Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay 2012
First impression of the 2012 Grgich Hills Chardonnay—it’s old-school and intense. Classic orchard fruit aromas are couched in flint and matchstick that hover like an electric storm over rather more tender notes of toasted walnut, brioche, and acacia honey. In the mouth, there’s not an ounce of fat, it’s lean with considerable energy and verve. […]
Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
From the acclaimed Mount Veeder appellation, Mayacamas 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon spends 13 months on new French Oak and sees and additional 5 years aging in bottle prior to release. Complex, heady aromas of black currants and black cherries, roasted game, black olive tapenade, and a lovely wafting tertiary note of violets. High altitude and cooler […]
Domaine Comte Abbatucci Faustine Vieilles Vignes 2012
A Kermit Lynch import, Faustine is a biodynamically-farmed Corsian blend of 70% Sciaccarellu and 30% Niellucciu. Shimmering translucent garnet, it’s lighter in hue and body than Pinot Noir with refined, perfumy aromas of decaying rose petal, white hand soap, forest floor, dried mint, and a hint of spice. In the mouth, it’s taught, red-fruited and […]
Bodegas Escorihuela Gascón Malbec Don Miguel Gascón Reserva 2011
Inky-hued and opaque as starless night, the 2011, Gascon Familia Gascón Reserva Malbec emits boysenberries, mulberries and dusty-dry soil on the nose. It’s quite plump in the mouth with full, round, ripe tannins, moderate acidity and singed herbs on the finish. Vinous and intense, it’s a nice example of Argentine malbec with good QPR. 14.8% […]
Les Vignerons d’Estézargues Côtes du Rhône Villages Domaine d’Andézon 2013
Domain d’Andezon Côtes du Rhône is crafted from a blend of 40 year-old Syrah vines and 60 year-old Grenache vines grown in the arid and galet-laden Southern Rhône. Unfiltered, it’s inky and hunkered with slightly rustic notes of black olive tapenade, dried pen ink, and loamy soil overlaid by juicy boysenberries. In the mouth, there […]
Stoller Family Estate Dundee Hills Pinot Noir Rosé 2015
Stoller Family Estate’s Dundee Hills Pinot Noir Rosé is fresh and vibrant, and proved to be a fine match with yesterday’s fare of roasted chicken with Herbs de Provence and golden beet salad. Aromas of underripe strawberry, blood orange and, interestingly, a dusty top note. The palate echoes the nose, layer in pink grapefruit pith […]
Millésima 2016 Wine Blog Awards
Last Tuesday I received notification that I’d been selected as a finalist in Millésima’s prestigious Wine Blog Awards—a huge honor, since this is the first time I’ve entered my writing into any sort of competition. I’m also incredibly flattered to have been chosen, because the other finalists are writers I’ve long admired, including Pamela Heiligenthal’s […]
Louis Jadot Meursault 2008
This Louis Jadot Meursault was sampled last March, at JoJo Madrid’s aka Burgnut’s beautifully appointed wine shop in Metro Manila, Premium Wine Exchange (if this note tells you anything, it tells you how far behind I am in posting my tasting notes!). Back to the Jadot, the 2008 is fairly brimming over with luscious, ripe, tropical mango […]
Da Vinci Chianti 2014
88 points because Da Vinci’s Chianti falls squarely in the value category. A softly textured blend of 90% Sangiovese grapes and 10% Merlot, the 2014 vintage offers pretty, uncomplicated aromatics of plums, black cherries, and vanilla. Roughly half of the grapes are vinified in new and used American oak, and the tannins along with the […]
Cornerstone Cellars Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2012
The 2012 Conerstone Chardonnay exemplifies great varietal typicity—this is classic Willamette Valley Chard, and nicely done too. Fresh aromas of pears, yellow-skinned apples, lemon zest, and toasted hazelnuts are nicely woven into this well-balanced white. The oak is very integrated as well, it’s not at all over blown, and a lively burst of acidity, redolent […]