Pale straw colour offering a spicy oak, minerally, apple and anise bouquet; rich mouthfeel, full-bodied, well-integrated oak with an intriguing bitterness on the finish.
This estate is located just west of Pomerol and is made with 100% Merlot. The nose shows meaty red fruits, ripe cherry, toasted spices and vanilla. It has round, ripe fruit on the palate with soft tannins. Affordable baby Bordeaux.
This is what a great Merlot should be: delicious, ripe and mouth-coating. Plum, chocolate, cherry, red/purple flowers, spice, smoke and mint combine to provide a gratifying experience. Excellent length. Drink until 2020.
Gabbiano can always be counted on for value and quality in Chianti. This Classico is rich in red berries, violets, plums and well-integrated spice notes. It’s fresh and vibrant on the palate with a bevy of red fruits, plums, savoury spices and some decent tannic structure through the finish. Pair with grilled steak, risotto with mushrooms or roasted pork with garlic, herbs and fennel.
Rich and fruity, bordering on overripe, with earth, spice and fresh herbs, slightly smoky with a mineral quality that keeps it from being overwhelming. A structured, well-constructed single vineyard wine from a vineyard first planted in 1932 and an impressive pedigree (winery created by Piero Incisa della Rocchetta) translate to the impressive price.
Terres Dorées is a limestone-laden area known as the "Region of the Golden Stones." Sustainably focused and non-interventionist in both the vineyard and winery, Brun is a firm advocate of minimal SO2, natural yeast, old vines and low yields. L'Ancien, from vines 50‒80 years old, is savoury and lithe. Wild herbs, rasped stone, juicy wild raspberry and thorns are lifted with bright and lifted cherry and textured with mineral salts. Graceful, with a bamboo-firm frame of tannins. Salted sage lingers on the lengthy finish. Drinking well now (mine went with truffle salted frites and lardon-decked endive) or will cellar for 5+ years easy. #GoGamayGo.
Church & State’s new second-tier comes with a crazy, “Smarties” assortment of some 100 fun and provocative labels for 2 wines. This blend of mainly Viognier (35%), Gewürz (20%) and Sauv Blanc (16.36%) sports aromas of apple and pear, followed by a surprisingly full-bodied palate, with hints of citrus, peach-nectarine and even some rose petal from the Gewürz, all wrapped in refreshing acidity.