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2011 Domaine Amido, Lirac AC, Rhone Valley, France. Wow! This is a tasty Rhone red that really over delivers with wonderful Grenache intensity and Chateauneuf like charms all for about…

2010 Domaine Maurice Charleux & Fils, Maranges Premier Cru “Les Clos Roussots” Red Burgundy, France. Charles Neal’s portfolio of family Burgundy producers is fairly short, but he has certainly found…

2011 Weingut Franz Hirtzberger, Gruner Veltliner “Rotes Tor” Federspiel Wachau, Austria. While Gruner has become almost a cliche or passe even, don’t think for a minute there aren’t some fantastic…

2010 Domaine de Pigaugier “Tenebi” Sablet Cotes du Rhone Villages Rouge cuvee Counoise, France. This unique 100% Counoise red from the Rhone’s Sablet is a beautifully detailed and spicy wine…

2011 Weingut Franz Hirtzberger, Riesling “Steinterrassen” Federspiel Wachau, Austria. This was my first chance to taste the Hirtzberger wines, and was tutored through them by Franz Hirtzberger which heightened the…

2009 Vineyard 29, Cabernet Sauvignon “Aida Estate” Napa Valley. Vineyard 29 is a stand out in 2009, with all their wines showing amazingly well and with great potential to develop…

2010 Domaine Bechtold, Pinot Noir “Obere Hund” Alsace, France. Bechtold’s Pinot Noir is light, bright and spicy, but really gets rolling with air and should develop nicely in the bottle…

2009 Domaine Habrard, Crozes-Hermitage AC, Rhone Red, France. Laurent Habrard’s beautiful Crozes Blanc and Rouge are now available in the States and are a worthy collection to explore, especially this…

2008 Kistler, Pinot Noir “Cuvee Natalie-Silver Belt Vineyard” Sonoma Coast. I’ve had a few Kistler’s over the years, but this was my first chance to try the Cuvee Natalie, and…

2010 Capiaux, Pinot Noir “Pisoni Vineyard” Santa Lucia Highlands. If a big wine can be reserved then Sean Capiaux has made it with this 2010 Pisoni Pinot, as it does…