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 […]
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 […]
Seed Malbec 2015
Beautifully delineated, the 2015 Seed Malbec is a small lot single-vineyard wine that is aged for 16 months in new French oak and, I’m happy to report, has a long life ahead of it. At this stage in its development, the nose is quite primary and is heavily laden in fresh blackberries, plums, and macerated […]
J Vineyards Brut Rosé NV
I had the chance to visit J Vineyards in 2015, and was impressed (no pun intended) by the large Coquard press flanking the processing bay of the winery. The Coquard press is traditionally used by Champagne houses, and is extremely gentle. J’s Brut Rosé NV is as I remember it, fresh and vivacious, brimming with […]
Leah Jørgensen Cellars Cabernet Franc 2015
Quite possibly the best example of Oregon Cabernet Franc I’ve ever tasted. Ruby robed with violet reflexes, Leah Jørgensen’s Cabernet Franc captivates the senses with aromas of mulberries, marionberries, incense, and anise. In the mouth it’s velvety and supple with cashmere-like tannins lending support to a red-fruited core. White pepper and hibiscus tea at the […]
Coyote Canyon Vineyard H/H Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Big John 2010
Coyote Canyon’s H/H Estate ‘Big John Cab’ Reserve 2010 is garnet-hued at this stage in its life, sporting notes of black cherry, crème de cassis, subtle spice, and dried mint. Satiny smooth on entry with polished tannins and moderate concentration. Black and red fruit nestled at the center, along with a touch of vanilla. Drink […]
Research and Resilience at High Altitude
What one Argentine winery is doing to combat climate change. Climate change is everywhere, according to Dr. Laura Catena, and tackling these problems is a race, “We need to look at life at all levels, using science to preserve nature and culture, and we don’t have much time.” I recently had the opportunity to talk […]