Pierre-Henri Morel Luberon 2014
Pierre-Henri Morel is Maison Chapoutier’s commercial director. He launched his eponymous brand in collaboration with Michel Chapoutier in 2008, all of the wines under this label are vinified at Chapoutier’s facility. The 2008 Luberon is has a wonderful sauvage character—an earthy mix of leather, woody trails, game and wild strawberries. It’s light bodied, underscored by […]
Bodega Catena Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon High Mountain Vines 2014
Bodega Catena Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon High Mountain Vines 2014″ width=”200″ height=”200″ /></a>I received a selection of Catena wines following an interview with Dr. Laura Catena (to her credit, she’s an amazing person and a part time ER doc). Her 2014 High Mountain Vines Cabernet displays glorious aromas of black currant, anise, mocha, exotic spice, and […]
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 […]
Feudo Arancio Cabernet Sauvignon Sicilia Stemmari 2013
Aged in neutral French barriques, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is softly textured, fresh, and endowed with fine tannins that gather at the fore-palate. Laden with plums, blackberries, incense and Chinese five spice, this is an easy and approachable Cabernet Sauvignon, a perfect wine for a casual gathering. 13.5% ABV | Sample Feudo Arancio Stemmari 8.7 […]
Veuve Clicquot Champagne Réserve Brut Rosé NV
The base wine for this salmon-hued sparkler is 2008 and the blend feels Pinot Noir heavy, though I’m unclear of actual percentages in this particular lot. Fresh and vivacious, Veuve Clicquot’s basic Brut Rosé offers up a bouquet of strawberries and ripe raspberries, along with a suggestion of white flowers. Red fruit is anchored at […]
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
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 […]
Slightly Last Minute Gifts for Wine Lovers
The holidays are upon us, and if you’re anything like me, you haven’t yet begun shopping. Most people in my immediate circle love wine and are connected to the industry one way or another—a bottle of Bruno Paillard Brut Champagne is always welcome, but I like to give gifts that last. The pursuit of wine […]
Tokaj’s New Golden Age
How a quiet revolution in Mád will change the way think about Tokaji. To visit Tokaj is to pull back the curtain on an extraordinary place, an ancient place that, at first glance, appears frozen in time even as the region embraces change. Storybook houses cluster together, defining this village from that; only the town […]
Domaine Paul Autard Côtes du Rhône 2015
I’m revisiting this on the third day, it’s still lovely and fresh—Paul Autard’s basic Côtes du Rhône 2015 offers a sweeping palate of aromas. Macerated strawberry, cherry and plum notes are hemmed in by anise verging on violets, crushed stones, black olives, and sweet tobacco. It’s decidedly medium bodied, with dark fruit at the core, […]