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2010 Hippolyte Reverdy, Sancerre Rouge, Loire Valley. Soft, delicate and refined Pinot Noir from the Loire Valley with light and elegant flavors of rose petals, cherry and plum with smoky…

2011 Le Pigeoulet en Provence, Blanc Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, Rhone White, France. This is the best yet from Brunier’s Pigeoulet, and a super white wine made from Roussanne,…

2010 Domaine La Bastide Saint Dominique, Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge, Rhone Valley, France. This wonderfully expressive Chateauneuf has pure and rich flavors and is vigorous with firm and balanced structure.…

2011 Domaine Felines Jourdan, Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc White, France. It is strange and somewhat funny to write about such a summery wine in the cold rain of San Francisco,…

2012 Jean Foillard, Beaujolais Nouveau, France. The third Thursday of November is the legal day to start celebrating the years harvest with the day Beaujolais is released and it has…

2009 Tenuta San Guido, Sassicaia, Bolgheri Rosso DOCG, Tuscany, Italy. One of the world’s great wines, Sassicaia is almost a no brainer, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t exciting to…

2009 Ojai Vineyard, Syrah, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley. It was a pleasure to taste through a big lineup of Ojai wines again and see how Adam Tolmach’s style…

2011 Weingut Leitz, Riesling “Rudesheimer” Trocken, Rheingau, Germany. The 2011 vintage Leitz wines all are wonderful examples of terroir and pure Rieslings, especially Johannes Leitz’s beautiful dry Riesling from vines…

2009 Kurt Darting, Gewurztraminer, Durkheimer Nonnengarten, Kabinett , Pfalz, Germany. This beautiful mostly dry Gewurz is an aromatic and spicy white that delivers pure varietal character and elegance making for…

2010 Forteto Della Luja “Le Grive” Monferrato Rosso DOC, Piedmonte, Italy. It is hard not to love Forteto della Luja’s Le Grive, this Monferrato red is a blend of Barbera…