Pax Mahle is considered to be an ultratraditionalist. “We take a very pure approach,” explains Mahle, “one that was more commonplace 100 years ago in France than it is today.” That approach includes organic farming, foot-crushing the grapes, natural fermentations and absolutely no fining or filtering. He contends that his style of winemaking is really [...]
Archive for May, 2008
Pax Marsanne/Roussanne/Viognier, Nepenthe, Alder Springs Vineyard, Mendocino County, 2006
Posted in California, Recommended, tagged Marsanne, Pax, Pax Mahle, Roussanne, Viognier on May 29, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Quintarelli Bianco Secco Ca’ del Merlo, 2005
Posted in Italy, tagged Bianco Secco, Garganega, Italian Wine, Quintarelli on May 29, 2008 | 1 Comment »
This wine is a blend of Garganega, Trebbiano Toscano, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Saorin (believed to be a clone of the Tokay grape and meaning “flavor” in Veronese dialect). Garganega is the 5th most widely planted white grape in Italy and the main grape used in the production of Soave (it constitutes 70-100% of the [...]
Unti Vineyards Rosé, 2006
Posted in California, tagged California, Dy Creek Valley, Rose, Unti, Unti Vineyards on May 27, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Unti’s vineyard was founded in 1990 and the winery in 1997. It is owned and operated by George, Linda, and Mick Unti. Mick manages all winemaking, sales and marketing for the winery. Sébastien Pochan is the winemaker. My first exposure to Unti was 3 or 4 years ago on a trip to California. We were [...]
Chereau Carre Muscadet Chateau De Chasseloir, 2007
Posted in France, Value Pick, tagged Chereau Carre, French Wine, Loire Valley, Muscadet on May 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
This wine is from the region of Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine. Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Main is collection of vineyards, scattered between 23 communes around the confluence of the Sèvre and Maine rivers as they flow towards the Loire. This region produces 81% of the Muscadet and many contend this region produces the best Muscadet. Muscadet once held [...]
Domaine des Corbillières Touraine Sauvignon, 2007
Posted in France, Recommended, Value Pick, tagged Domaine des Corbillieres, Loire Valley, Robert Kacher, Sauvignon Blanc on May 21, 2008 | 1 Comment »
In 1923, Fabel Barbou, purchased the 20-hectare estate of Domaine des Corbillières ( situated in the town of Oisly, about 30 kilometers east of the city of Tours). Fabel planted his first Sauvignon Blanc, introducing the varietal in this central Loire appellation. His family has followed in producing what many consider to be one of [...]
Cheverny Le Petit Chambord Domaine Francois Cazin 2006
Posted in France, Recommended, Value Pick, tagged Chardonnay, Cheverny, François Cazin, French Wine, Loire, Louis/Dressner, Sauvignon Blanc on May 17, 2008 | 3 Comments »
This wine is made by Francois Cazin. It is from the appellation of Cheverny, one of the most recent new appellations in the Loire Valley (1991). By legislation, a Cheverny wine has to be a blend of varietals, and François Cazin’s white is 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Chardonnay. I like the fruit and acidity [...]
Alice Feiring’s The Battle for Wine and Love
Posted in Reference, tagged Alice Feiring, Natural Wine, The Battle for Wine and Love, wine and technology, wine books on May 13, 2008 | 1 Comment »
I finished Alice Feiring’s book today — it was like a split of a great wine (meaning a 375 ml bottle) — not nearly enough of a good thing and left me wanting more….. I think it is an important book that deserves attention and discussion. I know it will stir emotions, but hope that [...]
Domaine de Tariquet Chenin Chardonnay, 2006
Posted in France, Value Pick, tagged Armagnac, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Domaine de Tariquet, Robert Kacher on May 9, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Since 1912 Château du Tariquet has been home to the Grassa family. They first gained notoriety for Hélène and Pierre Grassa’s Armagnac. They began producing white wine in 1982. Yves Grassa broke into winemaking by breaking the rules. He was the first in the region to plant chardonnay, sauvignon or chenin grapes, which were far [...]
Rober Kacher Annual Spring Portfolio Tasting 2008
Posted in Wine Events, Wine Importers, tagged Annual Spring Portfolio Tasting, Robert Kacher, Wine Event Washington DC on May 7, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
This afternoon I attended Robert Kacher’s annual spring tasting for trade and media at the Washington Club in DC. They poured more than 150 different wines from the Kacher portfolio. Some very good Châteauneuf-du-Papes, standouts included Domaine Font de Michelle, the Domaine Les Cailloux Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the Les Cailloux Centenaire. The 06 wines from Domaine [...]
Didier Dagueneau Blanc Fumé de Pouilly, 2006
Posted in France, Recommended, tagged Blanc Fumé de Pouilly, Didier Dagueneau, French Wine, Loire, Pouilly Fume, Pur Sang, Sauvignon Blanc on May 6, 2008 | 4 Comments »
This wine includes some fruit from Didier Dagueneau’s famed Pur Sang, Buisson Renard and Silex cuvees. It is barrel-fermented and aged half in stainless steel and half in large, neutral barrels. On the nose, lemon, citrus, white flowers, fresh hay and some mineral notes. On the palate, sharp acidity with rich and creamy lemon and [...]
Gulfi Nero Bufaleffi, 2000
Posted in Italy, tagged Bufaleffi, Gulfi, Nero d'Avola, Organic Wine, Sicilian Wine on May 5, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Gulfi is a a relatively new producer of organic wines — their wines aren’t widely available but worth seeking out. They were established in 1996 and current production is about 20,000 cases. This is made from the Sicilian red grape Nero d’Avola. It comes from a limestone-based vineyard around Pachino in the Val di Noto [...]
Louis/Dressner Selections
Posted in Wine Importers, tagged Biodynamic Wine, Joe Dressner, Louis/Dressner Selections, Natural Wine, New York, Wine Importer on May 5, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Louis/Dressner Selections is a portfolio of over 60 vignerons fro France, Italy and Portugal. They are a partnership of Denyse Louis, a native Burgundian, Joe Dressner and Kevin McKenna. Collectively, They spend nearly nine months a year in Europe working with their growers and selecting wines for importation to America. They represent a group of [...]
Faizeau Montagne St. Emilion Vielles Vignes, 2005
Posted in France, Recommended, tagged Bordeaux, Faizeau Montagne St. Emilion Vielles Vignes, French Wine, Merlot, Montagne-St-Emilion on May 5, 2008 | 1 Comment »
I was looking around at some of the 2005 Bordeaux offerings, and this was a wine that I bought as a future. I think I paid $17 a bottle, and it is now available as low as $20 and as high as $28. I was considering buying some more wines from the 05 release, and [...]
