Naia 2006 Naia Des Verdejo
What makes this wine unusual isn’t where it’s from but the grape variety itself. Verdejo, after all, is still sadly underappreciated by too many wine-lovers. But this one, hopefully, will start …
PLCB
Bertani “Le Lave” 2002 Veneto
…Old and New World styles synthesize in this full-bodied, creamy blend born of volcanic soil that is the antithesis of vapid, watery white wines from the Veneto. Garganega, the basis of …
Rolf Binder 2006 “Hovah ” Viognier
A Viognier of this caliber in this price range is very rare. I strongly suggest picking up a bottle, especially if you have never experienced a viognier. Classic notes of peaches …
Pondering Barolo
There are wines. And there are Wines. Barolo is of the latter, not for its renown, prestige, or even its price. No, Barolo is a Wine that presents more questions than …
Buehler 2005 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa
This hearkens back to the halcyon days when my friend Jonathan Newman was the Chairman of the PLCB. I still remember all those great deals on top-shelf Napa Cabernet. Although the …
Verget 2006 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru
One of our favorite Chablis producers. One of our favorite 1er crus. One of our favorite vintages in recent memory. Yeah, we’ll take a bottle of that.
E. Guigal 2008 Cotes du Rhone Rosé
For many of us, Southern France springs to mind when thoughts turn to rosé. And Guigal, one of the most reliable producers in the Rhone Valley, comes through with flying tri-colors …
Ornella Molon Raboso, 2003 Pieve DOC, Veneto
Though it has been vinified since the pre-Roman era and was once an important wine for trade by Venetian merchants (known as recaldina), Raboso literally lost ground to Merlot and Cabernet …
Chateau d’Arche 2005 Sauternes
There are several reasons to be amazed by this $43.49 wine. First, it’s a Sauternes, not necessarily a hotbed of sub-$50 bottlings in 750ml. Second, it’s from the legendary 2005 vintage. …
Sattler 2006 St. Laurent
We like to think of St. Laurent as we do top-notch Beaujolais: Fruity and fun most of the time, but, like this bottling or the Morgon above, unexpectedly complex and structured. …
Turkey Flat Rosé 2008, Barossa Valley
Not your usual rosé blend, but the proof, year after year, is difficult to argue with. In fact, we recently opened up a bottle of 06 that still had life in …
Thelema 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Stellenbosch
Though Chenin Blanc–or Steen in local parlance–gets all the glamour, Sauvignon Blanc has really been shining lately in South Africa. This effort from the wildly delicious “Mint” Cabernet Sauvignon producers is …
Cantina Cardeto 2005 “Rupestro” Umbria
Sangiovese is the most Italian of grapes, planted in almost every region and showing up in scores of classified wines, either on its own or in highly coveted (and high priced!) …
Guy Larmandier Brut Vertus 1er Cru
How can you call it a celebration without Champagne? And this one, a gorgeous, minerally, exuberant premier cru, is not only addictive to drink, but under $50. Which itself is cause …
Bruno Giacosa 2001 Dolcetto d’Alba, Piemonte
Sometimes it’s good to start the new year with a bit of auld lang syne, going back to an old friend whom you’ve neglected for one reason or another. Such is …
What is your favorite wine?
A few years back, while channel surfing, I settled on a television rarity – a program about wine that was informative without being insufferably boring or contrived. From Wine Glass to …
