“I realized that I would never use carbonic maceration on my top cuvées, so why am I doing this on the Ad Libitum?” Thus spake Damien to me in the... read more →
So, at a cost of about $11 wholesale for this bottle (hello restaurants and wine shops!), why isn’t this wine in more places? I have no idea, because this is... read more →
Marc Plouzeau reclaimed this vineyard, and this, a $15 bottle, gets a big vote for every day buvability. Sulfur is used and you feel it, but it still doesn’t prevent... read more →
Some wines fail to get the hipster card for no good reason. This is one of them. From basalt soils, from rugged terroir, it delivers a good sense of place—licorice,... read more →
The Swiss former architect also makes wines that hide from the new cool kids. Yet, like the other Mas to the left, it’s a tragedy. This domaine always delivers freshness... read more →
Brouca came to my attention from a Facebook reach out. And I’m glad he did. He is French, but as his wife is a Canadian diplomat, he moves every three... read more →
From two separate vineyards, stainless élevage and small amount of whole cluster fermentation. The whole cluster gives the wine life as both syrah and mourvèdre can be quite heavy, but... read more →
Quite impressed with the drinkability of many Jolly Ferriol wines from Isabelle Jolly and Jean-Luc Chossart. Their wines lean to the rustic, sometimes they can show mouse, but there’s always... read more →
Elodie Aubert & Raphaël Gonzales’ grapes come from steep slopes and limestone soils. The wine is aged in concrete and comes out fresh, deep, really deep, super satisfying in the... read more →
Sourced from Volnay vines, this was particularly stunning in a line-up. Less so when I had it for dinner. But it is just young. The next day, the Oregon-like fruit... read more →