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Taylor Fladgate Single Harvest Tawny Port 1863

From pre-phylloxera vines, Taylor’s bought a small lot of only three barrels from the 1863 vintage that had been quietly resting in a cellar for well over a century—the producer had the foresight to reserve them when phylloxera first swept through the region. An important wine because, as Taylor’s staff pointed out, ungrafted vines are […]

Quinta do Noval White Port Extra Dry 2008

Quinta do Noval White Port Extra Dry 2008

Quinta do Noval’s Extra Dry White Port sports a tropical nose, heavy with aromas of dried pineapple, Meyer lemon and golden delicious apple that drift toward cider. On the palate, it’s very smooth, I love the acidity here, a vibrant cord piercing heavier layers. The finish is slightly savory, a dusting of dried thyme, marjoram. […]

Domaine Sainte-Marie Extraordinaire Vie Vité Rosé 2015

Domaine Sainte-Marie Extraordinaire Vie Vité Rosé 2015

Outstanding. Gossamer pale peach with honeyed highlights, expressing pure alpine air, catmint, dried honeycomb, white peach, cherubs tears, and meadow flowers. On the palate, it’s elegant and beautifully balanced, each note perfection, not unlike Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni, here is lilting, refined, pitch-perfect acidity set against a backdrop of dewy raspberries that extends to sweet […]

Denis Dubourdieu Clos Floridène Graves Blanc 2010

Denis Dubourdieu Clos Floridène Graves Blanc 2010

Pronounced aromas of bruised pear skin, smoke, crushed walnuts and musk melon. Silky and full on entry with moderate, well-integrated oak that gives way to a surprisingly racy, mineral finish. It’s brighter than the nose belies, and nicely balanced. Fleshier notes subside to limestone and gravel intertwining lemon pith, the finish is actually quite mouthwatering. […]

Le Grand Cros Côtes de Provence l’Esprit de Provence Rosé 2015

Le Grand Cros Côtes de Provence l'Esprit de Provence Rosé 2015

Another favorite to emerge from the crop, or is it gaggle? of 2015 Provençal pinks I’ve been working my way through. The Le Grand Cros Côtes de Provence l’Esprit de Provence is elegant and conch shell pink with layers of ripe peach, melon and honeysuckle submerged under edgier mineral notes that are readily communicated in […]

Faustino Rioja Reserva V 2006

Faustino Rioja Reserva V 2006

Faustino’s Rioja Reserva V 2006 imparts little fruit. Expect notes of leather, sun-baked roof tile, grilled meat and tomato paste. Medium-bodied, this old-school Tempranillo offers moderate acidity and low-to-moderate, but fine tannins. The profile of the nose echoes that of the palate, and it paired reasonably well with grilled steak fajitas. 12.5% ABV Bodegas Faustino […]

Jean-Luc et Paul Aegerter Les Jolies Filles Côtes de Provence Rosé 2015

Jean-Luc et Paul Aegerter Les Jolies Filles Côtes de Provence Rosé 2015

Les Joiles Filles or The Pretty Girls is an apt name for this lighthearted Provençal pink. It’s a carefree romp through fields of meadow flowers, dusty raspberries, apricots and anise. The palate is soft, red-fruited and imminently drinkable. It has a nice finality to it, a sort of wet cement expression that I very much […]

omaine la Manarine Côtes Du Rhône Rosé 2014

Domaine la Manarine Côtes Du Rhône Rosé 2014

Pale salmon in the glass, the nose of 2014 La Manarine Côtes Du Rhône Rosé is abundantly cherry, tart pie cherries swathed in a bouquet of spring flowers. While not overly complex, this blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, and 20% Syrah is fermented in concrete. It’s quite fresh, though concrete aging certainly adds a […]

Domaine de la Sanglière Spéciale Côtes De Provence Rosé 2015

Domaine de la Sanglière Spéciale Côtes De Provence Rosé 2015

Domaine de la Sanglière’s 104 acres under vine are perched at the edge of the sea, and that saline-ness, an ethereal wafting, beachy salt air readily translates in this delicate blend of blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, Rolle, and Clairette. The fruit, something like apricot or peach skin hover at deeper layers till the […]

Domaine de la Sanglière la Riviera Côtes De Provence Rosé 2015

Domaine de la Sanglière la Riviera Côtes De Provence Rosé 2015

Fragrant, very ripe cantaloupe flesh and some of the skin as well, co-mingling with a bit of papaya followed by wafting mineral notes of sea foam and salt. It’s quite lean on the palate, with minimal fruit—I’d like to see a bit more fullness, more fleshiness, to balance the high-toned acidity in this salmon-hued Côtes […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com