France

The cool climate and limestone-rich soils lend Jura Chardonnays a bright acidity and complex minerality, often marked by flavors of green apple, citrus, and almond. This nuanced approach to Chardonnay makes Jura wines highly distinctive and sought-after by those who appreciate terroir-focused winemaking.

Aromas of raspberry and rhubarb are complemented by earthy, mossy undertones. The palate is light-bodied yet packed with vibrant raspberry and strawberry flavors, driven by ripe acidity that lifts the fruit forward.

A perfect blend as we approach the last day of summer. It is light-bodied yet well-concentrated, offering smooth, balanced flavors of ripe citrus fruits, complemented by a mineral and slightly chalky texture. The finish is long and lingering, making it ready to enjoy now.

Bright salmon pink in color. Full, fragrant & fragrant nose of ripe fresh fruit aromas of fresh strawberries, raspberries & citrus notes with overtones of rose floral notes, some spice notes & minerals.

A special selection of older vines, some 80 years or more, from the estate’s flint-rich soils. Light golden yellow in color, with a full, forward, and attractive nose of ripe fruit. Simple, clean, light, and refreshing, with an exceptionally pure finish.

We enjoyed this exquisite this Saumur rosé while watching Midori perform Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1, followed by a breathtaking solo encore of Bach.

When Nicole Chanrion started her career in the 1970s, women were mostly confined to enology labs and kept out of the cellars. Despite her mother thinking winemaking was for men, Nicole pursued her dream of becoming a vigneronne.

Cousins Jean-Laurent and Jean-Dominique Vacheron produce benchmark Sancerre from organically and biodynamically farmed single vineyards. Recently, they completed a new cellar dedicated to making red wine – yes, red Sancerre – which deserves recognition.

Known for its exceptional quality and distinctive character, White Burgundy commands high prices due to several factors. Firstly, the terroir of Burgundy, with its unique combination of soil, climate, and topography, creates ideal conditions for growing Chardonnay.  Secondly, Burgundy vineyards are fragmented into many small plots, often owned by different families for generations, leading to limited production and high demand for these exclusive wines. In […]

Drinks like Chablis—medium-bodied, Burgundy, organic, and biodynamic. It exhibits brilliant minerality and poise, with a nose of citrus and melon. The taste is long and intense, with a flinty, sweet, and dry finish that is fresh and thoroughly pleasing.

I tried this last year, and the one-year aging process mellowed out the acidity nicely. Unfortunately, this was the last bottle from that vintage. I’ll definitely need to restock. It’s truly an excellent wine. 

Jurançon is nestled in Southwest France, beneath the Pyrenees Mountains, offering an experience far removed from traditional French settings. Here, the language is Occitan, the food evolves into a unique blend of French and Catalan flavors, and the wines are exotic.

I found this wine on sale at the local coop.

A lusciously smooth and well-balanced rosé unfolds with layers of wild strawberry and kiwi, complemented by nuances of watermelon and grapefruit, all exuding a fresh and pure fruit essence.

Sébastien Christophe operates as a one-man operation in Fyé, a quaint village nestled in Chablis. Despite its youth, the domaine boasts over 20 years of history, which is relatively young in Burgundy.

Colette’s Old Vine release exemplifies the forward, explosive aromas characteristic of Regnié and Colette itself. Its attractive ruby-red color catches the eye, followed by delightful notes of raspberry, strawberry, and roses

The winemaking process begins with meticulous hand-harvesting of the grapes, ensuring that only the finest fruit is selected for production. Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes undergo a careful de-stemming process, removing any unwanted stems and leaves to focus solely on the precious fruit.

Recently, I had the pleasure of enjoying a truly exceptional wine sourced by the individual who has been importing it to the US for the past 40 years. With only 120 bottles available, and always pre-sold to dedicated collectors, it was indeed a rare bottle. What made it even more remarkable was that it came in a magnum, allowing the wine to mature at a slower pace compared to a standard 750ml bottle.

I bought this solely on the wine makers name and reputation. Never having tasted their Rhone wines before. The wine had intense aromas, marked by very ripe red fruits strawberries, raspberries, and a compote of cherries. The wine demonstrates a balanced, precise, and refreshing profile. Gloriously delicious with a long finish.

This wine was presented at recent champagne tasting attended by myself and sons. We all loved the freshness and brightness. This was Andrews pick.

A 50/50 blend of two recent vintages, aged to perfection for 24 months in the bottle and finished without dosage.

Surviving a family Thanksgiving is like trying to pick a wine at the store—there’s a lot to choose from, and sometimes you end up with something that makes you question your life decisions.

With its dark ruby color, this wine offers an intriguing sensory experience. On the nose, you’ll find a blend of mineral notes, grass, vinegar, balsamic undertones, pickled cucumber, and hints of fermented pineapple, accompanied by subtle cardamom, cedar, and pine aromas.

This past weekend, the calendar rudely reminded me that summer had officially packed its belongings and left the building. However, my quest for honestly crafted, sustainably produced rosé and rosados from independent and artisanal winemakers continues. Because, fellow oenophiles, just because summer has made its exit doesn’t mean we can’t continue to enjoy the results of the Saignée method.

Julie and Xavier Gonet-Médeville both come from illustrious winemaking families: Julie’s lineage is renowned for the incomparable Château Gilette, while Xavier comes from a long line of Champagne growers in Le Mesnil. Leading a new generation of winemakers, they bring their family knowledge, methods, and passion to the diverse range of wines they craft together. In 2000, when his family’s Champagne vineyards were undergoing division, […]

Ah, natural wine! The rebellious teenager of the wine world, always causing a stir with its funky flavors and unpredictable behavior. It’s like the wild child who refuses to conform to society’s expectations. You never know what you’re going to get when you pop open a bottle of natural wine. It’s like playing Russian roulette, but with grapes instead of bullets. Will it taste like […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]