Category: Wine Articles

2011 Domaine du Gapillon D’Or 1806, Gigondas, Rhone Valley Red, France. The Chauvet family’s Grapillon D’Or estate is one of the classic properties of Gigondas, and it is an old…

2012 Alfaro Family Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Lester Family Vineyards at Deer Park, Santa Cruz Mountains. Richard Alfaro does a wonderful selection of non estate Cru bottling, these include a Schultze…

2012 Matthiasson, Refosco, Matthiasson Estate Vineyard, Oak Knoll, Napa Valley. One of Napa’s top vineyard managers, Steve Matthiasson is making a name for himself as a winemaker, and his estate…

2012 Sandlands, Syrah, Soberanes Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands. Tegan and Olivia Passalacqua’s own label Sandlands is gaining traction and this new set of releases are stunning, especially the Soberanes Syrah…

2013 Domaine du Vissoux, Beaujolais Vieilles Vignes, Cuvee Traditionnelle, France. Pierre-Marie Chermette’s Vissoux old vine Beaujolais is a Gamay wonderland and one of the best non Crus I’ve ever tried,…

2012 Alfredo Maestro Tejero, Tinto Castrillo de Duero, Spain. Coming from 70+ year old Tinto Fino (100% Tempranillo) grown at elevation on clay, loamy soils in Burgos, Ribera del Duero…

2013 Christian Venier, Cheverny, Les Hauts de Madon, Loire Valley Red, France. This crisp and spicy loire red is lovely and fresh with tangy red fruits, lifting acidity, mineral notes…

2013 Alfredo Maestro, Albillo “Lovamor” White, Castilla y Leon, Spain. This rare varietal, Albillo, makes for a unique and interesting white wine, especially in the hands of Alfredo Maestro, a…

2013 Eva Fricke, Riesling, Trocken, Rheingau Germany. Eva Fricke’s basic QbA Trocken is stylish, zippy and dusty dry with yellow peach, lime, grapefruit, green apple and mango notes along with…

2012 Piedrasassi, Syrah, Santa Barbara County. Sashi Moorman’s Piedrasassi label is home to some of California’s most exciting Syrah, and this new vintage, 2012 Santa Barbara County is wonderful and…