Page 32 - Blog

In recent history, no other category of Italian wine has had such an impact as that of the Super Tuscan.  It is single-handedly responsible for the “Renaissance” of Italian wine.  Specifically, the term arose as more and more Chianti producers opted out of their historical term “Chianti Classico” in order to make a more modern and expressive wine.  Many are of high quality and are normally somewhat higher priced.  They are typically Sangiovese based with the addition of Cabernet Sauvignon, a varietal not permitted in the Chianti blend.  However, a Super Tuscan can be pretty much anything.  It can take the form of a mono-varietal, like Isole e Olena’s 100% Sangiovese Cepparello or Ornellaia’s 100% Merlot Masseto, or any blend of varietals, for example Antinori’s blends of Sangiovese and Cabernet in its Tignanello and Solaia wines.  In the end, a Super Tuscan is the true expression of a winemaker, with no bounds

The black grape Tempranillo is considered by many to be Spain’s noble grape.  It is used as the primary component in red Rioja, with Garnacha and a touch of Mazuelo or Graciano often added in.  However, slightly south and to the west are the regions Ribera del Duero and Toro where you’re more likely to find it showcased on its own.  Here, Tempranillo goes by Tinta del Pais (or Tinto Fino) and Tinta del Toro, and each can provide a slightly different expression of the varietal.  We recently checked in a high scoring example of each from the fabulous 2009 vintage, and I was fortunate enough to sample both with brunch last weekend.  

Bodegas y Vinedos J.A. Calvo Casajus is located basically in the heart of Ribera del Duero, near the small village of Quintana del Pidio of the Burgos province.  The soil on this family estate is composed mostly of sand and stone, ideal for drainage and supplying the lower layers of soil with the moisture the deep vine

I just recently got back from an amazing trip in the Napa Valley where we tasted through wonderful wines and ate some delectable food.  I’m going to share with you some of the places that we visited and also talk about one of my favorites from the trip.  Hope you enjoy!

We arrived to the Napa Valley on a beautiful Wednesday morning with the sun shining, blue skies and the Mayacamas Mountain range as the backdrop.  Our driver met us at our hotel at 10:00 AM and just like that, we were off for the day.  We kicked off our first day in Napa at Robert Sinskey Vyds., and it was definitely one of the highlights of our  trip.  They have a kitchen at the winery and a chef on staff, so you get to drink their amazing wines paired with house made peach preserves, salami and an assortment of cheeses.  All of this gets served to you out on their patio to make a truly memorable experience.  It’s a must stop if you like Pinot Noirs. 

Established in 1976, Domaine Paul Chapelle is a relatively young domaine by Burgundy standards.  Prior to starting his own domaine, Paul Chapelle had made a name for himself as a consulting oenologist at some of the best estates in the Côte de Beaune.

Retiring after the 1995 vintage, he handed over the reigns to his son-in-law, who was responsible for the vineyard management and winemaking from 1996 - 2009.  The reigns have since been passed to Chapelle's daughter, Christine Beck Chapelle, who has re-immersed herself in the domaine and today oversees all aspects. 

We recently just acquired his 2011 AC Puligny Montrachet, and I thought it was worth looking into.  In fact, anytime we get a Puligny in stock that is under-$50 a bottle, it always intrigues my curiosity.  And with summer in full swing, I’m always looking for new white wines to try. 

So as you can see, I had plenty of reasons to test out this so

When it comes to smaller Champagne houses, Coutier is by far one of my favorites.  The wines always deliver amazing quality at more-than-reasonable prices.  This estate is located in Ambonnay, a village with a reputation for bold Champagnes.  This fine Champagne produced from 100% Chardonnay grapes from this Grand Cru village is definitely a rarity as this village is known almost exclusively for its Pinot Noir based wines.

An important distinction to make here is that Coutier is a grower Champagne. Grower Champagnes are significantly different - before they work their magic in the cellar, grower families are involved in every aspect of viticulture, from the caring of the soil to pruning of the vines and harvesting.  Think of grower Champagne this way.  You need a tomato.  You head to the grocery store and buy an industrial hothouse tomato grown thousands of miles away, or do you visit your local farmer’s market and buy an organic heirloom

Evening Land is a name derived from Greek mythology.  As the story goes, the rays of the western sun were connected to golden fruit in a beautiful garden.  Just out of the reach of mortals, the fruit brought immortality.  The Evening Land Vineyard though is poised on the western most edge of California in the Santa Rita Hills.  The coastal fog contributes to the cool climate and long growing season and assists the grapes in achieving perfect balance between ripeness and acidity.  These vineyards are planted with only California heritage clones, which are farmed organically and winemaker Sashi Moorman is guided by the same philosophy he followed as a sous chef in New York City and the nation’s capitol – “always use superlative ingredients.”  His winemaking style gives a nod to the Burgundian tradition, one that includes stewardship of the land and expression of the vineyard and vintage.

This past Sunday evening was a great

Quality is the very first thing I recognized when opening a bottle of the 2007 D'Alfonso-Curran Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict (94 Points, Wine Spectator / $45.95).  Coming from the duo team of winemakers with more than 50 years of experience, this wasn’t surprising.

There is bright red and the classic black fruit up front on this one.  As it opens, there definitely is some sweetness - vanilla and caramel - along with floral and oak elements.  The finish is crisp with some mineral and spice feel.  I kept thinking that this will be the perfect bottle of California Pinot for the fall season.

Bruno D’Alfonso (formerly of Chalone) and Kris Curran (formerly of Sea Smoke fame) are passionate winemakers and should be considered artisanal Pinot Noir producers.  They know Pinot Noir and the 2007 D'Alfonso-Curran Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict proves it.  The D’Alfonso-Curran label is the premium effort in their family

Alto Adige is one of the northernmost regions in Italy, with vineyards located at the base of the scenic Dolomites and Italian Alps.  This allows for a long ripening season with large diurnal temperature variation providing perfect conditions for wines with wonderful aromatics, great acidity and excellent minerality. 

So when Antonio Galloni posted his report on the wines of Alto Adige in May, I looked through it searching for a handful of their whites to add to our inventory with the summer weather approaching.  To my surprise what piqued my interest most was a red wine that scored 94 points for under $30 that he called “without question one of the most compelling expressions of this indigenous grape” ~ Nusserhof’s 2007 Lagrein Riserva.

Lagrein is best known as a food-friendly red wine that pairs wonderfully with hearty stews, braises, and aged mountain cheeses.  For most it is a winter wine, or at least enjoyed during the

Piedmont is known for two red wine types: Barolo and Barbaresco. The newly released 2008 Barolo vintage is now available, and we've found ourselves sampling quite a few wines from this vintage. One thing is for certain, Barolo winemakers hit a homerun with the 2008s, as they did with the 2007s. The wines we've tasted are massive powerhouses that are built for the long haul. The 2008 vintage has the ability to age 20+ years.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate had this to say about the 2008 Barolos: "...The 2008 Baroli have turned out far better than I originally expected. They are for the most part gracious, medium-bodied wines that are highly expressive of site and full of character. The best 2008s are thrilling..." - The Wine Advocate

Over the weekend, we opened a bottle of 2008 Elio Grasso Barolo Ginestra Vigna Casa Mate, a super high-scoring wine awarded 98+ points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. We paired it with something simple:

Post Memorial Day represents the kick-off of the BEST time of year: grilling season! It's time to dig out the charcoal from the far corners of your garage because your grill is screaming for attention. Not only can I start wearing white jeans, but I can also start planning my summertime menu comprised of fresh herbs, veggies and whatever my back yard has to offer. I am one happy girl! 

In anticipation of doing a lot of entertaining this summer, I've (naturally) stocked my cellar to the brim with grill-friendly values including 2011 D'esclans Whispering Angel Rose and 2007 Waterstone, but what about a mid-level priced wine for that special occasion or holiday? I've set out to find two exceptional and affordable bottles that will definitely impress your guests. Here's what I found!

At only $54.99 a bottle, you'd be hard pressed to find a more focused, classic Chassagne Montrachet. Medium-bodied on the palate with hints of