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Evening Land Seven Springs Vineyard La Source Chardonnay 2014

Finely wrought and delicate, the 2014 Evening Land Seven Springs Vineyard La Source Chardonnay shows off beautiful tapicity. If you’re not convinced of Oregon’s Chardonnay Renaissance, than do seek out a bottle from Evening Land. Orchard fruit, mandarin orange, and an ethereal top note that drifts from iodine to acacia flowers to mint. Stylish and […]

Château Les Charmes-Godard Francs Blanc 2014

Château Les Charmes-Godard Francs Blanc 2014

I’ll admit, I’m always happy to have a Nicolas Thienpont wine in my glass. The Thienpont family are associated with other great Bordeaux properties including Puygueraud, Pavie Macquin and one of my personal favorites, Vieux Château Certan. The 2014 Les Charmes Godard is slightly austere, with pronounced herbaceousness. Smoky minerality swirls around boxwood, cherimoya and […]

Château La Freynelle Bordeaux Blanc 2015

Château La Freynelle Bordeaux Blanc 2015

An under-appreciated category in the United States, Bordeaux blanc—usually a blend of Sauvignon blanc and Sémillon and sometimes Muscadelle—often poses a great value. There is a side of Bordeaux that is inexpensive, and the wines can be quite good in excellent vintages. The 2015 Château La Freynelle is one such example, displaying grassy aromas and […]

Cave de Tain l’Hermitage Crozes-Hermitage Grand Classique 2016

Cave de Tain l'Hermitage Crozes-Hermitage Grand Classique 2016

A lovely winter white, the Cave de Tain Crozes-Hermitage Grand Classique 2016 is composed of 100% Marsanne, sourced from granitic slopes of Hermitage. It’s got that classic Marsanne profile; Asian pear, white peach, blanched almond and just a touch of lanolin. I love the tension in this wine, one that perpetually borders on silky richness […]

Brooks Duex Vert Vineyard Melon de Bourgogne 2015

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). […]

Bodega Catena Zapata Chardonnay High Mountain Vines 2015

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 […]

Frei Brothers Reserve Chardonnay 2014

Frei Brothers Reserve Chardonnay 2014

A nice value Chardonnay from the River Valley Russian, Frei Brothers 2014 Reserve is medium lemon yellow in the glass with a leaning towards tropical-papaya, ripe pear, buttered scone and baked apple tartin. The attack is round and full with moderate toast squarely at the mid-palate. A short shorts that adorned with toast and pencil […]

Clos Bellane Côtes du Rhône Villages Valréas Blanc 2015

Clos Bellane Côtes du Rhône Villages Valréas Blanc 2015

A 50/50 blend of Marsanne and Viognier, the enchanting Clos Bellane Côtes du Rhône Villages Blanc hails from a higher altitude site, with vineyard blocks set on 410″ plateau opposite Mont Ventoux. Sunbeam yellow with lemon drop and d’Anjou pear leading into more diffuse aromas of dried laurel and slate. The attack is round and […]

Clos Bellane Les Échalas Côtes du Rhône Villages Valréas Blanc 2015

Clos Bellane Les Échalas Côtes du Rhône Villages Valréas Blanc 2015

A 50/50 blend of Marsanne and Viognier, the enchanting Clos Bellane Côtes du Rhône Villages Blanc hails from a higher altitude site, with vineyard blocks set on 410″ plateau opposite Mont Ventoux. Sunbeam yellow with lemon drop and d’Anjou pear leading into more diffuse aromas of dried laurel and slate. The attack is round and […]

Feudo Arancio Chardonnay Sicilia Stemmari 2013

Feudo Arancio Chardonnay Sicilia Stemmari 2013

Stemarri’s charming Chardonnay Sicilia 2013 presents billowy notes of golden delicious apples, pineapple, blanched almond and banana custard. While the aromatics lean toward tropical, it isn’t heavy. This is a lighter expression of the grape, with moderate acidity—15% of which is aged in French barrique. The toast is very discreet, one might not even notice […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com