France
Lucien Crochet Rose 2021 $36 (Rosenthal Wine Merchant) Loire Valley 100% Pinot Noir Behold the majestic salmon pink in your glass, adorned with a bouquet that whispers sweet juicy orange into your nostrils. It’s got that classic Sancerre structure, the kind that’s clean, full-bodied, and makes your taste buds come alive. Now, fair warning, this bottle might dig a little deeper into your pockets. But […]
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Chateau Peyrassol 2022 Méditerranée, La Croix $17 (Wilson Daniels) Provence 50% Cinsault, 40% Grenache, 8% Syrah, 2% Carignan In the year 1204, Alphonse II, the Count of Provence, generously handed over the estate to none other than the legendary Order of the Knights Templar. And voila! “Peirasson” officially joined the ranks of the Templar commanderies in the beautiful land of Provence. And let me tell […]
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A quick pop-in to a local wine shop yielded tasting one very weird Chertok ‘Midrash’ a grape/cider combination, a Malbec from Cahors, and Populis, a Sauvignon Blanc from Mendocino County. Of the three I decided to buy the Populis. 2022 POPULIS SAUVIGNON BLANC – MENDOCINO COUNTY $25 It’s well made, a bit more of a “gastro” wine as opposed to a sipping/drinking wine. The acidity […]
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Since the closure of Manresa, Bar Zola has become Wilson and Alandra’s new go-to wine bar. We thought it would be a great place for dinner. Upon arrival, we were promptly greeted and seated. Despite not being a white tablecloth establishment, the staff here is well-versed in the finer points of traditional French service. They paid attention to details such as knowing who ordered what, […]
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Champagne, Corsica, Paso Robles, Napa Andrew did not disappoint with his selection! These wines were eye-opening and jaw-dropping. Particularly the reds which were best had on different days to truly enjoy them. Champagne Palmer 2012 A soft dry wine with fresh apples and a crisp citrus mouthfeel. Nicely creamy and lively with excellent acidity this vintage cuvée is ready to be enjoyed…and was! $112 Constellation […]
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I found this wine in a small shop in VT. The retro label design captured my attention. Curious to know more, I looked at the back of the bottle and found that the importer was Louis/Dressner. Denyse Louis and the late Joe Dressner started their New York-based company in 1988 with a handful of French producers. Now run by Ms. Louis, Kevin McKenna, and Jules […]
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Domaine Muret Les Grand Boullions Picpoul de Pinet Picpoul is an ancient grape variety originating from southwest France. Traditionally used in the production of Cognac and Armagnac until the 20th century, this grape produces wines that are known for their crisp and refreshing qualities. In the glass, this particular Picpoul presents a straw-yellow color. The enticing aroma of fruit on the nose is carried through […]
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A little history: Commanderie de Peyrassol was founded by the Knights of Templar, who were dedicated to protecting the Crusaders en route to, and in, the Holy Land. Among the artifacts that the Templars are said to have unearthed during their time on Temple Mount were the fabled Holy Grail, the Turin Shroud, the head of St. John the Baptist, the Spear of Destiny, the […]
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Celestin-Blondeau Sancerre Cuvee Des Moulins Bales 2021 100% Sauvignon Blanc from Upper Loire – crisp and fresh with traditional characteristics, but not overly pungent in the citrus category. I detected faint notes of stone fruit. Unfortunately, I found this wine to be unremarkable in every other way. The nose was just a mild, grassy Sauvignon Blanc, and on the palate, some citrus with a very […]
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On Saturday, I attended a small tasting event at a newly opened wine shop, however, it resembled more of a general store/gift shop which sold wine. During the tasting, I was introduced to a delightful and reasonably priced wine, the Guy Allion Les Mazelles Sauvignon 2021, a 100% Sauvignon Blanc wine from the Touraine region in the Loire Valley. The wine has a pale straw […]
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I recently hosted a dinner and decided to serve three “bordeaux” style wines, two from the Bordeaux region and one from California, a Cabernet Sauvignon. The first wine I opened was the Clarendelle Bordeaux 2016, which consists of 84% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Cabernet Franc. It was a pleasant wine overall, but nothing particularly stood out. I learned that Clarendelle purchases wines from […]
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