grapelive.com

2015 COS, Frappato, Terre Siciliane, Italy. The bright and textured 2015 COS Frappato is a joyous red from Giusto Occhipinti and team, it is one of best yet in terms…

2015 Weingut Kruger-Rumpf, Riesling Trocken, Munsterer Kapellenberg, Erste Lage, Nahe Germany. The seductive and vibrant dry Munsterer Kapellenberg Erste Lage (VDP Premier Cru) 2015 from Kuger-Rumpf is one of beauties…

2012 Alfaro Family Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Lindsay Paige Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains. I don’t know how I missed this one in my cellar, but I’m sure glad it was there…

2013 Nobili, Valtellina Superiore “Sassella” Lombardy, Italy. A wonderful experience these Nobili Valtellina’s, a great and generous sharing from a friend who bought them at the winery and carried them…

2014 Beaux Freres, Pinot Noir, Zena Crown Vineyard, Eola/Amity, Willamette Valley, Oregon. The Zena Crown, single vineyard series, from Beaux Freres is a wonderful example of year and place captured…

2015 Weingut Leitz, Riesling Trocken, Rudesheimer Berg Kaisersteinfels, Terrassen, Grosses Gewachs, Rheingau Germany. My wine of the year is Johannes Leitz’s gorgeous and powerful Kaisersteinfels Terrassen Grosses Gewachs dry Riesling…

2015 Nacho Gonzalez-La Perdida, A Mallada, Valdeorras, Spain. One of the coolest wines I’ve tried all year and a very unique amphora raised red from Spain, the La Perdida A…

2015 Jean-Louis Dutraive-Domaine de la Grand Cour, Fleurie Cru Beaujolais, Le Clos, Cuvee Vieilles Vignes, France. The 2015 Dutraive Le Clos old vine Gamay is as close to perfection as…

2013 Ridge Vineyards, Carignane, Buchignani Ranch, Sonoma County. The hillside old vine Carignane Buchignani Ranch from Ridge is a lovely and juicy deeply purple wine that smacks of old school…

2014 Domaine Roulot, Bourgogne Blanc, France. The new 2014 Roulot basic white Burgundy is a brilliant and stylish wine with real depth of character and steely mineral intensity, it is…