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Robert Groffier Père & Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2002

Robert Groffier Père & Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2002

The Robert Groffier Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2002 is an endless ribbon of garnet-hued silk. Black cherries, dried rose petals, rich humic soil, and wild mushrooms waft from the glass. Sensual, viscous and more generously styled as compared to the Bouchard Clos de Bèze tasted earlier this week. High toned red fruit—pomegranate and rose […]

Carpenè Malvolti Conegliano Valdobbiadene Superiore Extra Dry Prosecco NV

Carpenè Malvolti Conegliano Valdobbiadene Superiore Extra Dry Prosecco NV

I picked up a dainty and modestly priced half bottle of Prosecco for lunch. It’s lightly perfumed with ripe d’Anjou pear and white peach along with the faintest top note of dried honey and wildflowers. I appreciate that it’s extra dry—as it comes across as less sappy than is typical for Prosecco, with a bit […]

Bouchard Père et Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2002

Bouchard Père et Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2002

Marly limestone enriched by traces of iron is the primary soil type in Clos de Bèze vineyard parcels, and this vineyard has under cultivation for a very long time, since the 7th century. The 2002 Bouchard Père & Fils Chambertin Clos de Bèze is rustic and austere, though charmingly so, with barnyard, wet hay, game, […]

Rivolta Le Mongolfiere A San Bruno Aglianico del Taburno Rosato 2012

Rivolta Le Mongolfiere A San Bruno Aglianico del Taburno Rosato 2012

Of all of the rosé wines I’ve tried this year, Fattoria la Rivolta’s “Le Mongolfiere” rosato exhibits terroir like non other, a stately mantle, an ancient and earthy vestige that is a testament to old vines planted in calcareous, limestone-rich soils—what fruit it displays, tart cherries, and clementine are nuanced and entirely secondary. On the […]

Gustave Lorentz Pinot Noir Le Rosé 2013

Gustave Lorentz Pinot Noir Le Rosé 2013

The 2013 Gustave Lorentz Pinot Noir Le Rosé is round and supple on the palate with soft, feminine perfumed aromatics of white hand soap and potpourri, like grandma’s handbag followed by market raspberries and melon. The palate and the nose are more or less an exact match, and it’s clean and fresh, without any hard […]

Lucien le Moine Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2003

Lucien le Moine Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2003

2003 was a year of extremes in Burgundy, with spring frosts and crippling heatwaves later in the summer, so how did the Lucien le Moine Chambertin-Clos de Bèze fare? Extremely well. Penetrating aromas of cherry and black raspberry, dried leaves, forest floor, woodspice, and anise lead into firm structure and a brooding, sensual intensity. Mineral […]

Château D’Esclans Whispering Angel 2014

Château D'Esclans Whispering Angel 2014

A classic Provençal rosé, Château D’Esclans Whispering Angel 2014 is, as the name suggests, a convivial and charming romp, with just enough of a mineral and earth underpinning to keep it from floating away. Alpine strawberries and raspberries on the nose, along with line-dried linen and wet river rock. In the mouth, fine-boned delicacy and […]

Azur Napa Valley Rosé 2014

Azur Napa Valley Rosé 2014

Composed of 100% Syrah sourced from Napa Valley, the 2014 Azur Rosé is a stylish, salmon-hued sipper with lively aromas of ripe cantaloup, white peaches, Rainier cherries, and honeysuckle. I love what the acidity does, coating the palate evenly and beautifully, with minerally notes lending definition to the back palate. As it warms, silky texture […]

Château d’Epire Savennières Cuvée Spéciale 2012

Château d'Epire Savennières Cuvée Spéciale 2012

Château d’Epire’s Chenin Blanc vines are seated atop the highest hill in the Savennières appellation. There the vines benefit from added sunlight due to a southeasterly orientation, in addition to phtanit-rich soils. The Cuvée Spéciale 2012 offers up permeating aromas of poached apples and pears, white flowers, baked apples, caramel and baking spice. Given the […]

Soter Mineral Springs Pinot Noir 2005

Soter Mineral Springs Pinot Noir 2005

From the Yamhill-Carlton district of Willamette Valley, Soter’s Mineral Springs Pinot Noir is among their best sites and the 2005 vintage was the inaugural release of the label. Elegant aromas of black cherry, blackcurrant and the faintest top note of Market Spice Tea, dried rose petals and incense. The frame is quite spare and lean, […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com