Veal Chops and Pomerol
This recipe, albeit simple, hails from the year I spent in Carmel, California, at the invitation of a former wine buyer and his wife. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this story, my year in Carmel is what launched my career as a writer. One could see the ocean from the house, and […]
Grgich Hills Estate Merlot 2012
I had the pleasure of interviewing Ivo Jeramaz on my last visit to Napa Valley. He’s the nephew of winemaking legend, Mike Grgich and has taken the lead in much of the wineries day-to-day operations along with Mike’s daughter, Violet. Ivo is a quiet and thoughtful in his speech—and his wines seem to reflect this. […]
Cornerstone Cellars Stepping Stone Cabernet Franc 2012
I don’t see a lot of varietally labeled Cab Franc coming out of the Napa Valley. And it’s a different animal altogether from the CFs from the Loire Valley or even from Washington State. Expect a wine that is richer, more robust and concentrated, with a very nearly opaque garnet robe and enveloping notes of […]
Trisaetum Wichmann Dundee Estate Pinot Noir 2013
Trisaetum’s 2013 Whichmann Dundee Estate Pinot Noir is sourced from the winery’s smallest estate vineyard, at just under nine acres. It’s also at high elevation and has classic Dundee Hills volcanic Jory soils. It’s a bit masculine in expression, with robust notes of espresso and mocha followed by forest floor, underbrush and spry red berries. […]
Trisaetum Pinot Noir Estates Reserve 2011
Trisaetum Pinot Noir Estates Reserve” width=”200″ height=”200″ /></a>My pick of Trisaetum’s Pinot Noirs, the 2011 Estates Reserve is comprised of 13-20 barrels that are aged 11 months on French oak and offers elegant, complex aromatics. Dried mint, bittersweet chocolate, and lively orange zest notes lead into a wine that is bright, yet balanced. The fruit […]
Crème Brûlée with Sauternes
This is my go-to recipe from the Culinary Institute of America. It’s fool-proof as recipes go, and there is little motivation on my part to change it. Of course, there are infinite variations on this theme. Try infusing the cream with lavender or cardamom seeds, for example. Or substitute honey for sugar. Add subtle lift […]
Raptor Ridge Chehalem Mountains Estate Pinot Noir 2012
I’ve enjoyed tasting through Raptor Ridge’s current releases, which always strike me as being produced in a manner that is both thoughtful and sensitive. That being said, the aromatics on this 2012 Chehalem Mountains Estate Pinot Noir are heady, so much so, I can pick up lush black cherry notes wafting from the glass some […]
de Lancellotti Famiglia Pinot Noir 2013
de Lancelotti’s 2013 Famiglia Pinot Noir is a blend of Pommard and Clone 777, and offers a delicate burst of rose petals, stemmy raspberries, anise, and cola. It’s slim and nimble on the palate, with a kind of wiry tartness adding lift to cranberry, spice, twig tea and forest notes. Perhaps what impresses me most […]
de Lancellotti La Sorella Pinot Noir 2014
I had the pleasure of tasting the 2014 ‘La Sorella’ Pinot Noir with winemaker, Paul De Lancellotti. La Sorella is the winery’s entry level label, priced at about $25.00, it offers classic a Willamette Valley profile—rose petals, crab apples, and stemmy raspberry with a touch of earthen, decomposing soil. On the palate, cranberries and red […]
Wildstock Pinot Noir Oregon Crafted Wine 2013
Wildstock is a Scott Paul label, as such the 2013 is classic Oregon Pinot. It’s delicate and refined, with easy layers of raspberries, iron ore, baking spice and a pleasing top note of Dutch process cocoa powder. Equally light and nimble on the palate, with an alcohol level set at 13.5% ABV. Sample Scott Paul […]