Month: January 2022

2001 Chateau Branaire (Duluc Ducru), Saint-Julien, Grand Cru Classé, Red Bordeaux, France.One of my favorite Bordeaux vintages to drink, 2001, and an en 1855 classified Chateau that always offers a…

2019 Dirty & Rowdy, Mourvedre, Enz Vineyard, Lime Kiln Valley, San Benito County.One of the very last releases from the now defunct Dirty & Rowdy Wines, the 2019 Dirty &…

2018 Cameron Winery, Pinot Noir, Arley’s Leap, Abbey Ridge Vineyard, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon.This year’s Arley’s Leap Pinot is a dead ringer for some old school Burgundian classics, in…

2014 Weingut Friedrich Becker, Pinot Noir, Pfalz, Germany.Still fresh and gracefully textured, the basic 2014 estate Pinot Noir is nicely put together with layers of smoky black cherry, plum and…

2020 Jaimee Motley Wines, Rosé of Mondeuse, Rorick Heritage Vineyard, Calaveras County.The latest release of the Rosé of Mondeuse, Rorick Heritage Vineyard by Jaimee Motley is brighter and more delicate…

2018 Chiappini, Cabernet Franc “Lienà” IGT Toscana Rosso, Bolgheri Italy.It was great fun to catch up with Martina Chiappini at this year’s Slow Wine SF Tasting and taste through her…

2019 Cayuse, Tempranillo “Impulsivo” En Chamberlin Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley.While renown for his Syrah and Grenache based wines, Cayuse’s Christophe Baron also does some fantastic Bordeaux blends, Cabernet Sauvignon and…

2017 Mueller-Catoir, Scheurebe Trocken, Haardt, Pfalz, Germany.The nose on Mueller-Catoir’s Haardt Scheurebe Trocken is exotic with lime blossom and jasmine, but not as perfumey as Muscat and the palate has…

2018 Desire Lines Wine Co, Syrah, Griffin’s Lair Vineyard, Petaluma Gap, Sonoma County.The 2018 Desire Lines Griffin’s Lair Syrah is taut and powerful, but delivers a wonderfully pure Syrah experience…

2017 Weingut Carl Loewen, Riesling Trocken, Longuicher Maximin Herrenberg 1896, Alte Reben, Erste Lage, Mosel Germany.I’ve long been a follower and fan of the Carl Loewen wines, but I have…