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Cayuse Vineyards Armada Vineyard Syrah 2007

Cayuse Vineyards Armada Vineyard Syrah 2007

From last night’s Vivino meetup, this bottle, the 2007 Cayuse Armada Vineyard Syrah is a dead ringer for a Northern Rhône. Waves of bacon fat, black tea and savory tones dominate the profile of this full-bodied, intense cult wine. At this stage in its development, fruit is no longer the central player, rather it plays […]

Clos du Joncuas Côtes du Rhône Villages Séguret Domaine de la Garancière 2015

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 […]

Emiliana Natura Un-Oaked Chardonnay 2016

Emiliana Natura Un-Oaked Chardonnay 2016

Emiliana offers this surprisingly lean Chilean un-oaked Chardonnay. Perhaps a little more body than Chablis, but certainly less lush than most domestic versions of this versatile grape. Lime sorbet, yellow apple, underripe pineapple, and a pinch fresh green herbs. Silky on entry, it glides along, held aloft by bright grapefruit-pith tinged acidity. Lovely and fresh—a […]

Barra Of Mendocino Petite Sirah 2014

Barra Of Mendocino Petite Sirah 2014

From old vine, estate fruit that’s been organically farmed, Barra Of Mendocino’s 2014 Petite Sirah is a deep dive into ruby-hued velvet. Palate drenching black cherries, plums and steeped blackberries are couched in velvety tannins. This is a soulful, baritone, and smoldering wine, imbued with incense, smoky dark chocolate, and a pinch of dried herbs […]

Tablas Creek Vineyard Patelin de Tablas Blanc 2016

Tablas Creek Vineyard Patelin de Tablas Blanc 2016

Tablas Creek has long been one of my favorite Paso Robles producers. From the care they put into their vineyards—biodynamic farming, noisy sheep, a rambunctious trio of winery dogs, and a resident shepherd—the good folks at Tablas turn out elegant wines that are nuanced, superbly balanced and long aging. For the price, they’re just that […]

Biohof Pratsch Rotenspüllen Grüner Veltliner 2015

Pratsch Rotenspüllen Grüner Veltliner 2015

I’ve long been a fan of Biohof Pratsch—aside from their commitment to organic farming, their wines are also an outstanding value. Softly textured on the nose and palate, with gently wafting aromas of white peach, honeysuckle, wet stones and lemon curd. Medium-bodied and round, one can expect balanced acidic lift followed by a streak of […]

Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fumé Silex 2007

Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fumé Silex 2007

The best Pouilly-Fumé I’ve tasted in a long while—the 2007 Silex was indeed a special bottle, the last vintage Dagueneau crafted before a crash in an ultralight plane cut his life and career short. Full and nuanced without being weighty, ever changing and evolving in the glass. Lemon curd, apple blossom, dried honey, and dried […]

Domaine de la Mordorée Plume du Peintre Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2014

Domaine de la Mordorée Plume du Peintre Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2014

Brooding, serious and bordering on high-octane, the 2014 Domaine de la Mordorée Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Belle Voyageuse-du-Pape opens with notes of blackberry reduction, freshly turned soil, graphite and violets. A faint topnote of barnyard eventually blows off revealing a wine with lots of power and verve, firm tannins and close of Garrigue and spice. Lots to […]

Emiliana Natura Rosé 2016

Emiliana Natura Rosé 2016

Heavily laden in musk melon, Queen Anne’s cherries and white peach, the most alluring thing about the Emiliana Natura Rosé 2016—there is a perception of sweetness on entry but that sensation quickly fades to peach pit and pink grapefruit skin that hits the sides of the tongue, leaving a pleasant bitterness that just goes on […]

Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir 2014

Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir 2014

Enigmatic as all Véronique Boss-Drouhin’s wines are, the 2014 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir boasts freshness and poise in a ripe vintage year. Crushed lavender, cocoa powder, dried mint, underbrush, and an alluring array of red fruits lead into a wine that is medium-bodied and neatly trussed in fine tannins. White pepper and earth emerge at […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com