing a lovely melange of chilled melon, raspberry sorbet, turbinado sugar, and line dried linen. Lean on fruit, but generously framed in minerality, this pretty Provençal pink has an underlying structure of wet chalk and limestone that seemingly closes in on and […]
Domaine Zind Humbrecht Pinot Blanc Alsace 2014
Soaring aromas of yellow peaches, mango, dried mint, and wet limestone—this is classic Alsatian Pinot Blanc. The palate boasts moderate weight with a spritely arching spine of oyster shell, pleasantly bitter peach skin, and grapefruit pith pit co-mingling with flecks of sea salt. A wonderful ying yang between lushness and vivid acidic verve in this […]
Paul Blanck Pinot Blanc Alsace 2015
Easy like Sunday morning, Paul Blanck’s 2015 Pinot Blanc Alsace boasts aromatic charm. Laden in white peach and pine, stargazer lily, line-dried linen, and rosemary blossom. It’s got some weight to it, though nicely balanced by citrus soaked acidity and a pleasant herbal flourish at the close. 12.5% ABV | Sample Paul Blanck & Fils 8.9 […]
Château Gassier Côtes de Provence Esprit Gassier 2015
Rosé seemed like the appropriate wine to drink after a 2+ week absence from the flu. And this bottle the 2015 Château Gassier Esprit Gassier is the color of ballet shoes with pretty aromatics that roll out of the glass. White peach, underripe watermelon, a touch of blood orange and loads of minerality. It’s the […]
Laurent-Perrier Champagne Brut Cuvée Rosé NV
The color of this pretty brut rosé exactly matches the label, I’m sure that’s intentional. It’s fine-boned and delicate with convivial seed pearl bubbles and aromas of ripe raspberries, tart red currants, blood orange and rose petal. Lively and fresh on entry, Laurent-Perrier’s pink shows very little yeast, the merest suggestion wet dough, fleeting and […]