Dominus Estate
Napanook Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2021
Pure pleasure. So red fruited (mostly cherry) & velvety I could’ve sworn this was a fantastic Merlot blend from Napa, but of course there isn’t a drop of Merlot (92% cabernet sauvignon, 6% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot) as Christian has declared Napa unsuitable for the variety these days. With filet au poivre. — 2 months ago
Weingut Pfeffingen
Trocken Scheurebe 2023
Fun little wine. Surprisingly dark in the glass. Zippy and tropical (guava, passion fruit, lychee, citrus zest) with a touch of bitter underripe / greenness on the finish. Oh, and there’s a unicorn in the label. What’s not to like about that? — a year ago
Poderi Aldo Conterno
Riserva Gran Bussia Barolo Nebbiolo 1985
Had high hopes as this wine/vintage was an absolute stunner 7-8 years ago when I last had a bottle but this one was a bit shagged (as my newly minted MW friend likes to say). Hoping it’s just this bottle, but maybe it’s peak has long past. Slightly maderized and very little fruit left. Thin. — 6 days ago
I Vigneri di Salvo Foti
Etna Rosso Nerello Mascalese Nerello Cappuccio
Really loving this hearty (deappellated) Etna Rosso with cavatelli smothered in lamb & beef ragout. A little tannic and stilted at first. This is a wine that needs food and a bit of of time after opening to relax and unfold. So many layers here: Carob, bay laurel, baked tomato, dried Mountmorency cherries, a touch of smoke/ash. Rustic, yet polished and sophisticated. — a year ago
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
Hermitage Blanc Marsanne Roussanne 1985
1985. 40 years young. Gave it an hour to open up before dinner (paired orange ginger glazed duck with pistachio apricot farro). Thankfully my partner is a master of the Durand. There’s very little for me to compare this too - most aged whites are preserved by acid; Chave relies on glycerol here. It gives the wine gravitas but also life and freshness. Pleasant wood veneer/wood shop notes, dried apricots at first (become fresher with time), yellow plum, truffled earth. Salty poached apricots and timelessness. In a perfect world, we’d be sharing this with my dad. Strange & sensational. — 19 days ago
Ermes Pavese
Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle Prié Blanc
Revisiting an old friend. From one of Europe’s highest vineyards. Pure, clean citrus fruit hits you right away like a freshly melted alpine stream in spring. As the bottle warms up, unexpected tropical notes emerge - coconut and pineapple (aka nuances of piña colada). — 7 months ago
Adriana Fabbro
Acquired at the “domaine” in France (I put it in quotes because the winery is way more like a garage) but l it was such a great visit - Remi was friendly, humble and pragmatic. And we got to see how the work really happens in the vineyards (which is no easy feat trying to farm organically with all of that rain and humidity 🤯). The wines at every level so overdeliver for the price.
2020 vintage. lushness from lees and age (glycerol maybe?). Honeyed but not sweet like a Chenin, bay leaf, fennel/mike and Ike’s, Dole canned pineapple, flint. — 6 days ago