Michel Gassier Nostre Païs Costières de Nîmes Blanc 2014
The composition of Michel Gassier’s Nostre Païs Costières de Nîmes Blanc changes from year to year—2014 is 60% Grenache blanc, 20% Clairette, 15% Roussanne and 5% Viognier. That’s a shift from previous vintages with no Clariette, and yet this wine’s personality and intensity remain intact. A melange of bruised pear, ripe melon and yellow peach […]
Feudo Arancio Moscato Terre Siciliane Stemmari 2015
Continuing on with the Stemmari line, their 2015 Moscato Terre Siciliane sports a classic Moscato nose. Brimming over with honey, chamomile, white flowers, and mandarin orange. It’s not as heavy or as cloying as some d’Asti, the palate is soft, I’d like a touch more acidity to offset the residual sugar. here. Apricots and stone […]
Puffin Oregon Pinot Gris 2015
A wine from one of many stops while on an Oregon-Washington themed wine cruise. I was pleasantly surprised by the 2015 Puffin Oregon Pinot Gris made by Ray Walsh, former winemaker at King Estate. King Estate’s jewel is their Pinot Gris, and this unlikely label sold in an equally unlikely place—proprietor Steven Sinkler sells Puffin from his […]
Feudo Arancio Pinot Grigio Sicilia Stemmari 2014
Last week I had a lengthy and engaging interview with Stemmari winemaker, Lucio Matricardi. His wines, clean and fresh, nicely showcase Sicilian terroir. In the case of this Pinot Grigio, there is ample minerality on the back palate—a flourish of calcareous soils that meander towards a saline edge enlivened by zesty acidity. The fruit profile […]
Feudo Arancio Grillo Sicilia Stemmari 2015
Grillo is an amazing variety; it’s a white grape with a black dress. Why? It has this incredible ability to withstand the heat, it’s really yellow, almost amber-hued with lots of tannins,” says winemaker Lucio Matricardi. The grapes must be pressed very gently, and interestingly only the free run is used in crafting this demure […]
Domaine J. Meuret Clos Pierre Chardonnay 2013
Domaine J. Meuret Les Chênes Phelps Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013″ width=”200″ height=”200″ /></a>Limpid sunlight in a glass, Domaine J. Meuret is from Washington’s highly regarded Maison Bleue, the Meuret label are single vineyard wines, meant to show off terroir. In this case this outstanding Chardonnay is from Clos Pierre vineyard in White Salmon, a […]
Murrieta’s Well The Whip 2014
From Wente, Murrieta’s Well Winery The Whip 2014 is an estate-grown blend of 29% Semillon and 27% Chardonnay, with the balance comprised of Sauvignon Blanc, Orange Muscat, Muscat Canelli and Viognier. It offers up a lush bouquet of golden apple, dried pineapple, mango, lemon drop, lemon blossom, and vanilla. There’s as much range [of fruit] […]
M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Côtes du Rousillon Blanc 2015
An oustanding value as always, the M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Côtes du Rousillon Blanc 2015 is an inviting blend of Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris and Macabeu. The nose fills the bowl of the glass with d’Anjou pear, yellow apple, and flirts with quince aromas. The attack is round and silky, with orchard fruit […]
Szent Tamás Teleki 1088 Palack Tokaji Késői Szüretelésű 2012
I suspect, giving this wine’s lushness, this is Hárslevelű or a blend of Furmint and Hárslevelű. Lemon yellow in the glass with opulent notes of apricot and ripe mango, honeysuckle and a classic botrytised nose. It’s full and viscous on the palate with plump apricot at the core followed by cardamom and Seville orange marmalade. […]
MÁD Tokaj Dry Furmint 2012
One of the bottles I brought back in my luggage, the 2012 MÁD Tokaj Dry Furmint is exactly as advertised, bone dry. Furmint is a non-aromatic white, in this style what shines through is complexity and minerality. Nuanced aromas of walnut skins, burnished pear, golden apple and a sort of golden-hued, bordering on oxidative noblesse […]