Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay 2012
First impression of the 2012 Grgich Hills Chardonnay—it’s old-school and intense. Classic orchard fruit aromas are couched in flint and matchstick that hover like an electric storm over rather more tender notes of toasted walnut, brioche, and acacia honey. In the mouth, there’s not an ounce of fat, it’s lean with considerable energy and verve. […]
Louis Jadot Meursault 2008
This Louis Jadot Meursault was sampled last March, at JoJo Madrid’s aka Burgnut’s beautifully appointed wine shop in Metro Manila, Premium Wine Exchange (if this note tells you anything, it tells you how far behind I am in posting my tasting notes!). Back to the Jadot, the 2008 is fairly brimming over with luscious, ripe, tropical mango […]
Cornerstone Cellars Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2012
The 2012 Conerstone Chardonnay exemplifies great varietal typicity—this is classic Willamette Valley Chard, and nicely done too. Fresh aromas of pears, yellow-skinned apples, lemon zest, and toasted hazelnuts are nicely woven into this well-balanced white. The oak is very integrated as well, it’s not at all over blown, and a lively burst of acidity, redolent […]
Forge Cellars Sunrise Hill Vineyard Finger Lakes Riesling 2014
As with the other Forge Rieslings I’ve tried, the 2014 Sunrise Hill Vineyard is lithe and electric. it possesses tactile, nervy tension. The nose is somewhat reserved, though swirling reveals white flowers, lime zest, mint and a pinch of granulated honey. It feels very pure—at the core, a bracing, linear expression is accented by lemon […]
Forge Cellars Harvest Ridge Vineyard Finger Lakes Riesling 2014
The first impression is one of petrol and rubber ball on the nose, accented by d’Anjou pear, lemon drop and early spring blossoms. It’s as lean and wiry as I’ve come to expect from Riesling grown in the Finger Lakes region—perhaps even a shade more so—clearly Forge is pushing the envelop in terms of acidity […]
Patrick Piuze ‘Val de Mer’ Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2012
Ripe and expressive, the 2012 Patrick Piuze Val de Mer Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos is bursting with honey, white flowers and wet river rock. While medium-bodied, the texture is slightly waxy, verging on tropical with notes of lush papaya, dried pineapple and lemon curd set against a pronounced mineral finish of wet shell and […]
Forge Cellars Finger Lakes ‘Classique’ Pinot Noir 2014
Forge Cellars is an intriguing collaboration between Louis Barruol, proprietor of St. Cosme in Gigondas, wine grower Rick Rainey, and vintner Justin Boyette. Their 2014 ‘Classique’ Pinot Noir is fine-boned and poised with floral, woodsy aromatics of decaying rose petals, hibiscus, underbrush, and sous bois. It’s translucent quinacridone violet with lean, elegant curves underpinned by […]
Gallo Signature Series Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2013
An elegantly styled, full and fleshy Sonoma Chardonnay from Gallo’s Signature Line. The 2013 blossoms in the glass with aromas of bruised apple, yellow peach, caramel, acacia flowers and toasted hazelnut. High glycerol and admittedly high alcohol of 14.8%, but this is well integrated on the palate and nicely balanced by a burst of acidity, […]
Raptor Ridge Willamette Valley Pinot Gris 2014
Inviting, with lilting sweet aromas of baked apple, white peach, lemon curd and spring flowers. On the palate the 2014 Raptor Ridge Pinot Gris is equally tender and round, held aloft by a delicate vein of acidity that provides just enough lift. This is a delicate, pretty Gris that reminds me of early spring. Medium […]
King Estate Domaine Pinot Gris 2008
I was lucky enough to have tasted a vertical of King Estate Pinot Gris, the oldest from 1995. While Pinot Gris is a variety that is championed for its ageworthiness, the 2008 Kine Estate Domain defies that logic—it’s fabulously fresh and vibrant with crisp acidity leading the charge. White grapefruit and lime zest intertwine wet […]