Danilo Thomain is the only independent vigneron working in Hell. Well, not strictly "Hell," but a tiny Valle d’Aosta vineyard charmingly named Enfer d’Arvier, French for "The Hell of Arvier." There’s nothing devilish about the wine, though. In fact, it’s one of our favorite off-the-beaten path Italian reds, full of the particular charms of this Alpine region: silky texture, ripe brambly-berry fruit, racy acidity, and a cooling mountain herbaceousness.
Posted on July 23, 2023
Lee Madueno
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La Pépie is racy, crisp, acid and mineral driven; beautifully balanced by a hint of richness from the sur lie factor. A perfect encapsulation of Marc Olivier's exceptional terroir as well as Pépière’s precise and clean, natural winemaking style.
Posted on July 19, 2023
Lee Madueno
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Just like in years past, Tessier’s 2021 “Phil’en Bulle” is one of the best pet-nats around. Brisk and bright, that year spent on its lees gives the palette a serious density with layers of almond, citrus oil, white stone fruit and caramel. Finished long and refreshing this is an exceptional food wine that will go with almost anything. It also happens to make the best French 75.
Posted on July 16, 2023
Lee Madueno
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As much as we love Barolo and Barbaresco, it’s always fun to point out that these together make up only 3% of all the wines produced in Piedmont. In Piedmont, they are considered wines for the tourists. The locals drink what are affectionately known as the “little” wines, and chief among them is Barbera d’Alba.
Posted on July 12, 2023
Lee Madueno
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Among the many great winemakers from Burgundy who have landed on the West Coast and are making wine here, the most exciting of all might be a relatively recent arrival, Etienne de Montille of Domaine de Montille and Château Puligny-Montrachet. His wines are sought after by all those who love Burgundy, especially fellow winemakers.
Posted on July 05, 2023
Lee Madueno
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Turbullent is amongst the most charming and joyful wines out there. Produced by Domaine Serol in the little known Cote Roannaise, it speaks to the region's relaxed attitude and joie de vivre. Great with summer salads and almost any cheese, it is also a staff favorite to wash down a plate of spicy Szechuan or Oaxacan food.
Posted on July 02, 2023
Lee Madueno
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The Marigny wines often start fresh and easy but will quickly evolve into something more complex and brooding in your glass. For old world drinkers, these would not be unfamiliar with their high acidity and restrained fruit but in a wholly unique sensory experience. These are wines that transcend the natural/conventional wine divide and are simply exceptional wines made by someone deeply dedicated to their craft.
Posted on June 28, 2023
Lee Madueno
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Champagne has a long history of making some of the world’s greatest wines, and they have developed an amazing range of traditions that are worth preserving. And it is Patrick Le Brun’s mission to preserve them. His “Odalie” is a terrific, and affordable, example of Le Brun’s lifework.
Posted on June 21, 2023
Jeff Patten
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Where are the best white wines of Italy produced? There are lots of regions vying for the title, but today we will focus in on one producer, Edi Kante, whose wines make the compelling case that it is Friuli that is king. It is rare to come across such unique wines – wines that we really consider “must tries” – for such reasonable prices:
Posted on June 14, 2023
Jeff Patten
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The story of Christina is on the label. It represents the critters that happily cohabitate with Christina Netzl in her family vineyards. With the help of her mother and her best friend, Christina makes her wines using primitive cellar practices that would be familiar to the Romans who once occupied these lands.
Posted on June 07, 2023
Lee Madueno
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We consider Peter Lauer's Barrel X to be a true wine staple. We need to have a bottle of it in our fridges, just like we need to have flour in our pantries. Dry-tasting (there is just enough residual sugar to balance out the natural acidity), it is, as Lauer's importer says, the "Platonic ideal of what a Saar Riesling should be”.
Posted on May 31, 2023
Jeff Patten
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