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Herdade do Esporão Douro Minas Quinta dos Murças 2015

Herdade do Esporão Douro Minas Quinta dos Murças 2015

From the steeply terraced hillsides of the Douro is this classic and expressive blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinto Cão. Layered aromas of plums and black cherries form the foundation, with lively spice and incense notes gliding over the top. On the palate, fruit is restrained by mouth-coating tannins and […]

Herencia Altés Terra Alta L’Estel 2015

Herencia Altés Terra Alta L'estel 2015

A blend of 50% Samsó, 25% Garnacha Negra, and 25% Syrah, Herencia Altés L’Estel has a dark undercurrent running through it—preserved meat, matchstick, flint, dried blood and spice swirl about this wine like a secret waiting to be told—a beguiling top note anchored in black cherries, blackberries, and juicy ripe plums. L’Estel is aged five […]

Dinastía Vivanco Rioja Crianza Selección de Familia 2013

Dinastía Vivanco Rioja Crianza Selección de Familia

Smooth and open-hearted, Dinastia Vivanco’s Crianza Rioja 2013 is an effortless plunge in to ripe plums, juicy black cherries, vanilla, wafting anise and lavender notes followed by a daub of earthy soulfulness. Composed of 100% Tempranillo, this is a fresh, round Crianza framed in black tea and ripe tannins. Easy to drink and even easier […]

Herencia Altés La Peluda 2015

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

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

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, […]

Locations E-4 NV

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 […]

Columbia Winery Red Blend 2014

Columbia Winery Red Blend 2014

50-year old Columbia Winery is sporting new packaging, I’m always glad to be in the know of such things. The more important question, however—does the packaging match the contents? A supple blend of 40% Merlot, 39% Syrah, 8% Cabernet, 7% Cab Franc, and 6% Malbec the NV Red Blend sports a classic Columbia Valley profile […]

Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Marqués de Casa Concha 2015

Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Marqués de Casa Concha 2015

Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Marqués de Casa Concha 2015″ width=”200″ height=”200″ /></a>A solid Chilean Cabernet, Concha Y Toro’s Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 is crafted from fruit sourced from a stony alluvial bench in the Maipo Valley. Classic aromas of black currant and blackberry rest well beneath layers of potting soil and […]

Lubanzi Red Blend 2015

Lubanzi Red Blend 2015

This is a new brand—yet to be released, and one that I see as part of the growing trend combining wine and philanthropy. Cape Venture was founded by two young men who fell in love with South Africa’s rugged wine scene. They have pledged to give 50% of the winery’s profits to back the Pebbles […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com