2019 Brunello di Montalcino is “…the vintage we’ve all been waiting for,” so “Buckle your seatbelts,” and strap on your helmets because the newest vintage from Montalcino is “…an embarrassment of riches for collectors and fans of the appellation” (Eric Guido, Vinous Media). The hotly anticipated Brunellos have “…definitely lived up to [their] lofty reputation as an excellent vintage across Montalcino” (Kerin O’Keefe). It showcases the extraordinary qualities of Sangiovese, Tuscany’s most famous and beloved grape variety, and its ability to exploit the region’s phenomenal terroir. This “…magical year…” (Giacomo Neri of Casanova di Neri) of “radiance and appeal” (Eric Guido) will likely set a new benchmark for Brunello wines for years to come.
According to Italian wine expert, Kerin O’Keefe, she has “…never tasted so many drop-dead-gorgeous young Brunellos from a single vintage.” She confesses that many of the best wines stopped her in her tracks, generating that “…magical moment
“In the Esclans Valley angels whisper. If you drink this wine, you might hear them. If by chance you visit us, you might see them.” - Sacha Alexis Lichine, Winemaker 
This past week I had the great pleasure of celebrating my lovely daughter’s graduation from high school. The weather was pristine and all 422 students were assembled outside for commencement. Needless to say, it was a proud moment for me. My youngest has blossomed into a beautiful, strong and incredibly savvy young lady. Our entire family gathered to celebrate. Being a balmy 100 degrees that day, I wanted to bring a few bottles of white wine to celebrate the moment. The highlight of the day was the 2010 Vincent Girardin Chassagne-Montrachet Les Caillerets. Superb minerality, impeccable balance, and palate quenching zest were only some of the superb qualities this gem brought to the table. Being among many who don’t necessarily appreciate the nuances of fine wine, I was pleased that many offered unsolicited remarks and compliments regarding this superb effort. At only $59.99, it over-delivers for a Premier Cru from this heralded family. 
With summer finally here, I’m constantly getting asked by my customers if I can recommend a good Chardonnay. Usually, my next question has to do with what style they prefer, and the majority of the customers responses are ‘not too oaky’ and ‘on the dryer side.’ My first go-to recommendation is a Chablis! What I’ve realized though is that many aren’t aware that it’s produced from the Chardonnay grape. Actually, many connoisseurs and critics believe it’s the truest form of Chardonnay due to the cooler climate of the region and on average, they use much less influence of oak than other regions that produce Chardonnay. Chablis is known for having ‘steely’ and ‘flinty’ notes with nice minerality and acidity. 
I would always hear stories of the famed Tua Rita Redigaffi, with its cult like following after the 100 point score from Wine Spectator in 1997. So recently when given the opportunity to have their flagship wine, the 
As I sit here sipping on a glass of 
In the rolling hills of the Alexander Valley, you will find the home of a wonderful estate that my most recent bottle to blog about calls home. Roth Estate Winery, owned by Leslie Mead Renaud, was founded in 2001 with the purpose of producing Bordeaux varietals. A decade later, Leslie is producing a fine Cabernet, with production just fewer than 10,000 cases, that I had the pleasure of tasting. 
It didn’t take long for Ryan Deovlet to make a name for himself. He started his own winery in 2008 after cutting his teeth with the likes of Stephen Dooley, David Ramey, Paul Hobbs and Stephen Ross. His experience also includes a year in New Zealand and Australia, taking a hands-on approach in the vineyard including a harvest at Turramurra Estate. By 2012, Antonio Galloni was already referring to him as “one of the most exciting young winemakers in the Central Coast” and his 2009s and 2010s were all considered terrific, both the Chardonnays and the Pinot Noirs. Galloni also stated that “Readers who can find the wines should not hesitate.”
So being invited to dinner to your daughter’s best friend’s parents’ house (that’s a mouthful) can be a bit harrowing. First thing that comes to my mind is, “Can they cook? LOL. Second, do they even like wine? Thankfully, in this case, I had met them a handful of times already so I felt comfortable on both counts. Dinner was casual and comfortable, just the way I like it. 
When thinking about white wine from France, most of the time you think of Burgundy or Loire, not necessarily Bordeaux. So when I had the opportunity to try a white wine from the Pessac Leognan region of Graves in Bordeaux, which has the famous first growth Haut Brion, there was no hesitation. 
I completely agree with the above statement, as it’s been one of my favorites from the beginning. Billecart-Salmon is a relatively small Champagne house so it tends to fly under the radar. However, their Rose does have a cult following with wine aficionados & sommeliers. Their house style is more about freshness & elegance as opposed to a richer, fuller style.