Brooks Runaway Red Pinot Noir 2013
According to winemaker, Chris Williams, Runaway Red is the first Pinot Noir the winery blends each season. This is also Brooks’ entry level label, priced at $23.00, it’s soft and accessible with an entirely red-fruited profile. Rhubarb, strawberries, pie cherries and a delicate floral note lead into a wine that is acid driven and lightly […]
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 […]
Michel Gassier Nostre Païs Costières de Nîmes Blanc 2014
The composition of Michel Gassier’s Nostre Païs Costières de Nîmes Blanc changes from year to year—2014 is 60% Grenache blanc, 20% Clairette, 15% Roussanne and 5% Viognier. That’s a shift from previous vintages with no Clariette, and yet this wine’s personality and intensity remain intact. A melange of bruised pear, ripe melon and yellow peach […]
Feudo Arancio Moscato Terre Siciliane Stemmari 2015
Continuing on with the Stemmari line, their 2015 Moscato Terre Siciliane sports a classic Moscato nose. Brimming over with honey, chamomile, white flowers, and mandarin orange. It’s not as heavy or as cloying as some d’Asti, the palate is soft, I’d like a touch more acidity to offset the residual sugar. here. Apricots and stone […]
Feudo Arancio Pinot Grigio Sicilia Stemmari 2014
Last week I had a lengthy and engaging interview with Stemmari winemaker, Lucio Matricardi. His wines, clean and fresh, nicely showcase Sicilian terroir. In the case of this Pinot Grigio, there is ample minerality on the back palate—a flourish of calcareous soils that meander towards a saline edge enlivened by zesty acidity. The fruit profile […]
Feudo Arancio Grillo Sicilia Stemmari 2015
Grillo is an amazing variety; it’s a white grape with a black dress. Why? It has this incredible ability to withstand the heat, it’s really yellow, almost amber-hued with lots of tannins,” says winemaker Lucio Matricardi. The grapes must be pressed very gently, and interestingly only the free run is used in crafting this demure […]
Feudo Arancio Nero d’Avola Sicilia Stemmari 2014
After being open for a couple of hours, the Feudo Arancio Nero D’Avola Sicilia Stemmari 2014 reveals soft, supple undercurrent of plums, prunes, cocoa powder, sweet tobacco and spearmint. The mint note is especially prominent. It’s easy going, round, with moderate acidity, I found myself reaching the bottom of my glass much faster than intended—for […]
J. de Telmont Brut Champagne O.R. 1735 2002
One of the more intriguing Champagnes I had the pleasure of tasting while in Champagne is J de Telmont’s 2002 Brut Champagne O.R. 1735. A delicate mousse preceded by lemon curd that unfolds to something more distinctive, like Meyer lemon and a very pretty top note of white flowers, chervil and chalk. Telmont uses natural […]
Brooks Winery | Storyteller Wine Pinot Noir 2014
From Portland’s iconic Storyteller Wine Company, this 2014 Storyteller Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir, the fourth and final label to emerge from an intensive two day blending session at Brooks winery last fall. Michael Alberty’s blend is imbued with the fragrance of pure, ripe strawberries, so much so, that it reminds me of making strawberry jam. […]
Aphros Vinhão Tinto 2013
Sauvage is the word that comes to mind when describing this singular and biodynamically farmed, wild ferment Vinhão. Aromas of smoky plum and earth are rendered more complex by a sort of feral, animal quality that persists on the palate as well. A bold streak of acidity creates a sense of tension to sour cherry […]