Pierre-Henri Morel Luberon 2014
Pierre-Henri Morel is Maison Chapoutier’s commercial director. He launched his eponymous brand in collaboration with Michel Chapoutier in 2008, all of the wines under this label are vinified at Chapoutier’s facility. The 2008 Luberon is has a wonderful sauvage character—an earthy mix of leather, woody trails, game and wild strawberries. It’s light bodied, underscored by […]
Clos Bellane Côtes du Rhône Villages Valréas Blanc 2015
A 50/50 blend of Marsanne and Viognier, the enchanting Clos Bellane Côtes du Rhône Villages Blanc hails from a higher altitude site, with vineyard blocks set on 410″ plateau opposite Mont Ventoux. Sunbeam yellow with lemon drop and d’Anjou pear leading into more diffuse aromas of dried laurel and slate. The attack is round and […]
Feudo Arancio Cabernet Sauvignon Sicilia Stemmari 2013
Aged in neutral French barriques, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is softly textured, fresh, and endowed with fine tannins that gather at the fore-palate. Laden with plums, blackberries, incense and Chinese five spice, this is an easy and approachable Cabernet Sauvignon, a perfect wine for a casual gathering. 13.5% ABV | Sample Feudo Arancio Stemmari 8.7 […]
Clos Bellane Les Échalas Côtes du Rhône Villages Valréas Blanc 2015
A 50/50 blend of Marsanne and Viognier, the enchanting Clos Bellane Côtes du Rhône Villages Blanc hails from a higher altitude site, with vineyard blocks set on 410″ plateau opposite Mont Ventoux. Sunbeam yellow with lemon drop and d’Anjou pear leading into more diffuse aromas of dried laurel and slate. The attack is round and […]
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 […]
Domaine Paul Autard Côtes du Rhône 2015
I’m revisiting this on the third day, it’s still lovely and fresh—Paul Autard’s basic Côtes du Rhône 2015 offers a sweeping palate of aromas. Macerated strawberry, cherry and plum notes are hemmed in by anise verging on violets, crushed stones, black olives, and sweet tobacco. It’s decidedly medium bodied, with dark fruit at the core, […]
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 […]