Didier and Joëlle, two of the sweetest vignerons on the planet, slave up there in the heavy clay of their Haute-Côtes vineyards. With this Bourgogne, they really hit their mark;... read more →
Rafa! What a special man and a very fine winemaker. Everything made under the Viñedos Culturales label (his project, reviving old vineyards and methods of winemaking) is worth exploring but... read more →
Another Rafa wine, as above, but the polar opposite of the Los Cipreses with more savory on the outside than the in, strong yet silky. Destemmed, steel ferment, returned to... read more →
Pigato is often disrespected, yeasted into a sauvignon blanc-sameness and forgettable. But every once in a while the real thing comes along. When drinking it, be aware of the controversy.... read more →
Be on the outlook for more table wines from the sweet wine district of Coteaux du Layon. This one is a beauty, 80% sauvignon it’s tempered by gorgeous chenin and... read more →
The material for the vines came from côt favorite, Clos Roche Blanche. The offspring has done the parent vines proud. 2012 was another low-yield, high-stress year but Marc Ollivier pulled... read more →
What’s a little skunk between friends? Just a little bit? Maybe call it oyster shell. No matter what you call it when combined with the stone and the fruit of... read more →
If you’re headed northeast from Alba, Bramaterra is on the way to the Milan airport in the Alto Piemonte. From younger vines than the DOC Bramaterra, this is partially aged... read more →
I received a few samples from a house I used to like but forgot about. While I wasn’t looking they started to convert to biodynamics, which will be complete in... read more →
I was reminded of this beauty recently while eating latkes. At 1/3 the cost of champagne, this puts a big smile on my face. This is what you need for... read more →