Month: June 2022

2012 Maison Pierre Morlet, Premier Cru Brut Champagne, Avenay-Val-d’Or, France.This small Champagne house is always a rare treat to experience and this mineral driven Pinot Noir led 2012 vintage is…

2018 Meliville, Syrah, Estate, Sta. Rita Hills.The beautifully drinking deeply garnet/purple 2018 Melville Syrah has started to evolve nicely with complex layering and loads of savory crunch along with pretty…

2021 I. Brand & Family Winery, Arneis, Vista Verde Vineyard, San Benito County.The second release of Arneis from Ian Brand and his I. Brand & Family Winery is very exciting…

N.V. Nicolas Maillart, Extra Brut, Platine, Premier Cru Champagne, France.I was recently introduced to the exciting Champagne of Nicolas Maillart with his lovely Brut Rosé, but this extremely precise and…

2020 Samuel Louis Smith, Chardonnay, Spear Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills.This wine, with its Chablis like stony intensity, is one of my favorite domestic Chardonnays, with each vintage I find more…

2017 Cantina Gostolai, Rosa ‘e Monte, Vino Bianco, Sardinia, Italy.This intriguing golden white wine from Gostolai is made from mainly an ancient local varietal, Vernaccia Oristano that is estate grown…

2017 Piedrasassi, Syrah, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley.In the 2017 vintage releases, I have really enjoyed the Sta. Rita Hills and this Bien Nacido bottling of Syrahs from winemaker…

2018 Nada Fiorenzo, Barbaresco DOCG “Rombone” Piedmonte, Italy.Tasted at this year’s Slow Wine event in San Francisco, this nuanced and pretty Barbaresco comes from the Rombone Cru and shows the…

2016 Contratto, Pas Dose Millesimato, Vintage Extra Brut Sparkling Wine, Metodo Classico, Piedmonte, Italy.The lively and freshly styled Contratto Pas Dose Extra Brut Metodo Classico, Champagne like sparkler is made…

2019 Weingut Dr. Loosen, Riesling Kabinett, Ürziger Würzgarten, Mosel, Germany.It’s hard to imagine a better or more delightful Summer and Summer Solstice wine than Erni Loosen’s Ürziger Würzgarten Kabinett and…