Weingut Witwe Dr. H. Thanisch Erben Müller-Burggraef Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett 2016
The sweeter side of Kabinett, the 2016 Weingut Witwe Dr. H. Thanisch Erben Müller-Burggraef Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett is classic offers up notes of yellow apple, white peach, honey, and wafting tennis ball. In the mouth, it’s full and lush, unfurling at a deceptively languid place with a burst of energy and spritz at the […]
Domaine Guion Cuvée Domaine Bourgueil 2015
Sporting classic Bourgueil notes of red berries, underbrush, orange pomander ball, and an ethereal top note of delicate florality. The 2015 Domaine Guion Cuvée Domaine Bourgueil is angular and tight with high-toned acidity, like crushed raw cranberry—it has a definite edge and considerable tartness, with tannins perched on the fore-palate. An earthy, mineral note emerges […]
Yarden Golan Heights Winery Odem Organic Vineyard Chardonnay 2014
Lemon Yellow in the glass and medium-bodied without perceptible heaviness. There’s an air of restraint to this Israeli Chardonnay from Golan Heights Winery—yellow apple skin, white peach, poached pear, lemon tart, and a nuanced whiff of white flowers and toast. In the mouth, it’s focused—a textbook Chardonnay profile, and really nicely done. Perched acidity hits […]
Côté Mas Sud de France Rouge Intense 2016
Emblazoned with a sticker that proudly states 33% more, and it is indeed a larger than the average 750ml, though I failed to check the exact ml, it’s at a midway point between a standard bottle and a magnum. A blend of 45% Grenache Noir, 25% Carignan, 15% Cinsault, 10% Merlot, and 5% Syrah that […]
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 […]
Talbott Kali Hart Chardonnay 2014
An excellent value to be found in this estate grown, Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay. The site lies just thirteen miles from Carmel Bay, along the northern edge of the valley—planted in 1982, in Corton-Charlemagne Chardonnay clone vines, it’s a wine that delivers subtle, layered flavors of smokey baked yellow apples, figs, and lemon torte strike […]
Notable Oaked Chardonnay 2016
Relatively new to the market, Notable Chardonnay comes in two versions, one for the oaky-buttery crowd and the other a crisp stainless steel ferment. This being the oak-laden version, with palate drenching caramel, praline, bruised pear, and lemon drop. Silky on entry with orchard fruit at the core neatly folded into toast that is most […]
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 […]