I've been following Attems Pinot Grigio (non-Ramato) for over a decade. It is always strikingly good, true to variety and place and well-distributed. For so many reasons, it is an easy-to-recommend wine in this country, where distribution is highly unpredictable. So, I was deeply interested in the chance to taste the Ramato, or copper, wine, which is made as a skin-contact rosé. It has been produced for years, but it has somehow evaded my glass. Not so this year, and thank goodness for that!
Read MoreItalian rosatos are incredibly distinctive in that the vast majority of them come from uniquely Italian varieties. While you might - if you look hard - find a rosato made from Montepulciano made outside "the boot" of Italy, it's unlikely you'll find one made from Negroamaro. Plus, I guarantee you there are none made of Susumaniello or Rondinella. So, pop open a bottle of one - or all - of these and discover a whole new flavor range of rosé wine!
Read MoreI was taken by Enate's Chardonnay 234 last December, so I was very eager to taste some wines from the bodega this spring. As with the vintage 2019 Chardonnay, the value on offer here is tremendous. I love the inclination of Spanish wineries to release wines when they are ready to drink. This is a fine example of a bold red wine that is brilliant now and that would have shown very differently if released on a more "modern" schedule of 12 to 18 months post-harvest.
Read MoreDomaine de la Bégude is run by the seventh generation of the Tari Family, which hails from Château Giscours in Bordeaux's Margaux. As such, not only is this deeply-colored rosé typical of Bandol, it is also akin to the clairette style of rosé from Bordeaux. This Bandol Rosé is truly a rosé for all seasons.
Read MoreKind of Wild Wines hit all the right buzz words for today's concerned and informed consumer: "Made with Organic Grapes", "Supporting Organic Growers", "Free of Unwanted Additives", "Sustainable for Soil Health" and "1% to Environmental Partners" are some of their taglines. Mind you, only one of those snippets means anything legally.
Read MoreIf you're not familiar with the underlying characteristics of German geography, it may be helpful to know that the Pfalz is sometimes called the "Tuscany of Germany", thanks to its southern position and ample sunshine. Clearly, this is a region that needs rosé, and by the taste of this one, we're lucky they don't drink it all themselves!
Read Moren early 2018, Chehalem and Stoller became fully interconnected through a single owner, though the two properties retained their distinct personalities. The Chemistry label soon brought them together to make a third, easily accessible wine label - both in style and in price. Here's the latest...do NOT miss the "*" wines!
Read MoreDark salmon in color, this rosé is visually appealing in its attractive, clear bottle. Alas, something is off-kilter here, which is surprising for a producer and range that generally make reliably good still and sparkling wines.
Read MoreDomaine de Cala 2020 Coteaux Varois en Provence: pretty and minerally with strawberry accents and a full throttle bouquet of tree blooms and peonies, this is moreish rosé for sure. This is the most impressive Domaine de Cala I have tasted, save its Prestige release in 2018.
Read MoreIt is always a pleasure to taste wines that are hard to come by in this country, especially when it's hard to get out of this country now. I tasted this line-up from Vitis Global last fall, and there was much to like in this diverse array of styles provided by a wide array of grape varieties and producers.
Read MoreI first noticed the Respekt logo on wine labels in late 2011 at an Austrian wine tasting. Established in 2006 and requiring a three year conversion process, the first vintage for which this designation could appear on labels was 2009. The philosophy of Respekt BIODYN is to mentor fellow and aspiring members by establishing a practical and detailed conversion program for each, then to help the converted vinegrower outline a plan for the continuing the practice of biodynamic principles. Overall, the group eschews dogmatism.
Read MoreWines from the Pinot umbrella family sometimes are called "Burgunder" wines in German, with Burgunder referencing Burgundy, the widely-accepted birthplace of Pinot. The three grapes grouped together are Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris, called Spätburgunder, Weissburgunder and Grauburgunder in German.
Read MoreTwo years into the new ownership of Chehalem Winery, it is interesting to see how the winery is faring. The wines remain clean and pristine, and the prices of the most accessible wines remain exactly or about the same. Perhaps there are distinctions more visible further up the quality chain? At any rate, winemaker Katie Santora - with Chehalem since 2012, keeps the heartbeat steady here, from what I have tasted.
Read MoreTwo beautifully and imaginatively packaged Romagna DOC Spumante wines that sell under the new Novebolle brand should be set to hit the US market soon (COVID-19 & new tariffs notwithstanding). Not only do the bottles look smashing, there is an incredible amount of subtle history applied in their design, too.
Read MoreToday’s Bordeaux is affordable Bordeaux. No, I’m not talking about the 2019 En Primeur campaign, where prices are being slashed despite the most recent declarations of “the vintage of the century” in the face of the challenges presented in bringing the wines to market in the face of COVID-19. Rather, I’m talking about the 90%+ of Bordeaux wines that are sold outside of the En Primeur system. In fact, many sold within the En Primeur system are highly affordable, too. The fanfare at the precipitous (price-wise) top of the quality pyramid has distracted far too many consumers for far too long. During the same time, quality was skyrocketing while prices throughout most the region remained modest.
Read MoreThis is the third Côté Mas that I have tasted in the last few years. The wines show clear familial style, but the 2019 is the most sophisticated yet.
Read MoreThis new collaboration between Donnafugata and Dolce & Gabbana is a study in classy restraint. It's a blend of Nerello Mascalese from Etna's northern slopes and Nocera from Contessa Entellina, hills that sit almost equally inland from Palmero and Marsala.
Read MoreThere is something undeniably charming about a winery whose back label illustration of its property highlights a tire swing. But make no mistake, Stoller Family Estate is a highly sophisticated operation. The winery's tasting room has been voted by USA Today's "10Best" as one of the Best Tasting Rooms in the US three times, and the visitor experience is going bleeding edge this summer with virtual and augmented reality experiences in a new and immersive Stoller Experience Center.
More importantly - at least in my view, the wines of 17-year, Stoller winemaking veteran Melissa Burr continue to impress, especially the 2019 white and rosé. Both also win points for being very good values.
Read MoreThis trio of wines confirms that Nicholas Potel is clearly on his way to crushing it with this wine line, just as I suspected last year. As it says on the rosé wine label, the Bellenos wines are "Burgundy from the Heart and Sol", sol being earth. The wines all taste definitively Burgundian, but the very gentle prices don't look Burgundian at all.
Read MoreDAOU 2019 Rosé Paso Robles: First, this wine gets top scores for its beautiful bottle. Second, it smells and tastes great, too. With its plentiful peach, nectarine and apricot pits, it's summer in a glass!
Read More