Raving about Riesling
Terry Theise, one of the world's leading experts on German and Austrian wines, was in San Francisco recently. He showcased 4 estates from Europe during a panel discussion and tasting with the proprietors. Hiram Simon of the Vienna Wine Company...
Running after Chinon
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie, Bourgueil Cuvée Alouettes 2006 The previous vintage of the Cuvee Beauvais showed the characteristic green of Cab Franc from the area with enough fruit to back it up. This wine is a bit reductive and tarry with black...
Dry wines on the big river
Francis Blanchet, Pouilly-Fume, Cuvee Silice 2006 Corked, so who will ever know what to think about this wine.This is all stainless Sauvignon produced across the river from Sancerre. Silice is sourced from an old vine parcel, laden with silex, just...
Back in time
Regis Cruchet, Vouvray, Demi-Sec 1996 Then nose is quite evolved where there is a sense of varnish and nuttiness and a little lingering fruit. In the mouth though, there's tropical fruit and lime with just enough residual sugar to pair this with...
Perennial favorite
Domaine Le Peu de la Moriette (Domaine Pichot), Vouvray 2007 This wine embodies the sweet and tart character that Chenin can show so well when there's a bit of residual sugar. Unfortunately our latest bottle in May of '09 is a bit corked. The...
Let’s not forget the apples
We taste lots of great wines in the many classes but we musn't overlook some other of the other beverages that delight the world. Eric Bordelet, Sidre, Brut Tendre 2006 Yes there is the smell and taste of apples in a fairly dry package with plenty...
Let’s dry some grapes
Masi, Rosso Del Veronese Indicazione Geografica Tipica, Campofiorin, Ripasso 2005 Previous vintages, while not stunning or concentrated, have highlighted the sense that ripasso adds to the barer bones of straight Valpolicella, albeit at a budget...
Bardolino and more
Corte Gardoni, Bardolino, DOC Le Fontane 2006 The previous vintage sported a Beaujolais-like character, in the Nouveau vein, a carbo-mac fruit bomb with very light body – ideal for lunch in the sun when you demand red wine. This current vintage was...
Sabe Soave?
Inama, Soave Classico, DOC 2006 This has been a solid producer though a little of the heat is showing. There's plenty of viscosity with the buttery richness in the mouth. All Garganega from vines 30+ years old, there is some skin contact time,...
Going the distance
I've often been guilty of asserting that Zinfandel doesn't last. I've opened too many aging Zins to find them falling apart, so much so that I had given up aging them. And honestly, it's not so bad drinking them when they are young and full of...