On one of those nights when we went through three other bottles dismissing them as too young, too whatever, too carbo, too method – this one shined. In a flash... read more →
Hank has a thing for tempranillo and grows some in his home vineyard. But this one, his first 100% tempranillo, is made from grapes purchased from Matthew Rorick’s vines. I... read more →
Brand new face for me, and the wine from Zurab Zatusashvili was a charmer. Full on tannin and depth, and yet? Silky. The talk of the tasting. Importer: None.
Spillare, an active member of the VinNatur association, works on volcanic soils in the Veneto in Gambellara. The vignaioli gives these grapes a short day of skin contact and then... read more →
Years ago, I was introduced to Michel Gahier’s fabulous wines at lunch in Arbois with Pierre Overnoy. Seeing it on the list he grabbed a savagnin and claimed Gahier one... read more →
From the area more known for the white citrusy picpoul comes a strange one: tempranillo. Why Julie’s dad planted it, God only knows. But it’s damned delicious. Kirsch, caraway, cocoa,... read more →
Physically exquisite, the slopes of Racha are a melding of terroirs. It’s known for its ham and for the semi-sweet wines (the one to the left) called khvanchkara that are... read more →
Portugal suffers from Parker-palate hangover. But hallelujah for the outliers like this vinho tinto from the Dão. It comes from vines rooted in granite and schist soils at about 1,600... read more →
Trollinger—known as schiava and vernatsch in Italy—is a nifty grape that drinks easy as well as serious. This liter is just the right size, any less would leave us wanting.... read more →
Alfredo Maestro is indeed a maestro. His wines, all of them, always delight. He’s a pioneer in Peñafiel in the Ribera del Duero where natural is virtually unheard of, shifting... read more →