Masi 2011 “Campofiorin” Rosso del Veronese
This 2011 bottling is a fantastic example of a Ripasso style wine from Northeast Italy. Lavender and fresh fennel on the nose with a whiff of burnt vanilla. Dense tannins prop …
Wine Reviews
Guigal Cotes du Rhone
Vertical VintagesAt least once a quarter, I pop open this wine to introduce our students to the Cotes du Rhone region of France. Vintage after vintage, this has been a go-to bottle. …
Crios 2013 “Limited Edition” Tannat, Mendoza
Tannat originally hails from France, grown mostly in Madiran. The wine it produces is always tannic and often primitive. The grape is also widely planted in South America, with Uruguay at the epicenter. …
Marchiori and Barraud 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza
Paul Hobbs Paul Hobbs without Paul Hobbs? Let’s talk a bit about Paul. He is one of the most celebrated Napa winemakers alive today: he worked for Mondavi and was on …
Jermann 2012 “Red Angel on the Moonlight” Pinot Nero, Friuli
Pinot Nero is Italian for Pinot Noir, but the Nero is much more Italian than Pinot. Winemakers in northeastern Italy don’t typically make Pinot in the French style, as most everyone …
Domaine Courtois 2012 “La Grange” Vinsobres
This is a fresh and zesty style of red with lavender and fresh cranberry on the nose. Stone and crushed wildflowers are playfully entwined on the palate. The blend here is about equal …
Les Grands Crus Blancs 2014 Pouilly Vinzelles
A beautiful white wine from southern Burgundy. Cave Le Grands Crus is a small cooperative winery working with about 100 growers in and around the towns of Vinzelles and Pouilly. This particular bottling …
Dinastia Vivanco 2010 Rioja Reserva
After all these years (and all those wines!), the high level of winemaking and the low cost of Spanish wines still amazes me. For instance, this bottle of reserva should cost …
Pierre Amadieu 2013 “Domaine Grand Romane” Gigondas
Gigondas is one of the top crus in the southern Rhone, often dominating its famous neighbor Chateauneuf du Pape, and Pierre Amadieu is a benchmark winery for the region. A few years back, I …
Vignobles Bulliat 2014 “Cuvee du Colombier” Morgon
The Beaujolais wine region is located at the bottom of Burgundy, and Morgon is smack in the middle of the best winemaking villages in Beaujolais. It should come as no surprise …
Tua Rita 2012 “Perlato del Bosco” Sangiovese
Super Tuscans were born on the Italian coast, and warm Maremma is the cradle of many modern wines. The region is known for massive Cabernet Sauvignon, with the depth and breadth …
Familia Zuccardi 2013 “Q” Malbec, Mendoza
Zuccardi is a rock-solid winery in Argentina. This wine has been evolving vintage by vintage. I love how Zuccardi is pulling away from the “Melted Chocolate and Licorice” profile that has …
Koyle 2012 “Gran Reserva” Carmenere, Colchagua Valley
Koyle is one of those wineries that pops into the marketplace once or twice a year, only to disappear as quickly as it came. The wines are fantastic, but inventory is …
Burgo Viejo Licenciado 2008 Rioja Reserva
A full metal wine label? That is a badass as it comes. This bottling hails from the Baja region of Rioja. The winery–which started as a cooperative back in the ’50’s— is …
Domaine les Verrieres 2008 “Les Pierres Plantees” Coteaux du Languedoc
A straight line connects Bordeaux to Languedoc: Follow the Pyrenees Mountains from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. It is the narrowest point in France, a mere four-hour drive between two points, …
Maison Henry Fessy 2014 “Sous La Roche” Pouilly Fuisse
Pouilly-Fuissé lies at the southernmost border of Burgundy, just above Beaujolais. The town is famous for its Roche de Solutré: the limestone ridge that is the basis for its famous calcareous soils. The Sous La …