Featured Wines - June 2018

The 2016 Diaz Bayo Ribera del Duero Roble is a purple, deep down, flavor packed Ribera del Duero that emanates from a high altitude vineyard above the mighty Duero River. Produced from 100% Tempranillo from a single 30 year old parcel of vines, Diaz Bayo’s Roble offers seductive aromas of cherry and mulberry mingled with hints of spice and a gentle infusion of mineral for added complexity. Expansive on the palate, the 2016 Diaz Bayo Roble...

The lively and fresh 2017 Rustenberg Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc is the maiden vintage of Chenin Blanc at Rustenberg. Although Chenin Blanc has not been grown at Rustenberg for decades, an abundance of superb mature bush vines of Chenin Blanc abounds in Stellenbosch. Sourced from 4 individual bush vine blocks, 20-35 years of age, the 2017 Rustenberg Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc is Rustenberg’s take on South Africa’s premier grape variety, and...

The 2015 Tierra Y Mar La Riviere Russian River Pinot Noir combines the best attributes of the New and Old Worlds. In deference to Burgundy, the 2015 Tierra Y Mar La Riviere offers up juicy scents of raspberry and strawberry that evoke memories of the savory Pinots of Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune. From California’s Russian River AVA, Tierra Y Mar La Riviere’s Pinot Noir inherits a clean, well-toned body and flavorful hints of cinnamon and Christmas...

Upon release, Gilles Noblet stated: “My 2015 Mâcon wines are the finest I have produced in 37 years,” but this month’s feature, the superb 2016 Maison Gilles Noblet Mâcon-Fuissé, may be even better than Noblet’s excellent 2015. The progeny of another excellent vintage, the 2016 Maison Gilles Noblet Mâcon-Fuissé already shows itself to be a true classic. It is ripe, round, and in possession of the elegance and mineral driven precision that Noblet...

The sophisticated 2013 Tikal Júbilo is an artful blend of Malbec (60%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (40%) that integrates the best characteristics of each of the wine’s grape varieties into a delicious seamless red that puts many high-priced red Bordeaux and New World varietal bottlings of Cabernet and Malbec to shame. Once again in the 2013 vintage, Júbilo, with its combination of Cabernet and Malbec, aptly represents Argentina’s finest oenological...

The 2014 Garofoli Podium Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi has been called “elegant, creamy, and a profound example of Verdicchio.” We found the 2014 Podium to be all that and more, but make no mistake, Verdicchio is a delicate grape whose charm is born of elegance, minerality and pinpoint precision. No butter, no oak, no tropical fruit flavors are to be found in the 2014 Podium. Instead, stick your nose close to a glass of this sleek...

The 2015 Mendel Malbec pays tribute to Winemaker Robert de la Mota and his deft hand with Malbec, Argentina’s quintessential grape variety. And the critics were impressed as much as our tasting panel: the 2015 Mendel Malbec has garnered 93, 93, and 90 point ratings from James Suckling, Tim Atkins, and Wine Advocate, respectively. Wearing a nearly opaque deep purple robe as good Malbec should and exhibiting an aroma redolent with dark...