Aldelsheim Breaking Ground Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2014
Intensely perfumed, Aldelsheim’s commemorative 2014 Breaking Ground Pinot Noir is composed entirely of Chehalem Mountain Pinot Noir, 12% of which is from the winery’s estate. Sumptuous black cherries, black raspberry, underbrush, earth, and heirloom roses grace the nose. It’s ruby-hued and more opaque than is typical for Oregon Pinot—hinting at this wine’s concentration and depth. […]
Domaine de la Sangliere Côtes De Provence Rosé 2015
Domaine de la Sanglière’s basic Côtes De Provence Rosé is all nervy mineral verve, with the merest touch of tantalizing underripe melon and raspberry shining through. Fruit is nearly absent on the palate, as though it has been brushed clean, or is a layer that has been artfully peeled away. What remains in its place […]
Herdade do Esporão Esporão Reserva 2013
A brawny, if slightly gamey and wild blend of Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Trincadeira, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2013 Esporão Reserva Tinto is all plums, spice, vanilla and earthiness. In the mouth, it really shows it’s heft, with equal doses of tart sour cherry and raw cranberry-esqe acidity dowsed in firm tannins and a bit of […]
Pike Road Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2014
One of the better in the under $20 Oregon Pinot category I’ve tasted of late, the 2014 Pike Road is an off shoot winery managed by the Elk Cove team. Replete with twiggy black tea notes, rose petals, cranberry compote, iron ore and dried blood, it’s clean and linear on the palate, more red fruited […]
Domaine Dublère Corton-Charlemagne 2005
Enjoyed on the Brooks winery patio on a warm not-quite summer’s eve, the 2005 Dublère Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru followed a lithe Muscadet and oysters. Graced with pretty notes of apple tartin, yellow flowers, lemon curd, graphite, and spice, it’s full and round and richly buttery on the palate, with ample intensity and good acidic cut, […]
Troon Vineyard Applegate Valley Zinfandel 2014
Ripe blackberries, plums and spice. The palate is somewhat lighter than is typical for say, a California Zinfandel, especially those found in warmer climates. Troon’s 2014 Applegate Valley Zin is full and lush, and laden with black fruit, perhaps what is most remarkable is the finish. An organoleptic explosion of dark chocolate, Herbs de Garrigue […]
Brooks Rastaban Pinot Noir 2003
Generously shared by Janie Brooks during this week’s SOMM reunion, the 2003 Rastabon was her brother, Jimi’s first and last vintage produced under the Rastaban label. A significant wine to share, because Jimi passed away in 2004, and Janie stepped in to keep Brooks winery and Jimi’s vision going (if you’re not familiar with the […]
Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Clos De l’Echelier Saumur Blanc 2014
Sourced from a small horse-plowed, biodynamically farmed two-hectare site, Clos de L’Echelier is blended from just two oval casks. The vines are seated in Turonian limestone, which gives Saumur Chenin’s their characteristic minerality, which this bottle certainly has, though less pronounced than some I’ve tasted. The nose is endowed with expressive aromas of ripe pear, […]
Timeless Refinement
It was a beautiful evening, from my vantage, I could see the hills that formed the backbone of the eastern side of the valley, densely robed in evergreen trees and hunkered against a backdrop of stars that seemed to draw closer against the indigo-black palette of an ever-darkening sky. The evening air, as it so […]
omaine 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 […]