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 […]
Pike Road Willamette Valley Pinot Gris 2015
Glinting straw yellow and laden with aromatics of d’Anjou pear, lemon curd, petrichlor, lily of the valley, and a lilting top note of cinnamon stick. The 2015 Pike Road Pinot Gris is winsome and engaging with a light crisp palate that offers almost as much complexity as the nose. Honeydew melon emerge on the back […]
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 […]
Stoller Family Estate Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2013
Stoller’s 2013 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir opens with strawberry creme and raspberry tart, the nose is delicate, slightly faint and slightly sweet. On the palate—the only ripple amidst inner creaminess is a moderate level of acidity—just red berries, red apple skins, and a touch of minerality on the finish. I wanted to see a bit […]
Big Table Farm Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2014
Big Table Farm has been on my list of Willamette Valley wines to try for some time now, and I’m pleased to report that the 2014 Chardonnay didn’t disappoint in the least. Wild yeast fermented and aged in concrete, it’s exceptionally well balanced, endowed with an incredible range of aromas—lemon tart, buttered croissant, cardamom and […]
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 […]
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 […]
Catherine et Pierre Breton Bourgueil Franc de Pied 2013
Not the best vintage of Breton I’ve tasted, the 2013 Catherine et Pierre Breton Bourgueil Franc de Pied offers dusky aromatics of decomposing roses, earthy funk, red forest berries, iron ore and green wood. As is typical of Cabernet Franc grown in this region, it’s acidic, but in this case, in this vintage, too acidic, […]
Domaine Jean David Côtes du Rhône Villages Séguret Les Levants 2012
As memory serves, this is one of my acquisitions from Garagiste, as is typical of Garagiste selections, Jean David is a very small producer, a husband and wife team from the village of Séguret who are committed to what Nicki refers to as “hyper- organic “farming. The vines are very old, though I can not […]
Domaine Saint-Remy Crémant d’Alsace Cuvée Prestige NV
The color of sun-bleached straw, the Crémant D Alsace Cuvée Prestige from Domaine Saint-Remy is crafted from 100% biodynamically farmed Chardonnay that is grown in granite-rich soil, in the lieu-dit of St. Gregoir. It emits fresh, lively aromas of biscuit, Meyer lemon zest, granulated honey and trail dust. The palate is light and nimble, with […]