New York & Northern New Jersey Sales, Sussex Wine Merchants
Viognier, harvested as it’s barely ripe and still pear-like. Excellent acidity and zip...features sorely lacking in many tired, hot and treacly southern Rhône bottlings based on this fickle grape. Ridiculous quality for the price. — 6 days ago
A little extra concentration and pointed acidity this vintage. And the usual bucket of yellow cherries and tangerines. — 10 days ago
The Urbans-Hof wines tend toward the broader, fleshier end of the Mosel spectrum, but they’re also rich and crowd pleasing. Lots of apricot and white peach. — a day ago
Very good...but priced like it’s great. Tons of Grüner out there just as good, for a lot less. — 5 days ago
Amazing what can be done with Nouveau when the grower is careful, unrushed and authentic. Exuberant, fresh and clear; full of life. Just the thing for yesterday’s turkey binge. — 8 days ago
To my mind, the quintessential $20 Oregon Pinot: explosive aromas of boysenberry and spice, with corresponding flavors, concentration and a superfine, acid finish. Burgundian in its lower alcohol and understatement, it’s the kind of confident, relaxed effort to be expected from a winemaker who has Burgundy in her DNA. — 11 days ago
Chamomile, poached pear, acacia, pain grillé, mushroom tea, quatre épices, baked bones. On the downslope, but still quite vital, as all the oxidative elements are still in tension and balance. The Martin brothers rank with Corsin, Janin and Cornin as the very best growers in the Maconnais. — 3 days ago
No words. Natty crunk meets ‘60s right bank Bordeaux. Luncheon claret...as you might have been served by Warhol or Timothy Leary. The Merlot seems a bit riper and more assertive in this vintage, but the CF wrapper leaf and cranberry pop comes in on the surprisingly suave and sneaky-tannic finish. There are no better wines being made in America if you love things that have one foot firmly rooted in the classics and the other with the itch for the new. Superlative and timeless. — 7 days ago
Miles to go. Needed five days of rough handling to show very primary elements of tea rose, umeboshi, hard crack caramel and intense mineral savor. The one interesting thing is that the tannins are soft and dusty from the get. Don’t bother checking back for 5-7 years on this one. — 11 days ago
Chip Hughes
Excellent gateway Cabby Frank and always one of the better values in the Kermit Loire portfolio. Cool, ferrous, fruits de sous-bois, shade wrapper leaf. Complete, sumptuous and satisfying. — a day ago