Varietal:Merlot

Appellation:California, Napa

Style:Red

WOW Rating:93

Vine Cliff Winery has arisen to beautiful restoration in the past two decades by the Sweeney family, sensitive to the site’s 1871 roots.
Read the rest of this entry »

Varietal:Albarino

Appellation:Spain, Rias Baixas

Style:Dry White

WOW Rating:88

Produced entirely from the Albariño grape, grown on their estate in the cool Galician region of Rias Baixas, this dry white wine is straw-colored with greenish tones. Aromas are clean and intensive, with intense nectarine.

The Vionta is an ideal white wine with fish, seafood or served simply as an aperitif.

Varietal:Chardonnay

Appellation:New Zealand, Marlborough

Style:Dry White

Allan Scott Wines and Estates Ltd was established in 1990 with a limited release of 2000 cases of classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, made from grapes grown by Allan and Catherine Scott. By 1992 production at the 24 hectare winery in Jacksons Road, Marlborough had doubled. From there, their success has continued to grow.
Read the rest of this entry »

Varietal :Syrah

Appellation:California, Sonoma

Style:Red

WOW Rating:92

A sniff offers dark red fruit, concentrated, with a lilt of menthol. In the mouth there is redcurrant, maybe cranberry, then bright fruit anchored by a touch of earthiness, a drop of lime, followed by long length.
Read the rest of this entry »

VISIT TO Espelt VITICULTORS

Building on the principle of Summer Vacation, and encouraged by the success with which the winery, the publicity makes it, and that he had recently tested the Kasumi , I went to Vilajuïga to visit.

Xavier was waiting for us, its commercial director, who showed us the facilities, took us to visit some of the wineries offering tasting and ended up with almost the entire range Espelt.
Read the rest of this entry »

The pulse of a Dreamer

Michael is fulfilling his dream on his farm in El Molar grown, so respectful of the environment, a few acres of twisted vines and some other well combed trellis planted by himself … The fruits of these vineyards, wisely managed with the assistance of Coca Toni are two wines from which more than three years I have knowledge.
Read the rest of this entry »

Alexander

This spectacular Pinot Noir may be one of the best bargains from California. The Alexander Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir would pair nicely with veal in a piquant sauce or with venison (or other wild game).
Read the rest of this entry »

Entering stage left is rich plum with a plume of fresh thyme in the hat. Flavors of complexly ripe fruit with, again, nice herbal nuance, then plum, blackberry, a hint of earthy dust, along with delicate floral hint of violets. This soft but assertive red will match a big steak, or any assertive red meat dish.

“We usually add 5-7% Cabernet into the Merlot blend,” explains Hank Wetzel.

This Chardonnay exhibits ripe melon, mineral/limestone and lime/citrus in the nose. The sip presents a wine with restraint, though there is citrus marmalade and toffee. The Alexander Valley Vineyards Chardonnay is bright, complex and beautifully balanced.
Read the rest of this entry »

Think wonderful flowers and luscious apricot influence in the nose, then flavors fully rounded and fruit laced with flower petals. Though leaning towards sweetness, the crisp acidity keeps this wine in perfect balance.

This well regarded Alsace domaine is run by two brothers, Maurice and Jacky Barthelmé in the village of Wettolsheim, near Colmar.
Read the rest of this entry »