grapelive.com

1993 E. Guigal, Hermitage Rouge, Northern Rhône, France.In what was thought of as a weak vintage, this négociant Hermitage bottling from Guigal proved to be a lovely and nicely drinking…

2021 Odonata, Grenache Rouge, Sparkling Wine, Hook Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands.Again I was impressed and thrilled by the new set of releases from Odonata, and I especially loved the latest…

2020 Terre Stregate, Aglianico “Manent” Sannio DOP, Campania, Italy.I found Terre Stregate at the Tre Bicchieri tasting in San Francisco, it’s a winery from Campania that I hadn’t seen before…

2021 Weingut Haart, Riesling Estate, Mosel, Germany.Haart’s slightly off dry Estate Riesling is nicely generous and fresh in the mouth with hint of sweetness on the light framed palate, it…

2019 Château de Beaucastel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Rhône Valley, France.This 2019 vintage of Château de Beaucastel’s classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc is drinking well right now and was a star bottle at a…

2022 Whitcraft, Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills AVA, Santa Barbara County.The light ruby hue in the glass belies the depth, complexity and elegance found on the silken medium bodied palate…

2022 Domaine Cartaux-Bougaud, L’Étoile, Chardonnay, La Côte des Vents, Jura, France.Sébastien Cartaux and his wife, Sandrine’s Domaine Cartaux-Bougaud is a recent discovery for me, and I wrote about their beautiful…

2023 Filomena Wine Company, Cabernet Pfeffer Rosé, Sileto Vineyard, San Benito County.The bright orange/salmon hued Filomena Cabernet Pfeffer Rosé, handcrafted by Luke Nio, who is formerly winemaker at Morgan Twain-Peterson’s…

2022 Lioco, Carignan, Sativa, Mendocino County.The dark purple/garnet hued Mendocino Sativa Carignan, which Lioco gets from 70 year-old, dry farmed Carignan vines, with a tiny bit of Valdiguie, all organically…