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La Mozza Aragone Maremma Toscana 2010

La Mozza Aragone Maremma Toscana 2010

A blend of 40% Sangiovese, 25% Alicante, 25% Syrah, and 10% Carignan, La Mozza Aragone Maremma Toscana 2010 is soft and primary on opening, with inviting layers of ripe plum, underbrush, clove, and mint. On the palate, tannins are still very firm, with seductive, lush notes of juicy blackberry and black cherry, earthiness, and tar. […]

Agricola Brandini Langhe Arneis Le Coccinelle 2012

Agricola Brandini Langhe Arneis Le Coccinelle 2012

Brandini Le Coccinelle Langhe Bianco 2012 is a new the US market, and is well-worth seeking out. Fragrant, lilting aromas of crisp Asian pear, cherimoya, honeysuckle, and lemon thyme grace this classically-styled Arneis. Aged in stainless steel, it’s medium-to-full bodied, nicely textured, and sports a vibrant acid backbone to offset notes of star fruit, dried […]

Bastianich Vespa Bianco 2012

Bastiianich Vespa Bianco 2012

The Bastianich Vespa Bianco 2012 is a showy and rich blend of 45% Chardonnay, 45% Sauvignon Blanc, and 10% Picolit. Beguiling notes of bruised pear, ripe nectarine, dried mango and orange blossom honey lingers heavily in the air above the glass, like a warm day in mid-summer. Dark gold and luxurious, there is just enough […]

Elio Altare Langhe Nebbiolo Vigna Arborina 2009

Elio Altare Langhe Nebbiolo Vigna Arborina 2009

Here’s a confession: I’ve become something of a fan of Elio Altare, and while opening the Arborina Langhe 2009 is admittedly premature, I’ve at least been able to sample its charms. Inviting notes of earth, forest berries, iced coffee, sweet tobacco and mint make way for a wine that is nicely balanced, with firm, mouth-coating […]

Peju Province Winery HB Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Peju Province Winery HB Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Interestingly, Parker doesn’t seem to love wines from Peju, most of them scoring poorly, between the mid-70s to low 80s, describing them as “pleasant, but uninspiring.” I pondered this while tasting the Peju HB Napa Valley 2005, which actually charmed me with its Old World lightness. Complex notes of scorched earth, plum, dust, black currant, […]

Sylvain Dussort Meursault 2011

Sylvain Dussort Meursault 2011

Richly robed in gold, not unlike Gustav Klimt’s portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, the Sylvain Dussort Meursault 2011 has both contrast and curves. On the nose, aromas of lush, bruised pear, golden apples, almond puff pastry, and honey. And on the palate, a lovely interplay of silken, glycerol-drenched orchard fruit layered into moderate acidity and discreet […]

Paul Dethune Cuvée à I’Ancienne Grand Cru Champagne Brut NV

Paul Dethune Cuvée À I'Ancienne Grand Cru Champagne Brut NV

Yet another fabulous grower Champagne, Paul Dethune’s Cuvée à I’Ancienne Grand Cru Champagne Brut is gorgeous! I love the acidity in this wine, it provides not only focus, but also superb lift, and despite it being an Extra Brut, it manages to come across as totally fresh and vibrant. There is too, marked purity and […]

Francis Boulard Millesimé Extra Brut Champagne 2006

Francis Boulard Millesimé Extra Brut Champagne 2006

Francis Boulard’s Millesimé Extra Brut 2006 is a blend of 50% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, and 20% Pinot Meunier. The grapes are sourced from biodynamically farmed vineyards in the Saint-Thierry , a region named “la Petite Montagne de Reims”,  and are fermented with indigenous yeast. Sur lie aging with regular bâtonnage lends texture and a […]

Grower Champagnes: Pierre Péters

Pierre Péters

At that point in my tasting career, I’d had much less experience with Champagne. Yet, Pierre Péters was instantly memorable, even though my introduction to this celebrated house had been in tasting their Cuvée de Réserve, a wine that cannot be described as humble, despite the fact that it is an entry-level label. (With some […]

Roasted Chicken with Herbes de Provence

Roasted Chicken with Herbes de Provence

I’ve been making roasted chicken with Herbes de Provence for what seems like ages. A favorite Sunday dish, the kitchen is filled with tantalizing aromas of roasting chicken and fresh herbs. Because I’ve made this recipe often, there are a few tips that make the outcome especially delicious. The first of which is, buy high-quality […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com