Tasted in his cellar, the Chaillot had been open for several days (I couldn’t bear to ask him to open up a new bottle for me). This was from the... read more →
There’s an enclave of winemakers clustered in the Ardeche who work with the kind of cold carbonic maceration used by the early natural winemakers. There, Manuel Cunin and Vincent Fargier... read more →
Out of a sensible cooperative in the southern Rhône comes a classic: full-bodied with good tannin and balance. The fruit is dark bing cherry balanced by spice, licorice, and a... read more →
Olivier is indeed the little brother to the Anjou’s Jo Pithon. He moved to the southwest where he gives us this swell mix of grenache and syrah. Expect a wine... read more →
Cyril Alonso is the “natural” négoce, who wins the value prize with this entry for a full liter of glou glou deliciousness. The grapes come from near Tavel, vinified in... read more →
How ’bout this for a note, “Hoo-ha!” If the other cuvée is glou glou, this cuvée is intense, but still easy. However, it’s not just a fruit bomb: along with... read more →
While just a dollar or two more a bottle than the usual Domaine de la Patience offerings, this is in a wildly different category. It’s totally satisfying in that warm... read more →
If only I was this much of an overachiever. This wine drinks well immediately upon opening and yet gets better over the next few days. While delicious and easy drinking,... read more →
I’ve been a fan of these wines, raised in concrete, ever since the early days. The Bien Luné is smoky and coal-like, it’s a dark drink with herbal and blackberry... read more →
Sure, I listed this wine in November but it bears repeating. This is your party wine for the season. It’s totally satisfying in that warm way of the south of... read more →