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 →
If only California would wake up to the carignan truth for their region. They should worship the grape. This wine is one reason why. 25% stem inclusion, iron edge, freshness... read more →
With a laugh, Hardy might tell you as a winemaker he’s “banking on the losers,” but this wine is no loser. Familiar is blended from five of the seven vineyards... read more →
Brianne Day is part of the new Oregon wine world and Cancilla is a vineyard, near the Coast Range. Dry-farmed, organic and intriguing. She does a good percentage of whole... read more →
Joe did good in his second vintage. And he too makes a wine from Cancilla. He does a little bit of foot treading, but not too much on 100% whole... read more →
You won’t find the 2013 on the east coast until the fall (meanwhile, you can pick up the more whole clustery 2012), but you’ll want to keep an eye out... read more →
I love this dry-farmed Mendocino vineyard, and so do Tracey and Jared. This is their first effort from it. At first I gave it a not bad, which sounds like... read more →