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Columbia Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Columbia Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Lavishly perfumed with sumptuous blackberry, black currant, lavender pastille, camphor and, interestingly a dusting of talcum powder. On the palate, this Cab-dominant blend is classic Washington State in expression, medium weight, with a juicy black fruit core. That chalky note reemerges towards the finish, giving the impression that the tannins are slightly powdery and fine. […]

Herdade do Esporão Douro Minas Quinta dos Murças 2015

Herdade do Esporão Douro Minas Quinta dos Murças 2015

From the steeply terraced hillsides of the Douro is this classic and expressive blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinto Cão. Layered aromas of plums and black cherries form the foundation, with lively spice and incense notes gliding over the top. On the palate, fruit is restrained by mouth-coating tannins and […]

M. Chapoutier Belleruche Côtes du Rhône 2013

M. Chapoutier Belleruche Côtes du Rhône 2013

A wine I return to year after year, simply because it’s such a stellar value. Belleruche is one of Chapoutier’s entry-level labels, a tempting and fleshy blend of classic Rhône varietals: Grenache blanc, Roussanne, Viognier, Clairette, and Bourboulenc. It’s rife with pear and stone fruit with the merest twist of lemon peel, fennel and white […]

Herencia Altés Terra Alta L’Estel 2015

Herencia Altés Terra Alta L'estel 2015

A blend of 50% Samsó, 25% Garnacha Negra, and 25% Syrah, Herencia Altés L’Estel has a dark undercurrent running through it—preserved meat, matchstick, flint, dried blood and spice swirl about this wine like a secret waiting to be told—a beguiling top note anchored in black cherries, blackberries, and juicy ripe plums. L’Estel is aged five […]

Bertani Bertarose Chiaretto Venezie IGT 2016

Bertani Bertarose Chiaretto Venezie IGT 2016

A beguiling blend of 75% Molinara and 25% Merlot grown in grown calcareous-clay soils in steep hillside vineyards overlooking Lake Garda, Bertani Bertarose Chiaretto 2016 is endowed with aromas of pie cherries and tart red currants swirl within a fine mineral net. On the palate, it’s as lean and crisp as any Provence rosé, with […]

Dinastía Vivanco Rioja Crianza Selección de Familia 2013

Dinastía Vivanco Rioja Crianza Selección de Familia

Smooth and open-hearted, Dinastia Vivanco’s Crianza Rioja 2013 is an effortless plunge in to ripe plums, juicy black cherries, vanilla, wafting anise and lavender notes followed by a daub of earthy soulfulness. Composed of 100% Tempranillo, this is a fresh, round Crianza framed in black tea and ripe tannins. Easy to drink and even easier […]

Szent Tamás Dry by Tokaj White 2015

Szent Tamás Dry by Tokaj White 2015

I had the pleasure of visiting the Szepsy family last fall—the time spent with them gave me insight into why the Tokaj region, famed for its sweet wines is now transitioning to more dry-style offerings. The Dry by Tokaj, an entry level in their portfolio is the color of straw, with vivid aromas of bosc […]

Herencia Altés La Peluda 2015

Herencia Altés La Peluda 2015

Fortunate to have tasted some absolutely stunning wines while in the Terra Alta region of Spain last week, including this delicious wine from Herencia Altés. La Peluda is from the little known hairy Garnacha, translated, Peluda literally means hairy—despite the name, the wine itself is delicious with earthy, seductive aromas brimming with underbrush, bright red […]

Layer Cake Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Layer Cake Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Daffodil yellow with notes of lemon budino pudding, yellow apple, and lime zest set against a backdrop of fresh tropical fruit. Layer Cake is lighter in body and lower in acidity than its New Zealand and Loire counterparts, even so, it displays satisfying acidic cut and enough grapefruit-pith tartness to make it a good food […]

Locations I-4 NV

Locations I-4 NV

Of the trio sampled from the Locations project, I-4 is a non-vintage, multi-regional blend featuring Negroamaro and Nero d’Avola from Puglia and Barbera from Piemonte has the most body. Lots of richness in this wine, with an alluring nose of black plums, black cherries, leather, Dr. Pepper, allspice, and anise. It’s voluptuous without being overripe, […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com