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Domaine Saint Pierre, Corbieres (Languedoc, France) ‘Cuvee Celine’ 2007

($15, Margaux & Co.): Regulations for Corbières mandate that Carignan comprises no more than 50% of the blend to encourage the use of so-called improving varieties. The Cuvée Céline S, a blend of less than one-third Carignan—Syrah (40%) and Grenache account for the remainder—delivers a lovely balance of bright red and black fruit flavors and alluring spicy nuances. … Read more

La Rioja Alta, Rioja (Spain) “Viña Ardanza” Reserva 2000

($33, Skurnik):  Rioja, Spain’s most well-known wine region, is one the rare places where the producer ages the wine for the consumer and releases it when it is ready to drink.  This decade-old wine is their current release.  From one of the region’s traditional–and best–producers, this aged Rioja delivers a panoply of dried fruit flavors, leafy nuances and hints of leather and other non-fruit flavors. … Read more

Spring Whites

With bright sunshine and temperatures flirting with 80 degrees here in the Northeast, it’s time to put parkas and boots away.  Grilled fish dribbled with olive oil and other lighter fare replaces hearty long-simmered stews.  To accompany this change of culinary seasons, lively whites will appear in place of those robust reds. … Read more

Reviews: UNITED STATES – California

 

 

 

Edna Valley Vineyard, Central Coast (California) Pinot Noir “Paragon” 2011 ($20): Confusingly, though the name of the wine is “Paragon,” it does not come from the famed and vast — 875 acre — Central Coast Paragon Vineyard planted by Jack and Catharine Niven in the early 1970s. … Read more

Rafael Palacios, Valdeorras (Galicia, Spain) “Louro do Bolo” 2008

($19, Eric Solomon Selections):  The grapes–100% Godello–come from younger vines in a separate and distinct part of the vineyard from which Palacios produces his iconic As Sortes. Much more aromatic than his As Sortes (reviewed previously), Louro do Bolo has an engaging floral quality atop a hint of minerality and shows the range of wine made from the Godello grape. … Read more

Pena das Donas, Ribera Sacra (Galicia, Spain) “Almalarga” 2009

($21):  Consumers unfamiliar with the Godello grape are in for a treat.  Naturally high in acidity, its palate cleansing ability makes it an obvious choice for highly flavored dishes.  Pena das Donas’s rendition, from the small, relatively new DO of Ribera Sacra, undergoes lees-aging in tank, which adds complexity while still preserving the inherent fruitiness of the grape. … Read more

La Conreria d’Scala Dei, Priorat (Catalonia, Spain) “Les Brugueres” 2009

($30, Eric Solomon Selections): Priorat is known for its great red wines.  But distinctive whites can be made there, just as in other great red wine areas, such as the Côtes de Nuits and Pessac-Léognan.  Made entirely from Garnacha Blanca, it leads with a gorgeous floral–almost peachy–nose followed by an engaging earthiness and bracing minerality, all amplified by vibrant acidity. … Read more

Brunello di Montalcino 2.0

In preparation for my attendance at Benvenuto Brunello, the annual tasting of the newly released 2005 Brunello di Montalcino, held in that Tuscan hilltop town, I did some homework by opening and drinking some from my cellar—a 2001 La Gerla, a 1999 Fulgini, a 1998 Banfi Poggio alle Mura, and a 1997 Banfi Poggio all’Oro.… Read more

Kim Crawford, Marlborough (New Zealand) Sauvignon Blanc 2009

($16, Icon Estates):  Kim Crawford is one of Marlborough’s best and most reliable producers of Sauvignon Blanc.  Their 2009, an excellent vintage according to David Strada, the US representative of New Zealand Wine, maintains that track record.  It has unusually good concentration and complexity to accompany the electrifying edginess we’ve come to expect from Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. … Read more

Manchuela, or Mushrooms After A Rain

One of the great things about wine is how new areas appear or spring up seemingly overnight–almost like mushrooms after a rain–and wind up producing world class wines.  It happens all over the world.  The Marlborough region in New Zealand was a cow pasture, but now is producing great Sauvignon Blanc and showing strong potential for Pinot Noir as well. … Read more

Pacific Rim, Columbia Valley (Washington) Riesling Wallula Vineyard “Biodynamic Cuvée” 2007

($20):  Areas within Washington State, with cooler climate, are emerging as excellent sites in this country for Riesling.  This beautifully balanced one exemplifies why Riesling is gaining in popularity.  A subtle and intriguing interplay of minerality, fruitiness–hints of pear and grapefruit–and just a bare hint of sweetness set off by vibrant acidity makes it an ideal choice as an aperitif, with spicy fare or Asian food. … Read more