The Eyrie Vineyards Spark NV
Dark salmon, with an ultra-fine mousse that washes over the palate like the tide coming in, Eyrie’s Spark NV is a poetic blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 37% Chasselas Doré, and 8% Pinot Blanc that’s aged for 12 months on the lees in neutral French oak. It’s bone dry with a core of bright red […]
Domaine Bousquet Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Domaine Bousquet’s 2019 Sauvignon Blanc is crafted from organically-grown estate fruit and fruit purchased in the Uco Valley. It’s a light, crisp style, ideal for those who don’t like fuller, fleshier examples of the varietal. Opens with lemon zest, meadow flowers, pear, and dried thyme. In the mouth snappy acidity and a profile that moves […]
Mt. Beautiful 10 Barrels Pinot Noir 2015
More expressive on the second day, Mt. Beautiful’s 2015 10 Barrels Pinot Noir opens with a wreath of foresty undertones—dried herbs, decaying leaves, climbing rose, and, lilac bush encircles blackberry and black cherry. In the mouth, the tannins are fine and supple, with high toned-red berries and a wiry acid spine that gives way to […]
Cristom Estate Pinot Gris 2018
From vines planted in 1993, Cristom’s 2018 Estate Pinot Gris is limpid sunbeam yellow, with lilting aromas of Asian pear, comice apple, granulated honey, pea tendril, and wet shell. In the mouth, there’s weight and flesh from full-malolactic fermentation combined with six months aging on fine lees—a taught vein of acidity wells up from the […]
Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Noble House Riesling 2018
Dr. Pauly Bergweiler’s 2018 Noble House Riesling offers up a classic nose of yellow apple, pears, and a whiff of kerosene. It’s lightly sweet on the palate, balanced out by snappy acidity and a lively with a touch of lemon curd and yellow peach at the close. A nice value for its price point. 10.5% […]
Lange Estate Winery River Run Cuvée Pinot Noir 2018
The 2018 Lange River Run Cuvée was slightly closed when I last reviewed it, I’m pleased to report that it’s showing beautifully now and will only continue to improve in time. Sporting a seductive floral edge, it opens with aromas of pie cherry, raspberry coulis, rose petal, violet, underbrush, and lichen. Tons of finesse on […]
Domaine Bobinet Hanami 2014
From the Saumur-Champigny region of the Loire, Domaine Bobinet’s 2014 Hanami is made from 100% Cabernet Franc, 30% of which is carbonically macerated. The nose unspools to reveal earthy barnyard funk, freshly turned tilth, and decomposing leaves along with pie cherries and Damson plum. In the mouth, it’s a touch astringent and drying, with a […]
Fitz-Ritter Riesling Sekt Extra Trocken NV
Apricot, dewy pear and a whiff of diesel and laurel leaf anoint the nose. Delicately embroidered bubbles play off tightly coiled acidity that gathers at the sides of the tongue—Fritz-Ritter’s Riesling Sekt is the very picture of lightness—chalk and slate-flecked minerality burbles along, twining a pretty streak of candied pink grapefruit on the finish. 12.0% […]
Herdade do Esporão Colheita Tinto 2017
A delightful blend that features Aragonez, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Touriga Franca, Esporão 2017 Colheita Tinto is made from organically-grown grapes from the winery’s estate. Pigéage is accomplished in large concrete vats. Plums, black cherries, and vanilla round out the nose. It’s quite dry on the palate, with structured, chewy tannins. Minerality resonates against a backdrop […]
Mionetto Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze Dry NV
From Mionetto’s Luxury Collection, the Cartizze DOCG Dry NV is produced from select grapes grown along the steepest hillsides of the Valdobbiadene. The color of onion skin, it offers up an elegant, tender nose of yellow apple, d’Anjou pear, almond pastry, granulated honey, wet porcelain clay, and citrus blossom. Cascading, voluminous bubbles lead into a […]