La Marea Mourvedre Spur Ranch Vineyard 2013
For those of you familiar with Ian Brand’s first label, Le P’tit Paysan, La Marea is produced with equal care and craft, and is dedicated to the production of single-vineyard Spanish varieties from San Benito and Montery County. The 2013 Spur Ranch Vineyard Mourvedre is sourced from vines that are at an 1,000 foot elevation […]
Domaine Jean David Côtes du Rhône Villages Séguret Les Levants 2012
As memory serves, this is one of my acquisitions from Garagiste, as is typical of Garagiste selections, Jean David is a very small producer, a husband and wife team from the village of Séguret who are committed to what Nicki refers to as “hyper- organic “farming. The vines are very old, though I can not […]
Gallo Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Another wine from Gallo’s Signature series, I’ll be the first to confess that I’m pleasantly surprised at how nice these wines are, given the extraordinary prices of most Napa Cabs. It’s a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot, the bulk of which is from Gallo’s William Hill Vineyard, with a dash of […]
Herb Roasted Rack of Lamb with Fingerling Potatoes and Léoville Las Cases
I love simplicity—in cooking and in maintaining a garden, there is something about a recipe that combines simple flavors, with few ingredients, but does so in a way that the dish has absolute balance and harmony. Such is the case with a rack of lamb, which from a home cook’s standpoint is very simple to […]
Château Léoville Las Cases 1989
The 1989 Léoville Las Cases possesses a deep inner perfume of red currant, rose petals, balsam, graphite and sandalwood. Elegant and weightless, with fine tannins that spread evenly across the palate, like damask silk. There is a wonderful, regal and almost undefinable quality to this second growth. It exhibits both fantastic purity and balance, and […]
Domaine Saint-Remy Crémant d’Alsace Cuvée Prestige NV
The color of sun-bleached straw, the Crémant D Alsace Cuvée Prestige from Domaine Saint-Remy is crafted from 100% biodynamically farmed Chardonnay that is grown in granite-rich soil, in the lieu-dit of St. Gregoir. It emits fresh, lively aromas of biscuit, Meyer lemon zest, granulated honey and trail dust. The palate is light and nimble, with […]
Pierre Moncuit Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Nicole Moncuit Vieille Vigne 2004
Rich and wonderfully full in body and texture, the Pierre Moncuit Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 2004 opens with generous notes of dried honey, pear tart and nutmeg. On the palate, it’s supple and creamy, delineated by a coursing vein of chalky minerality and bright, mouthwatering acidity. Rich notes of buttercream and toffee are […]
The Kraken Black Spiced Rum
The Kraken Black Spice Rum constitutes my first foray into the world of rum, therefore, I will not offer a score, but will I provide tasting notes. According to Wikipedia, as the Kraken website itself offers little in the way of actual useful information about their product, Kraken is a rum-based spirit sourced from Trinidad […]
Olivier Gras Prat Sura Vacqueyras La Cuvée 2012
The 2012 Olivier Gras Prat Sura Vacqueyras La Cuvée is certainly more giving on the second day—this structured Vacqueyras wants to unfurl slowly, no surprise, because the vines are around 35 years old, and are grown in an arid climate, and in stony limestone-galet soil. Prat Sura is a single vineyard bottling, and a small […]
Ghost Pines Winemaker’s Blend Zinfandel 2013
Soft and pliant, the 2013 Ghost Pines Winemaker’s Blend is comprised of 100% Zinfandel of which 53% is sourced from San Joaquin County and the remaining 47% is from Sonoma County. While not overly complex, it does offer inviting aromas of blackberry liqueur, juicy black cherries, vanilla and spice. On the palate, it’s smooth and easy-drinking […]