Mt. Beautiful Pinot Noir North Canterbury 2017
The 2017 Mt Beautiful Pinot Noir shows layered complexity—black cherries, seedy black raspberries fruit cavort with lighter tones of mocha, cola, and warm rosewood. In the mouth, there’s an undercurrent and pleasant savoriness that weaves in and out of fine-grained tannin. It’s tart and slightly tightly wound at this stage in its development; cranberries, Kukicha […]
Venteux Tache le Verre Alisos Canyon 2016
High praise for Venteux Vineyard’s Tache le Verre. Crafted from 100% organically farmed Syrah from the renowned Alisos Canyon region of Santa Barbara, the 2016 is substantive and baritone in expression. Stratified layers of blackberries, black cherries, incense, tar, earth, smoky Pu-er tea, and violets compose the nose—a complex sensory arc that leads into a […]
Hōm Merlot by Robert Eden 2018
Vibrant purple on the meniscus, Hōm Merlot is part of a new collection from acclaimed biodynamic winemaker, Robert Eden of Château Maris. It’s a fresh and vivid Merlot, with aromas of blueberry crumble, black cherries, lilacs, spice, and cinnamon bark. The wines are vinified in the first cellar made from hemp that passively consumes carbon […]
Gustave Lorentz Pinot Blanc Alsace Réserve 2016
Made from 100% Pinot Blanc sourced from vineyard parcels in the Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim, and grown in predominantly clay-limestone soils, the Gustave Lorentz Réserve Pinot Blanc exhibits a light and limber profile on the nose and palate. Almond cookie, lemon drop, green apple, dried mint, and wet stone. In the mouth, it’s refreshing […]
Mettler Family Vineyards Pinotage 2016
This is not your South African Pinotage—not by a long shot. Bright ruby red, Mettler Family Vineyards’ 2016 Pinotage offers up ripe Rainier cherries, plums, blackberry cobbler, anise seed, and lees-infused notes of yogurt and whipped butter. In the mouth, ultra-silky tannins lending a sense of roundness and polish to this full-bodied Lodi red. The […]
LangeTwins Aglianico Rosé 2018
Crafted from sustainably grown, dry farmed Aglianico, the LangeTwins 2018 Rosé is shrimp-tail pink in hue, and offers up a charming bouquet of watermelon, sour cherry, golden raspberry, and wet shell. It’s crisp and bright on the palate—the acid hits the sides of the tongue, creating a fresh, mouthwatering profile. Nuanced minerality and red berry […]
Domaine Bousquet Orgánic Grape Rosé 2018
A blend 50% Malbec and 50% Cabernet crafted from organically farmed grapes in Mendoza’s Uco Valley. The winery is owned by the Bousquet family, fourth-generation winemakers from France’s city of Carcassone—the wines are always well crafted, as is the case with their 2018 rosé, grown at an elevation of 4,000 feet, it’s bright and fresh […]
Sybille Kuntz Riesling Spätlese Trocken 2016
Highly recommended, the 2016 Sybille Kuntz Riesling Spätlese Trocken slowly unfurls as it opens in the glass, revealing layered aromas Bosc pear, kerosene, stargazer lily, lemongrass, and a buoyant top note of chamomile tea. On the palate, citrus notes converge against a nervy acid spine. It reads as nearly dry, with leesy mid-tones adding texture […]
Jean-Luc Colombo Cape Bleue Rosé 2017
Coursing minerality takes a back seat to fruit in this Provençal pink composed of 67% Syrah and 33% Mourvèdre—wet slate, ancient marine soils, limestone, chalk, and oceanic salinity surge through the nose and salmon-hued core. What fruit there is, lilts amongst the tides, wild strawberries, melon, and a touch of white peach. It’s all too […]
Troon Vineyard Roussanne 2017
A tousled mix of beach sand, potting soil, pear, preserved lemon, smoky nut oil, and mango skin. In the mouth the 2017 Troon Beach Applegate Valley Roussanne offers a pure and unique textural landscape that carries with it a savory undertow—smokiness reemerges along with vivid grapefruit pith, sea salt, gunflint, and a gamey component that […]