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Windstream Sarmento Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2013

Windstream Sarmento Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2013

Windstream Sarmento Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2013″ width=”200″ height=”200″ /></a>One of San Antonio Winery’s brands, the Windstream Sarmento Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2013 shows considerable marine influence, given its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Glass-filling aromatics of rose petal and cinnamon bark. and dry leaves that crunch underfoot. The attack is bright and […]

Quinta do Noval Porto Colheita Tawny 2000

Quinta do Noval Porto Colheita Tawny 2000

The 2000 Quinta do Noval Porto Colheita Tawny is superb, showing warm and welcoming notes of caramel, dried fruit, honey, sultana along with a pinch of toast. The mind immediately jumps to pairings like stilton, Roquefort, or dried fruit, though, surprisingly the staff at Noval recommend trying it with fresh carrot, unpeeled. I love the […]

Louis M. Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Louis M. Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

I was skeptical of Louis Martini, after all, it’s a mass-distributed brand owned by Gallo. That said, Gallo has the capital to work with some of the best vineyard sites in the valley, while still producing a seriously good Napa Cab for less than $40.00 On the nose, the 2013 shows heady Crème de cassis, […]

Szepsy Tokaji Szent Tamás Furmint 2013

Szepsy Tokaji Szent Tamás Furmint 2013

What a tremendous gift to taste the legendary Szepsy wines with István Szepsy Sr., while visiting the Tokaj region last week. The wines are impeccable, as is the case with the Szent Tamás Furmint 2013. Pungent aromas of quince and orange, one might call this wine pretty, were it not for its serious underlying structure. […]

Szepsy Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2008

Szepsy Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2008

My first Aszú, and what better way to taste it than in the Tokaj with István Szepsy Sr., a 17th generation winemaker. It’s amber colored and viscous with magnetic aromas of marmalade and dried apricot, fleshy quince, burnt caramel, nutmeg and dust. On the the palate, this wine’s considerable gravity, a honeyed elixir with an […]

Emmanuel Darnaud Mise en Bouche Crozes-Hermitage 2013

Emmanuel Darnaud Mise en Bouche Crozes-Hermitage 2013

Classic Crozes-Hermitage, the 2013 Emmanuel Darnaud Mise en Bouche is composed of 100% Syrah grown in gallet-studded Glacial alluvia. Brooding and baritone, the nose is laden in black fruit. Gamier notes and black olives evolve into blackberries steeped in fresh thyme, violets, and anise pastille. The attack is all black fruit, couched in firm, grippy […]

Quinta Essentia Chenin Blanc 2015

Quinta Essentia Chenin Blanc 2015

A surprise wine, tasted while visiting Betz Family Winery—sold in 2011 to Steve and Bridgit Griessel, a South African couple. In light of the unique partnership between the two families, such a collaboration is possible. The Quinta Essentia Chenin Blanc quivers with decadent aromas of baked yellow apple, banana chips, dried pineapple, lemon curd, orange […]

San Antonio Winery Opaque Paso Robles Zinfandel 2014

San Antonio Winery Opaque Paso Robles Zinfandel 2014

True to its name, the Opaque Paso Robles Zinfandel 2014 is, well, opaque. Aside from that the nose is deliciously expressive. Rife with steeped blackberries and plums, anise, cedar, and chocolate mint. Expect a wallop of freshly ground black pepper on the nose and on the palate. The attack is full-bodied and lush, enlivened by […]

Alamos Torrontés 2015

Alamos Torrontés 2015

So lets just get this out of the way right now, Torrontés has to be one of my least favorite varieties. I can’t get past the star gazer lilly and chamomile aromas and flavors, reminding me why I’m not a fan of ultra-feminine, floral perfumes. Back to the Alamos 2015—it displays good varietal character, that […]

Szent Tamás Tokaji 86 470 Palack Furmint 2012

Szent Tamás Tokaji 86 470 Palack Furmint 2012

Tasted while visiting the producer, the Szent Tamás Tokaji 86 470 Palack Furmint 2012 is as with all wines from this region are mineral-driven and nuanced The ’86’ is a reference to the parcel the Furmint grapes were harvest from, 2286. Truly, the Crus of this region are as complex as one might find in […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com