All of Fabio’s 2013s are worth seeking out. Remember the albillo (some sauvignon-like skunk), the malvar (which would get both my hardcore and geek stamps, with some interesting Band-Aid mint,... read more →
Jancis Robinson’s book Grapes documents chelva as an old Andalucian grape which is often called lairen. Allowed in the Madrid DO, it seems to be a hearty and disease-resistant variety,... read more →
2013 was a hard year in the Anjou, but it was kind to Christine and Joël Ménard, two of the nicest vignerons in all of the Anjou Noir. All of... read more →
West of Toulouse and east of Bordeaux in Buzet, Magali Tissot and Ludovic Bonnelle do the old fashioned thing, work by hand, foot crush, deeply respect the soil, get silly-low... 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 →
Camille Rivière watched as I tasted Jean-François Coutelou’s wines at my kitchen table. Jeff used to be her wine teacher back when she was being a pain in the ass... 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 →
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 →
This is the third wine of Jeff Coutelou’s that I’ve recommended in two issues. A fan? I should say. This drinks a little tough and rough and shows alcohol, but... read more →
When tasted from a magnum, this wine was a full package of goodies: vibrancy, tannin, and fruit, and just what the doctor ordered for a medium- bodied wine of elegance.... read more →