From calcareous and silty soil, they call this a pet’nat but it is really a refermentation in the bottle with frozen must. It stays on the lees for 9 months.... read more →
Give this one a decent chill and taste the spectacular. The wine speaks of where, though maybe it's my imagination as I’ve never been to that part of deep Margaret... read more →
In a sea of phony pinks, this one is for real. Refreshing, lingering, with a whole lot of nuance and just pure quaffability. The mineral side of things, that’s my... read more →
Mike Roth has left Martian Ranch and that’s a good thing, because now he can develop into the vigneron he was meant to become. While he’s waiting for his vines... read more →
When I was falling for wine I was a sucker for old world grenache. In the past decade getting that flavor and spicy, bloody aromas were so very difficult, even... read more →
One of the most beautiful vintages of this wine in ages. Not one hint of puppy breath. This, as usual, is whole cluster fermentation and then into the demi-muids for... read more →
The syrah from Hank and the Suma Kaw vineyard is always memorable but this new effort might be a tad more spectacular. As usual, the whole cluster fruit is foot... read more →
I visited in 2010 and the wines keep on getting better and better. The 2009 is nothing short of stunning, an incredible balancing act with zip, verve, nervousness and a... read more →
Ludwig Bindernagel was a trained architect, so it might make sense that his wines have great infrastructure. This one if from 50-year-old vines, built with a classic “tradition” 80/20 blend... read more →
Claude and his son Etienne work in a part of the Loire full of forest. Here is a different expression of sauvignon blanc than the Quartz (to the right). From... read more →