Tasted in his cellar, the Chaillot had been open for several days (I couldn’t bear to ask him to open up a new bottle for me). This was from the... read more →
There’s an enclave of winemakers clustered in the Ardeche who work with the kind of cold carbonic maceration used by the early natural winemakers. There, Manuel Cunin and Vincent Fargier... read more →
Remember the colorful graffiti bottle? That is in the past. Now as Texier’s basic wine we have a not-so-basic Chat Fou. It’s just shy of intense with a quiet grip... read more →
Hervé Souhaut’s first vintage from this reclaimed vineyard in Saint Joseph, the 2012, is just about sold out. You’ll be lucky to find some on restaurant lists. It’s beautiful. I... read more →
Wonderful wine values, classy stuff, can come from the Collines Rhodaniennes of the Rhône (mostly around Vienne on east side of the Rhône River). There’s even some lovely viognier, which... read more →
Hirotake Ooka settled in the northern Rhône after various wine stages, hooking up with friends and influences including Thierry Allemand. Now he’s settled in the new hipster central, St. Peray,... read more →
Rene-Jean Dard (of Dard & Ribo) has kindred spirit Herve Souhait make his negoce line whites in Saint Peray. This is a glou-glou with verve, silky syrah. Semi-carbonic, raised in... read more →
I feel a syrah party coming on. Same winemaker as Foufoune, different soils. Drinkable pleasure, with a slightly lighter weight and higher tone.
From a vineyard on the west bank of the Rhône, one that never saw chemical intervention on its blue marl and sandstone soils. This is a serious and angular wine,... read more →
I’m a long time lover of the Balthazar wines, both pere et fils. This is Franck’s first venture into no sulfur and a big success it is. From baby vines... read more →