Arianna Occhipinti is from the Vittoria region of Southern Sicily. She has been making wine for ten years under the tutelage of her uncle, Giusto Occhipinti, who owns the well-known winery COS. She produces first rate wines from biodynamically grown local varieties such as Nero d’Avola and Frappato. In her mid-20s, Arianna already seems to [...]
Archive for the ‘Recommended’ Category
Occhipinti IGT Sicilia Siccagno Nero D’Avola 2007
Posted in Italy, Recommended, tagged Arianna Occhipinti, Joe Dressner, Louis/Dressner Selections, Nero d'Avola, Occhipinti IGT Sicilia Siccagno Nero D'Avola 2007 on July 30, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Domaine de Ferrand Côtes du Rhône La Ferrande 2006
Posted in France, Recommended, tagged Domaine de Ferrand, Domaine de Ferrand Côtes du Rhône La Ferrande, Peter Weygandt, Philippe Bravay, Weygandt Wines on June 26, 2010 | 1 Comment »
More than 10 years ago, Philippe Bravay took over the family domaine and dedicated himself to preserving the unique traditions and special characteristics that Chateauneuf brings to the world. The domaine is quite small, only 5 ½ hectares of which over half is on vines approaching 100 years old, all situated in the lieu-dit Ferrand. [...]
Dominio do Bibei Ribeira Sacra Lalama 2006
Posted in Recommended, Spain, tagged Dominio do Bibei, Dominio do Bibei Ribeira Sacra Lalama 2006, Javier Dominguez, Mencia, Quiroga-Bibei, Ribeira Sacra on June 7, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Dominio do Bibei is located in the Quiroga-Bibei sub zone of the Ribeira Sacra D.O. Like all Ribeira Sacra sub zones, this area is one of spectacular mountain ranges and flowing rivers, but it is drier and harsher than the others. The Quiroga-Bibei sub-zone is dryer and warmer than the other sub-zones in Ribeira Sacra [...]
A Coroa Godello 2008
Posted in Recommended, Spain, Value Pick, tagged A Coroa Godello 2008, Angel Lopez, De Maison Selections, Godello, Valdeorras on May 27, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Angel Lopez and his family founded this winery in 2002 after spending years in the nursery business in Valdeorras. D.O.Valdeorras (Apellation of Origin or Designation of Origin), the second oldest in Galicia and recognized since 1945. Native to the region, the Lopez family supplied a majority of the wineries with their vines and have been [...]
Domaine Richaud Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne 2006
Posted in France, Recommended, tagged Cairanne, Côtes du Rhône, Chambers Street Wines, Domaine Richaud, Joe Dressner, Louis/Dressner Selections, Marcel Domaine Richaud, Marcel Richaud on May 23, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Marie and Marcel run Domaine Richaud, with Marcel as winemaker and Marie as manager. Marcel makes some wonderful wines, mostly of the little known village appellation Cairanne. Many consider him one of the top 2 or 3 producers in the appellation. His estate is made up of plots inherited from his parents as well as [...]
Adega O Casal Novo Godello 2007
Posted in Recommended, Spain, Value Pick, tagged Adega O Casal, Adega O Casal Novo Godello 2007, Casal Novo, Godello, Valdeorras on May 11, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Adega O Casal was founded in 2000 by five partners sharing the ideal of capturing the true varietal and optimum expression of the indigenous Godello and Mencía grapes. Starting with inherited family plots at high elevation near the village of Rubía, vineyard area has gradually expanded to the current six hectares. Viticulture is meticulous, seeking [...]
D. Ventura Viña Caneiro Ribeira Sacra 2007
Posted in Recommended, Spain, Uncategorized, tagged D. Ventura Viña Caneiro Ribeira Sacra 2007, Galicia, Ramón Losada, Ribeira Sacra, Ribeira Sacra Do Burat on May 1, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
One of the most stunning landscapes in Spain is located in the heart of Galiciain in an area known as the Ribeira Sacra (Sacred Banks). Ever since the Romans inhabited the area, people have been growing grapes on the steep terraces lining the two rivers that form the denomination. Working these lands is extremely difficult [...]
Sean Thackrey Pleiades XVIII Old Vines
Posted in California, Recommended, tagged Sean Thackrey, Sean Thackrey Pleiades XVIII Old Vines on April 30, 2010 | 1 Comment »
It’s been a while since my last post. There haven’t been a lot of wines that really excited me as of late. I was also sick for a couple of weeks — but in the last week there have been a number of wines that made me want to get back in the saddle. One [...]
Jacques Puffeney Arbois Poulsard “M” 2006
Posted in France, Recommended, tagged Eric Asimov, Jacques Puffeney, Jacques Puffeney Poulsard Arbois 2006, Jura, Neal Rosentha on March 27, 2010 | 1 Comment »
The Jura is a narrow valley in the remote hills between Burgundy to the west and Switzerland to the east. Most Americans have never been exposed to the wines from the Jura (though they have probably had their cheese). For centuries, the Jura existed in isolation, developing its unusual grapes and styles of wine, which [...]
André Perret Condrieu Chéry 2006
Posted in France, Recommended, tagged André Perret Condrieu Chéry 2006, Andre Peret, Condrieu, Robert Chadderdon on March 14, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
André Perret is one of the leading producers of Northern Rhône whites. In particular, his Condrieus are considered to be among the very best of the appellation. André Perret took control of the family domaine (half a hectare) in 1982. Like many small vignerons of the northern Rhône, the Perret family were small-scale farmers, growing [...]
Lopez de Heredia “Viña Gravonia” Crianza Blanco Rioja 1999
Posted in Recommended, Spain, tagged Haro, López de Heredia, Lopez de Heredia "Viña Gravonia" Crianza Blanco Rioja 1999, Rioja, Zaha Hadid on March 6, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The other night I had reason to celebrate so I headed downstairs to find something a little special. I was making Pan-Fried Chickpeas with Chorizo, a recipe from Mark Bittman that I have quickly come to love. Bittman says the recipe is from somewhere in Spain (though he dosn’t know precisely where). Given the menu, [...]
Jacques Puffeney Arbois Pinot Noir 2006
Posted in France, Recommended, tagged Eric Asimov, Jacques Puffeney, Jacques Puffeney Poulsard Arbois 2006, Jura, Neal Rosenthal on February 21, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The Jura is a narrow valley in the remote hills between Burgundy to the west and Switzerland to the east. Most Americans have never been exposed to the wines from the Jura (though they have probably had their cheese). For centuries, the Jura existed in isolation, developing its unusual grapes and styles of wine, which [...]
Pierre Luneau-Papin Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur lie Le L d’Or 2005
Posted in France, Recommended, Value Pick, tagged Louis/Dressner Selections, Marc Ollivier, Melon de Bourgogne, Muscadet, Pierre Luneau-Papin Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur lie Le L d'Or 2005 on February 20, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Domaine Pierre de la Grange is considered one of the best of the Nantais, a region that marks the most northwestern point of all France’s vineyards. Pierre and his wife Monique are the seventh generation of to run Domaine Pierre de la Grange, though their wines are more likely to be found listed under Luneau-Papin [...]
