Bergström Old Stones Chardonnay 2015
A bit of a powerhouse, really. Bergström’s 2015 Old Stones Chardonnay opens with aromas of Bosc pear and baked apple rendered more complex by swirling aromas of smoke, iodine, and flinty overtones that are more akin to the profiles I find in some white Burgundy. In the mouth, there’s not much fat, lemon curd adds […]
Eifel Pfeiffer Heinz Eifel Kabinett Riesling 2015
Billowy, rapturious aromas of white flowers, pine, high-altitude breezes, line-dried linen and white peach waft from the glass. But for me, that wasn’t the most compelling aspect of the Eifel Pfeiffer Heinz Eifel Kabinett Riesling, no—it’s definitely the acidity. A nervy electric cord of pure lemon pith that cuts through this Mosel Riesling like sewing […]
Eifel Pfeiffer Heinz Eifel Riesling Spätlese 2015
A terrific value Spätlese from Heinz Eifel, made from late-harvest grapes grown along the steep, slatey banks of the Mosel. Luscious aromas of yellow peach, Bosc pear, lemon drop, Snapple, and an ethereal kerosene top note. It’s fairly gentle on the palate, and round, with a citrusy burst of acidity that gives as much balance […]
Erste+Neue Pinot Grigio 2016
The color of sun bleached straw, Erste+Neue’s 2016 Pinot Grigio offers up notes of Bosc pear, yellow apple, prairie flowers, and line-dried linen. Aging on fine lees has graced it with plenty of textural appeal, and there is a faint and lovely background note of freshly milled buckwheat that joins in the delicate interplay between […]
Erste+Neue Sauvignon 2016
Classic Sauvignon Blanc aromas of boxwood, lime zest, and piney alpine forest in summer. There’s no excess weight on the palate—it’s vibrant and crisp, offering a sophisticated daub of quarry dust on the finish. 13.5% ABV | Sample Erste+Neue 89 Points
Weingut Dr. Heyden Silvaner Qualitätswein Trocken Alte Reben 2015
Lemon yellow in the glass, Dr. Heyden’s 2015 Alte Reben Silvaner Trocken is indeed quite dry, as noted on the label. The nose is a heady mélange of pear, musk melon, lemongrass, and lily of the valley. In the mouth, these descriptors orbit around a sturdy acid spine—that citrusy acid note is present from start […]
Schäfer Riesling 2015
The Schäfer family have been organically farming their vineyard parcels in Mettenheim (Schlossberg) and Bechtheim since 1709, and really, when the wine is good, what more could the savvy wine consumer want for $13.00 per bottle? A kerosene top note leads into weighter expressions of white peach, poached pear, and lemon drop. It’s medium-bodied on […]
Mont Gravet Côtes de Gascogne Blanc 2016
Crisp and quaffable, the 2016 Mont Gravet Côtes de Gascogne Blanc is made from 100% Colombard—the offspring of Chenin blanc and Gouais blanc. It is classically found in the Gascony region and here it’s pale lemon yellow in the glass, with wholly amicable aromas of underripe pineapple, yellow apple and pear. In the mouth, linear […]
Josep Masachs Mas Fi Cava Brut NV
I’ll be featuring affordable bubblies and rosé wines in the runup to Valentines, so stay tuned. The Josep Masachs Mas Fi Brut opens with a vinous nose that is classic Cava: white flowers, lemon drop, pear, and apple. More defining features can be sussed out on entry, with crisp bubbles set against an understated, autolytic […]
Bluebird Hill Cellars Trilogy 2016
Densely packed aromas canned pear, honeydew melon, thai coconut custard are the welcome tones that lead into a palate that is surprisingly more taught than the nose belies. Bluebird Hill Cellars’ 2016 Trilogy is an undisclosed blend of three white varieties sourced from the Willamette Valley, displaying predominant orchard fruit flavors embroidered against a backdrop […]