Featured Wines - January 2010

An extremely hot, dry year throughout Europe, the 2003 vintage tested the mettle of many in Montalcino. Yet, from Pertimali and the zone’s other privileged sites, the 2003 Brunellos are nothing short of profound. With that said the 2003 Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino is perhaps the finest Brunello of the vintage – a monumental wine of great color, depth, and complexity. Imbued with the personality of its maestro, the 2003 Pertimali Brunello di ...

On a recent visit to Bergström our expectations were high. Several Willamette Valley vineyard owners had previously expressed their admiration for the estate’s wines and one brave competitor took us aside and said “everyone talks about the wonderful Pinot Noirs at Bergström, but be sure not to miss Josh’s white wines. They are equally outstanding: you’re in for treat.” Indeed, Bergström’s 2008 O Riesling is a treat. It led the charge at our tast...

The 2005 Château Lescalle Bordeaux Supérieur is resplendent claret that is ripe, round, and utterly satisfying. Its regal purple robe underscores the splendor of the 2005 vintage and the particular success of Château Lescalle in what may be the finest, most consistent vintage ever in Bordeaux. Moreover, the comely Château Lescalle offers up a decadent nose of ripe berry fruit, smoke, and earth. Its supple fruit flavors and well-integrated tannins...

In the prime of its life, the richly robed, aromatic, downright plush 2000 Domaine De Villemajou Corbières underscores the latent greatness of the Languedoc and leaves little doubt in the mind of any serious wine lover as to why the Greeks and Romans were so enamored of Corbières and its viticultural acumen. Apparently, the love affair continues as the 2000 Domaine De Villemajou is nothing short of hedonism in a glass. One panel member became so ...

A bright, golden robe is the first sign of the aromatic, luscious, personality filled wine that follows. The 2008 Gini Soave Classico is scrumptiously delicious. It offers a beguiling bouquet of apricot, cherry blossoms, and dried honey. And on the palate, Gini is pure magic; its velvety fruit fills the senses. Yet, this iconic Soave never loses its subtle minerality and gentle acidity. Moreover, the 2008 Gini Soave Classico exits with a delightf...

A deeply colored, intense Carmenère, the 2007 Carmen Rapel Valley Carmenère highlights the attributes of Chile’s special red varietal. For starters, it provides a compelling bouquet of red and black fruits, roses, and chocolate that continuously expands as the wine rests in the glass. In the mouth this Carmenère continues to work its magic as it offers up a wealth of flavors to tantalize the palate: raspberry, dark chocolate, pepper, plum, roaste...

Amiot Guy’s Chassagne-Montrachet Vieilles Vignes (Old Vines) 2007 is classic white Burgundy – a wine of grace, precision, and subtlety that bears little resemblance to California Chardonnay. In fact, a wholly different approach is taken in Burgundy towards Chardonnay, where the best producers like Amiot Guy strive to accentuate the ultimate attributes of Chardonnay: charm, elegance, and inherent drinkability. Rather than overlay the exemplary min...