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2021 Barolo en Primeur Charity Auction
Italy: Piedmont, featured
, Sep 2022
I am delighted to once again host the Barolo en Primeur Charity Auction, being held simultaneously in New York City and Grinzane Cavour on Friday, October 28 at 12pm New York time and 6pm Piedmont time. This is a rare opportunity to acquire 2021 Barolo ahead of release. Some of the lots will be sold as single barrels, as they were last year, while others are collections of smaller lots from various producers, organized by village. All the wines will be adorned with special labels designed by artist Michelangelo Pistoletto.
Vinous Table: Bar Le Côte, Los Olivos, CA
United States: California, Vinous Table
, Sep 2022
With its seafood focused menu and bright décor, Bar Le Côte is a very welcome addition to the Santa Barbara wine country dining scene.
Santa Barbara: A Rare Bright Spot for California in 2020
United States: California, featured
, Aug 2022
Santa Barbara is one of the few bright spots for California in 2020. Tucked away to the south, far away from fires that were so damaging in the north, Santa Barbara was blessed with far more favorable conditions throughout the year, especially during the critical weeks around harvest. There were some challenges, most notably heat spikes in middle to late August and all of the stresses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but overall Santa Barbara fared much better than the rest of California. Based on what I have tasted and seen so far, Santa Barbara produced the finest wines in California in 2020 by a wide margin.
Cellar Favorite: Raiding the Cellar at Inspire Napa Valley
France: Burgundy, France: Champagne, France: Alsace, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Aug 2022
I was thrilled to open this eclectic collection of wines from my cellar during this year’s Inspire Napa Valley dinner at Staglin. It’s a rare treat to take a break from the hectic pace of tasting wines for review and actually drink a few things for pleasure.
Vinous Table: Marea, New York, NY
United States: New York, Vinous Table
, Jul 2022
As great as the wines are, I am once again reminded that wines are made special by context, in other words the circumstances, places and people that surround them. This was a truly unforgettable night of food, wine, friendship and camaraderie. Until next time…
Domaine Leroy: A Voyage Across the 2019s
France: Burgundy, Verticals & Retrospectives, featured
, Jul 2022
Lalou Bize-Leroy's 2019s are off the charts. Even in 2019, a year marked by several pronounced heat spikes, the wines capture tremendous expression of site. From the village wines all the way to the top Grand Crus, the 2019s are simply breathtaking for their grandeur and sheer personality.
Chianti Classico & Neighbors: Looking at the 2020s and 2019s
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Jul 2022
This year’s releases from Chianti Classico are a bit of a mixed bag. Most of that is attributable to the natural diversity of this large appellation and the unevenness of the 2019s. Even so, there are a lot of gorgeous wines in this report, many of them entry-level Chianti Classicos that offer superb quality for the money. As always, this report focuses on Chianti Classico, but also includes wines from neighboring appellations.
Cellar Favorite: San Giusto a Rentennano Chianti Classico 2002-2010
Italy: Tuscany, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Jul 2022
“Would you like to taste some older wines?” Luca Martini di Cigala asks as he starts to open bottles for our recent tasting of new releases. Over the years, I have been fortunate to taste complete verticals of both Percarlo and La Ricolma, along with many other wines at the ten-year mark.
Cellar Favorite: 2014 Domaine Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru
France: Burgundy, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Jul 2022
Let’s be honest. White Burgundy remains a minefield for the average consumer. Prices for the most desirable wines are through the roof, and even paying these prices is no guarantee that wines will age and deliver the most magical experience that only fine, seasoned white Burgundy can deliver.
Tuscany: New Releases from the Coast
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Jul 2022
I found a lot to like in this year’s crop of new releases from the Tuscan Coast. The best Vermentinos and Morellinos offer terrific value, while at the higher end, many of the region’s reference-point wines turned out beautifully. Moreover, a greater emphasis on freshness yields contemporary wines that marry energy with the natural opulence that comes so easily on the coast, a pretty appealing combination in my book.