Featured Wines - February 2023

The 2020 David Finlayson CAB et al. pays tribute to the preeminence of Cabernet Sauvignon in the finest Left Bank wines of Bordeaux’s fabled Médoc. A plush blend of Stellenbosch and Paarl grapes, the 2020 CAB et al. seamlessly combines 52% Cabernet Sauvignon with 22% Petit Verdot, 20% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc, resulting in a riot of aromas and flavors. Juicy blackberry flavors meld with cassis, red currant, graphite, and a welcome hint...

The 2021 Emile Beyer Les Traditions Pinot Blanc pays tribute to the terroir and traditional grape varieties of Alsace. As a consummate producer of Alsace Pinot Blanc, Christian Beyer utilizes two of the appellation’s traditional grape varieties (75% Auxerrois, also sometimes known as Pinot Auxerrois, and 25% Pinot Blanc) for his Les Traditions Pinot Blanc. Curious as this may sound, in Alsace a blend of both permitted varieties...

Artesana has once again raised the bar in creating their 2020 Devoción. The 2020 Artesana Devoción, a blend of 40% Tannat, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 30% Merlot, is the winery’s premier offering and an International Wine of the Month Club exclusive. Analía Lazaneo and Valentina Gatti, Artesana’s two highly skilled winemakers have fashioned a truly exceptional wine in the 2020 Devoción. Deep purple and nearly impenetrable in color, one could...

Domaine Dyckerhoff’s 2021 Reuilly Petit Gris, a traditional Vin Gris, emanates from a tiny 1.25-acre parcel. Although it is a white grape, Pinot Gris is the rare white grape variety with a slight gray or pink hue to its skin, which can lend a light hue to the juice; hence, the moniker Vin Gris. And, in Reuilly, Pinot Gris must by law exhibit a slight hint of rose, as does Domaine Dyckerhoff’s eye-catching 2021 Reuilly Peitit Gris. Imbued with the palest...

The stylish, superbly crafted 2019 Château La Révérence Saint-Émilion Grand Cru (94 points – James Suckling; 93 points – Wine Enthusiast) hails from a tiny 7-acre vineyard just north of the village of Saint-Émilion. This is a young, full-bodied Saint Émilion Grand Cru from 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot that already shows its class and promises even more over the long haul. It offers layers of dark berries and black fruits, hints of...

The 2019 Francine Bachelier Fourchaume Premier Cru Chablis pays tribute to Fourchaume’s renowned terroir and Francine Bachelier’s acumen in fashioning exceptional Premier Cru Chablis. The scion of a warmer than average vintage, Bachelier’s 2019 Fourchaume Premier Cru seamlessly weds pure ripe fruit with Chablis’ telltale flint and chalky minerality to tempt the nose. In the mouth, this racy, crowd pleasing Premier Cru Chablis...

Ripe, expansive, and juicy, the 2018 Quinta do Noval Cedro do Noval Tinto (50% Touriga Nacional, 25% Syrah, 20% Touriga Franca, 5% Tinto Cao) beckons with each sip. Deeper and more complex than in previous vintages, the 2018 Cedro do Noval Tinto offers a delicious combination of red and black fruits, vanilla, spice, and black pepper. Blackberry, blueberry, cherry, and plum all make their appearance in this Tinto’s aroma and flavor. In the mouth...