Sharply delineated dark fruit, exotic spice, licorice, olive paste, bacon fat and succulent floral qualities on the hugely perfumed nose. Stains the palate with alluringly sweet, densely packed, mineral-accented blueberry, cherry... Read More
The 2019 Syrah Estate Vineyard is an elegant, supremely classy wine. Sage, tobacco, mint, black pepper and lavender lead into a core of beautifully layered dark blue/purplish fruit. Silky and polished, the Estate Syrah is an absolute... Read More
The 2021 Pinot Noir Ferrington Vineyard shows the darker side of Anderson Valley. Black fruit, leather, gravel, incense, cloves and mocha all saturate the palate. This ample, full-bodied Pinot has a ton to offer. There is a lot... Read More
On a shortlist of annata wines to buy from Piedmont this year is the Brovia 2019 Barolo. Made from a blend of fruit from Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d'Alba, this wine delivers a very sharp and chiseled performance... Read More
Disgorged in January 2019, the latest release of Gaston Chiquet's NV Brut Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs d'Aÿ is showing beautifully, opening in the glass with scents of crisp yellow orchard fruit, white flowers, blanched... Read More
The 2018 Barolo Bussia is a bit light, but still has plenty of character. Sweet red berry fruit, blood orange, mint, cedar and cinnamon all open with a bit of coaxing. The Bussia is the Barolo in this vintage that appears to be... Read More
The 2018 Zinfandel Rinaldi Vineyard comes from organically farmed vines, some more than 100 years old. It was made with 20% whole cluster and aged 18 months in 30% new French oak. It has a pale ruby color and segues from tar to... Read More
The very lightly hued, Sauvignon Blanc dominated 2019 Flor (there's 3% Semillon) offers up a gorgeous, Bordeaux Blanc-like bouquet of ripe pineapple and citrus fruits interwoven with notes of brioche, honeyed almonds, and... Read More
The 2018 Sumo is remarkably polished for a Petite Syrah-based wine. Inky blue/purplish fruit, lavender, mint and spice fill out the layers effortlessly. Helen Keplinger has done a brilliant job taming the young Petite tannins.... Read More
Beautiful sweet-berry and peach character with brightness and finesse that gives the wine energy and real attraction. It’s medium-bodied with medium, soft tannins and a vivid finish. Dried earth and spice. 100% grenache.... Read More
Jazz hands at the ready, the Kumeu River Chardonnay Coddington is always ready to welcome you in with its full, svelte figure and no hard edges, and the 2021 is no different. However, this year there's an additional touch... Read More
This has aromas of flint, toast, jasmine, dried pineapples, lemons and sea shells. Some cardamom and salted butter. Classy and driven, with a medium to full body and tight, sleek layers. Perfumed and bright. Everything in balance.... Read More
Long Shadows has crafted a beautiful new Right Bank style 2018 Merlot Pedestal, which is nearly all Merlot (82%) with smaller portions of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Once on the nose this shows an intoxicating bouquet of black... Read More