Montirius 2004 “Terre des Aines” Gigondas
Gigondas tend to drink like rough versions of Chateauneuf du Pape. This one breaks the mold. A delicate structure of tannins underlies a rich framework of ripe blackberries and kirsch. A …
2004
Tintoralba 2004 Higueruela
More fruit than a box of juice. More jam than grandma’s cupboard. Nearly as thick as a strawberry shake. Grind a little black pepper over the foam, toss in a chunk …
Walter Massa’s 2004 “Pertichetti” Bonarda
Let’s set the record straight – Croatina is NOT Bonarda, although, in Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna, that is how it is erroneously identified. Bonarda is a separate varietal that is extensively cultivated …
Corte Agnello 2004 Corvina, Veronese IGT
You’ve probably had Corvina, the Veneto’s “little crow,” somewhere along the way, even though you may not have realized it. A light, easy-drinking Bardolino? Corvina and Rondinella. Valpolicella in all its …
Saladini Pilastri 2004 Rosso Piceno, Marche
.Viticulture in the coastal area near Ancona predates Roman times, yet the wines of the Marche are still relatively unknown save for Fazzi-Battaglia’s “fish” bottle of Verdicchio. The Rosso is a …
Argiolas 2004 “Perdera”, Isola dei Nuraghi
Monica is a varietal indigenous to Sardegna, believed to have been introduced, as was Cannonau, by Spanish monks in the 11th century.There are two DOC zones where it predominates. However, this …
Benedicte De Rycke 2004 Jasnieres, France
Sometimes, you have to go for the wine equivalent of a guitar solo. This wine waft hits your nose like a fistful of irises and warm earth. On the tongue, a …
Muga 2004 Rioja Reserva, Rioja
Muga is a perennial favorite here at the Wine School, and for a good reason: Its wines, from the value-priced white Rioja to the majestic Torre Muga, are, quite simply, delicious. …
Domaine Pierre Usseglio et Fils 2006 Chateauneuf-du-Pape
When we opened the 2004 vintage of this wine in our Advanced France course last winter, it was one of the highlights of Southern Rhone night. 2006 exhibits everything you’d expect …
Pedroncelli 2004 Mother Clone Zinfandel, Sonoma
A decent little bottle of Zin for the price. I add this wine to my “best buy” section with great hesitation. The last time I reviewed a Pedroncelli wine, it was …
Borsao 2004 Tres Picos Grenacha
I last wrote about the “Tres Picos” three years ago (in the December ’01 Newsletter) and my option has remained the same regardless of the vintage: this is an amazing value. …
Sicilian Red Wines
Last October, we ran a wine tasting class focused on Sicily. The gist of which is that the island at the crossroads of the Mediterranean is undergoing an exciting transformation in its …
Pieropan 2004 Soave Classico, Veneto.
Thirty or forty years ago, Soave, as was the case with its Tuscan cousin Chianti, suffered the ignominy of becoming a “brand” name, a generic term for mass-produced, easy-drinking Italian white …
Torre dei Gesuiti 2004 “Sarrocco” Puglia
From the inky purple-black pigment to the balanced and slightly herbal finish, this is a mouthful of wine. Substantial and juicy at the same time, with layers of dark berries and …
Cusumano 2004 “Benuara”, Sicily
Nero d’Avola has slowly gained credence as THE red grape of Sicily, combined here with Syrah to produce an interesting IGT wine that tones down the sometimes jammy, chewy quality of …
A Great Wine Moment
In the last class of the Wine School‘s Advanced: Classic Certification program, I taught on the terroir of Burgundy. The wines we used (all 1er Cru from Nuits) were some of …