Havens Logo 23 White Small

Szent Tamás Dry by Tokaj White 2015

Szent Tamás Dry by Tokaj White 2015

I had the pleasure of visiting the Szepsy family last fall—the time spent with them gave me insight into why the Tokaj region, famed for its sweet wines is now transitioning to more dry-style offerings. The Dry by Tokaj, an entry level in their portfolio is the color of straw, with vivid aromas of bosc […]

Herencia Altés La Peluda 2015

Herencia Altés La Peluda 2015

Fortunate to have tasted some absolutely stunning wines while in the Terra Alta region of Spain last week, including this delicious wine from Herencia Altés. La Peluda is from the little known hairy Garnacha, translated, Peluda literally means hairy—despite the name, the wine itself is delicious with earthy, seductive aromas brimming with underbrush, bright red […]

Matthiasson Napa Valley Ribolla Gialla 2013

Matthiasson Napa Valley Ribolla Gialla 2013

I was fortunate to have spent time with Steve Matthaisson and his wife, Jill Klein last Wednesday. The 2013 Napa Valley Ribolla Gialla had only been bottled that morning, and needs to rest for three to six months before it will be released. I did taste through several of their wines on this visit, including […]

Layer Cake Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Layer Cake Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Daffodil yellow with notes of lemon budino pudding, yellow apple, and lime zest set against a backdrop of fresh tropical fruit. Layer Cake is lighter in body and lower in acidity than its New Zealand and Loire counterparts, even so, it displays satisfying acidic cut and enough grapefruit-pith tartness to make it a good food […]

J Vineyards Estate Grown Pinot Noir 2014

J Vineyards Estate Grown Pinot Noir 2014

Flat out pretty, J Estate Vineyards Grown Pinot Noir 2014 is sourced from the River Valley and is a shade more nimble than expected. Robed in translucent garnet, and delivering a pent-up array of woodland berries and raspberries still on the vine, underbrush and rose petal and a dusting of warm spice. It’s a poised […]

Talbott Pinot Noir Sleepy Hollow Vineyard 2014

Robert Talbott Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014

The brawny side of Pinot Noir, Talbott’s Sleepy Hollow Vineyard is located in the Santa Lucia Highlands. There, Pommard and Dijon clones burrow deep into Chualar gravelly loam soil and sand, resulting in a wine with an equal measure of weight and acidity along with steeped raspberry, cherry, rose hip, underbrush, and spice notes. Bordering […]

Locations I-4 NV

Locations I-4 NV

Of the trio sampled from the Locations project, I-4 is a non-vintage, multi-regional blend featuring Negroamaro and Nero d’Avola from Puglia and Barbera from Piemonte has the most body. Lots of richness in this wine, with an alluring nose of black plums, black cherries, leather, Dr. Pepper, allspice, and anise. It’s voluptuous without being overripe, […]

Locations F-4 NV

Locations F-4 NV

From yesterday’s virtual tasting hosted by talented winemaker and founder of Orin Swift, Dave Phinney, this non-vintage blend from the Locations project. The blend from France is especially compelling, laden with black currants, roasted strawberries, and a slightly wild, earthy streak of underbrush, damp tilth, dried mushroom, and spearmint. Fruit sourced from the Rhone, Roussillon, […]

Albert Mann Gewürztraminer 2015

Albert Mann Gewurztraminer 2015

The volume is turned way up on this 2015 Albert Mann Gewürztraminer, it explodes with pungent aromas of canned pear, lychee, musk melon, jasmine, and spice. Nervy acidity cleanly dissect a palate that is rich and viscous—there’s lots of energy and tension in this wine along with a finish strewn with white pepper, jasmine tea, […]

Locations E-4 NV

Locations E-4 NV

From yesterday’s virtual tasting with founder Dave Phinney of Orin Swift, this series of Locations wines based on regional blends that defy AOC labeling laws. Locations E-4 (E is for España) boasts a nose of stunning complexity. Cherries and Damson plums, rick dust, and balsam wood overlaid by finer, more savory notes—tomato paste, underbrush, and […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com