Category Archives: Reviews

Sullivan Rutherford Estate, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon “Coeur de Vigne” 2017

($90):  Though Coeur de Vigne might suggest highly selected grapes and an over-extracted precious wine, this one is not.  Though more immediately appealing — slightly softer and rounder — than their Estate Bottling (previously reviewed), it displays the classic savory-ripe dark fruit mixture for which top Napa Valley Cabernet is known. Read more

Château de Corcelles, Vin de France (France) Gamay “Les Copains d’Abord” 2018

($18, Seaview Imports):  Château de Corcelles, an historic property located just east of Villé-Morgon, produces a range of Beaujolais.  They also produce this wine, entirely from Gamay, presumably, from vines that are located just outside of the Beaujolais delimited zone.  Though it has the charm of Beaujolais, they can’t legally call it that. Read more

Château de la Maltroye, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru (Burgundy, France) Clos du Château de la Maltroye 2018

($96, Jeanne-Marie de Champs Selection):  Château de la Maltroye, a consistently reliable producer of both red and white wines, succeeded admirably in 2018.  This white, from their monopole, exhibits the broader and weightier minerality characteristic of Chassagne, compared to Puligny.  Good acidity balances and amplifies its charms. Read more

Gallina de Piel, Calatayud (Aragón, Spain) “Mimetic” 2018

($15, Bluest Sky Group):  Though I’ve given some background on the Gallina de Piel wines previously, it bears repeating because their wines represent great bargains.  So, it’s worth hearing the story again.  Two sommeliers, one of whom, David Seijas, worked at El Bulli, named the best restaurant in the world five times by Restaurant magazine, founded Gallina de Piel. Read more

Anselmo Mendes, Monção e Melgaço (Vinho Verde, Portugal) Alvarinho “Muros Antigos” 2019

($15):  Vinho Verde, Portugal’s largest appellation, lies in that country’s northwest corner, bordering Spain.  It’s known for racy high-acid wines.  Some, sadly, provide little more than acidity.  Enter Anselmo Mendes.  His Muros Antigos delivers the mouth-cleansing zippy edge, but in addition there’s a lovely floral quality and an engaging lime-like quality. Read more

Anselmo Mendes, Monção e Melgaço (Vinho Verde, Portugal) “Alvarinho Contacto” 2019

($19):  Monção e Melgaço, one of the nine official sub-regions of Vinho Verde, lies on the southern border of Galicia, the Spanish province that occupies the northwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula.  The Alvarinho grape reigns here.  Mendes is a new wave producer aiming to show what can be done with this grape in this sub-region, announcing his wines with a bottle engraved with the name of sub-region, the grape, as well as his name. Read more