Brézé is a heralded name for lovers of Chenin Blanc. It was also the name of a Chateau, the Chateau de Brézé. It’s a Chateau steeped in history, dating back to 1060, and now containing life-size depictions of medieval life that are of much interest to art historians and anthropologists.
Posted on December 15, 2024
Josh Shapiro
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Today, we are pleased to offer Vereinigte’s Riesling from Scharzhofberger. It is 2011, so now has the benefit of 13 years of bottle age. Anyone who knows this style of Riesling knows that it can age, “eating” the sugar and resulting in a balanced, finely etched wine. It is so hard to source mature white wine, so don’t miss these opportunities when they come up:
Posted on December 11, 2024
Josh Shapiro
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One look at the labels of Granbazan and you know you’ve found something distinctive. Open a bottle, and you know you’ve found something authentic. The wine has lovely fruit, yes, but it's the crisp berries, apples, and pears of cool-climate white wine, not the tropical flavors of warmer climates. The wine is infused with the fresh minerality that you would expect from older vines planted in excellent terroir: rocks and minerals, precious jewels.
Posted on November 24, 2024
Josh Shapiro
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Like Jacquesson, and several other producers, Philipponnat has enjoyed a quality revolution in the 21st century. In 1999 a new Philipponnat took over (this is still a family domaine), Charles Philipponnat, and he radically upped the winery’s game. He made little innovations here and there – using only the first press juice from his Chardonnay, and extended the aging of his wines in neutral barrels, for example. His wines became more intense and richer, but also fresher. No surprise, their non-vintage Champagnes are excellent – among the best in all of Champagne – and we particularly enjoy the Rosé.
Posted on November 20, 2024
Josh Shapiro
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Marine Layer combines Pinot Noir grapes from several Sonoma Coast sites to create “Lyra”. It’s the name of the bright constellation that is visible in California from around the vine’s springtime re-awakening to the time of harvest – as if following the life of the grape. The natural elegance of these cool-climate grapes is emphasized in the wine-making, including by harvesting at night, preserving many whole berries, fermenting naturally, and using on 25% new wood.
Posted on November 13, 2024
Josh Shapiro
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This is a super-star of a deal that combines two of our favorite tricks for finding hidden gems and super steals. One: find a star producer's baby bottle. Two: look for a wine just a little outside of the most famous (and expensive) terroirs.
George Vernay's Saint-Agathe Syrah does all that and more.
Posted on November 10, 2024
Josh Shapiro
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Mario Fontana describes his wines as “come una volta” — as in the past. His Cascina has only been around since 1995, but their wines are made like it’s still the 1960s or '70s. We love them.
Posted on November 06, 2024
Floribeth Kennedy
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Like Bob Dylan’s music – covering folk music, the blues, rock and gospel – or Salvadore Dali’s paintings – from realism to surrealism – Andrew Jones of Field Recordings has range. He does single varietal, single vineyard wines that are extremely varietally correct, and he has blends that encompass more grapes than the average person can rattle off the top of their head. Today we have the latter for you, an orange wine that is a showcase of blending prowess.
Posted on November 03, 2024
Josh Shapiro
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Last week on our tour of Italy we went to the often forgotten region of Calabria to discover the great Gaglioppo grapes of Ciro. That was at Italy’s toe. Today, we cross the Gulf of Taranto – formed thanks to the immense arch of the Italian boot – and arrive at its heel. We are in Apulia – or Puglia, the Italian name that is often used in English.
Posted on October 30, 2024
Floribeth Kennedy
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Jackson Holstein's parents were literal pioneers, driving west from Kentucky to Oregon in a pickup truck. They bought ten hectares, and named it Holstein Vineyard. Jackson grew up among those vines. He learned a little vineyard management from his Dad, but he also went to school and he studied. He also traveled the world, worked at various wineries, and side hustled by producing a bit of wine in a garage – it turns out that tech companies are not the only start-ups that happen in American garages.
Posted on October 23, 2024
Josh Shapiro
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f you need to pick a bottle for a group of friends, some of whom want a wine of terroir transparency, another who wants a natural wine, and a third who just wants something yummy that reminds them of Sancerre, well, this is your bottle! Honesty and character for anyone who is paying particular attention to the wine, and straight up deliciousness for anyone who just wants something tasty. All of that, and a great price too! Timeless wine for a price that feels like we're stepping back in time: What could be better?
Posted on October 20, 2024
Josh Shapiro
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![Stylized image of Bereche et Fils Champagne Brut Reserve ['21 Base] NV](http://sf.flatiron-wines.com/cdn/shop/articles/unnamed_-_2024-11-16T101357.256_{width}x.jpg?v=1731780872)
