J Vineyards California Pinot Gris 2017
The color of liquid sunshine, J Vineyards 2017 Pinot Gris unfurls to reveal perfumed layers of d’Anjou pear, white peach, freshly cut green apple, granulated honey, and elder flowers. Gentle, whole cluster pressing has created a wine that is crisp and refreshing—a burst of lemon-infused acidity subsides to dulcet mineral tones. This would pair beautifully […]
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 […]
M2 Vermentino Mokelumne River 2018
The color of sun-bleached straw, the 2018 M2 Mokelumne River Vermentino is etched in dewy Comice pear, yellow apple, almond biscotti, and wild iris. A textural band gathers at the mid-palate, bisecting this lithe white as bright acidity surges across the palate. The finish is decidedly mineral, with accents of dried thyme, miner’s lettuce, and […]
Château de Ribebon Bordeaux Supérieur 2015
Poised and polished, Château de Ribebon is a blend of 60% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon from old vines ranging in age from 60 to 100 years—all grown on a gravelly outcrop overlooking the Dordogne River. Aromas of plums, black currants, sweet tobacco, and menthol waft from the glass. Pillowy tannins […]
Dopff & Irion Cuvée Réne Dopff Pinot Blanc 2016
Limpid pale yellow in the glass, the 2016 Dopff & Irion Cuvée Réne Dopff Pinot Blanc is awash with spritely notes of d’Anjou pear, freshly cut yellow apple, white peach, blanched almond, and spring blossoms. Round on the palate, with body and autolytic mid-tones from four months aging on the lees—subtle minerality, white pepper, and […]
Emiliana Natura Carménère 2015
Owned by Italian conglomerate Banfi, Emiliana ‘Natura’ is composed of 100% organically farmed grapes. True to the profile I tend to find in Chilean Carménère, the 2015 vintage is brimming with plums, black cherries, wood spice, earth, baking spice, and milk chocolate. In the mouth, it’s full-bodied, and framed in ripe tannins with juicy fruit […]
Edna Valley Vineyard Chardonnay 2016
A veritable fruit salad, Edna Valley Vineyard’s 2016 Chardonnay is loaded with apricots, Bosc pear, yellow peaches, banana chips, vanilla, and toast. Full-bodied and fleshy, orchard fruit and tropical fruit commingle on the palate, as spiced pear, yellow apple, and papaya vie for center stage. Nice acid lift at the mid-palate lends brightness to this […]
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 […]
Mionetto Il Prosecco N.V.
The color of sun-bleached straw, Mointetto’s charming non-vintage Il Prosecco is delicately embroidered with notes of granulated honey, dewy orchard pear, spring flowers, and chamomile. Expect a soft, unobtrusive mousse held aloft by a bright acid vein that courses through this crisp and inexpensive Italian bubbly. 6% g/l RS, 11.0% ABV | Sample Mionetto 88 […]
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 […]