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Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) Champagne Blanc de Blancs NV

Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) Champagne Blanc de Blancs NV

An elegant Blanc de Blancs from Champagne Barons de Rothschild, this non-vintage Brut is a blend of 40% reserve wine and chardonnay harvested from the Avize, Cramant, Menil-Sur-Oger, Oger, and Vertus Crus. Aromas of baked apple, biscuit, blanched almond, and powdered ginger are held aloft on a fine mousse. On the palate, it’s crisp and […]

La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904 2005

La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904 2005

A fabulous La Rioja Alta, the 2005 Gran Reserva 904 is a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano aged in American oak barrels. It opens with a kaleidoscope of subtle, alluring aromas of Japanese plum, dried leaves, dusty earth, mahogany wood, leather, pomander ball, dried mint, and Dutch cocoa powder. In the mouth, sueded […]

Domaine des Gaudets Côte du Py Morgon 2015

Domaine des Gaudets Côte du Py Morgon 2015

From 65-year-old vines grown in schist, the 2015 Domaine de Gaudets Côte du Py Moron is richly brocaded in blackberries, plums, earth, iron ore, cigar box, red licorice, and violets. In the mouth, firm tannins at the fore-to-mid palate lend structure to a dark mineral core. High acidity amplifies this wine’s attractive juiciness—crushed stones and […]

Jean-Luc Colombo Côtes du Rhône Les Abeilles de Colombo Rouge 2016

Jean-Luc Colombo Côtes du Rhône Les Abeilles de Colombo Rouge 2016

A juicy blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 10% Mouvèdre, Jean-Luc Colombo’s 2016 Rouge “Les Abeilles” is laden in red fruit—a bushel basket of black cherries, macerated strawberries, and rhubarb are followed by lighter notes of underbrush, vanilla, dusty earth, and anise. On the palate, nimble acidity lends brightness and freshness to this softly […]

Côté Mas St. Hilaire Crémant de Limoux Brut NV

Côté Mas St. Hilaire Crémant de Limoux Brut NV

Aged sur point for twelve months, the Côté Mas Brut St. Hilaire is a blend of 60% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin Blanc, 10% Pinot Noir, and 10% Mauzac crafted from vines planted in clay and limestone soils at elevations between 820 and 920 feet. In the glass, it’s the color of onion skin and is generously […]

Bollig-Lehnert Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese 2015

Bollig-Lehnert Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese 2015

The Bollig-Lehnert Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese 2015 is pale lemon yellow, with classic Mosel aromas of kerosene and rubber pool toy followed by lemon drop and ripened pear. Medium-weight on the palate, but nicely offset by a jaunty burst of acidity, fruit emerges on the finish with yellow peach and apricot buoyantly weaving in and […]

Francois Baur Schlittweg Pinot Noir 2015

Francois Baur Schlittweg Pinot Noir 2015

Francois Bauer Pinot Noir. From biodynamically grown Pinot Noir located in the Brand Alsatian Grand Cru, the 2015 Francois Bauer Schlittweg Pinot Noir sports nimble layers of underbrush, briery berries and black cherry, spice, lavender, and rose petal. In the mouth, it’s round, with supple, ultra-fine tannins and an acid spine that wends its way […]

Domaine Jean Royer Cuvée Tradition Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2014

Domaine Jean Royer Cuvée Tradition Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2014

A blend of 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault from vines planted in the galet-laden La Crau and Les Grandes Serres lieux-dits, the 2014 Domaine Jean Royer Cuvée Tradition has slight bricking at this stage in its evolution, with layered aromas of black cherry, plum skin, sagebrush, loamy tilth, cigar box, and […]

Chef Richard Verhagen’s Cassoulet Rustico — Part II

Cassoulet

As with all of my partner’s dishes, they are an intersection of cultures that meld and rub up against each other in surprising ways. There is a kind of irreverence to them, a devil may care approach in the use of ingredients and techniques. He’s not at all shy about breaking the rules. This Cassoulet, […]

Department 66 Fragile Rosé 2017

Department 66 Fragile Rosé 2017

Orin Swift winemaker Dave Phinney’s latest project is Department 66, a collection of sleekly packaged wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon. His 2017 Fragile Rosé is salmon-hued with expressive aromas of white peach, cherry blossom, field-ripened strawberries, and orange zest. There is more concentration on the palate than the nose belies, with ample depth and fruit at […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com