If I had my way carignan would be one of the major grapes of California. The reason? You get a perfectly ripe and lovely wine at reasonable alcohol levels. Jason... read more →
From the granitic Gredos mountains in the Vinos de Madrid DO, 80km west of the city, comes another stunner at an easy price from four friends onto a good thing.... read more →
There are some wines that don’t hit you at first. They sneak up on you and go all heart-throbby. This is one of them. Gabrio Bini is an architect who... read more →
This producer from the Tavel area of France is a terrific find from Chambers Street's David Lillie. Christian and Nadia Charmasson are the vignerons. They give this cuvée a long carbonic... read more →
I have fond memories of walking into Paris’s Racines (when Pierre Jancou reigned) and frequently seeing the tousled-headed, boxer-visaged Christian Venier sitting at the bar. Whatever he brought with him... read more →
After Christian Chaussard died, his wife Nathalie Gaubicher continued on by herself. The transition showed the trauma. However, now the wines have found their happy equilibrium. The peppery, red-zingery pineau... read more →
The third vintage from Laura Lorenzo truly shows her skill, her determination and her personality. She works in the Ribeira Sacra and this fruit is a blend from the Amandi... read more →
This is actually 2015 carbonic gamay (from the Beaujolais) with some of the 2016 direct-press chardonnay (from the Savoie) which results in something poulsard-like in style and flavors. Citrusy, gentle... read more →
Ten percent of Christian’s winemaking is experimental so that makes plenty of room for bottling a Brutal. “It’s not about a fucked up wine,” he said. “These wines are about... read more →
Pinot sure, but from where? This would be hard to nail down; a little like the Finger Lakes (the old Silver Thread comes to mind) but whatever it is, the... read more →