When I poured the wine by candlelight and the yeasty smell hit the air, my friend asked, what is that, beer? “Beer made with grapes,” I quipped. There was something... read more →
On the other hand, here’s a wine that is pure Campanian grapes, made in Campania. Here you go: a charming literfull of vin-de-soif-a-go-go. Even with skin contact this is a... 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.
From the committed to natural and biodynamic Hart family in Paso Robles comes Gelert Hart’s ciders. And what a fabulous entry this is to the category. This one is from... read more →
I first tasted this wine a few years back when visiting on the volcano. Wow, I thought, got to meet these people. The wines were so old-fashioned, they reminded me... read more →
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 →
One day the price will go up, when Lambrusco (finally) gets sexy. But until then, it’s our secret. Love this purple fizz, that is earthy, brambly, a touch tannic and... read more →
Milan left the Provence appellation a while back, opting to be a Vin de France, which is okay for us. The grapes for this beauty are grown on limestone, clay,... read more →
Having worked at both Prieuré Roch and Domaine de Chassorney gives a fair idea of the lineage Nicolas Testard comes from. He’s got 11 hectares in Saint-Étienne-la-Varenne, about a 17-minute... read more →
Étienne Courtois shares the Quartz vineyard with his father Claude. Their vines are mostly older, own-rooted, protected from phyloxera by the area’s ultra-sandy soils. This is an exuberant, elegant drink.... read more →