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Cellar Favorite: 1993 Domaine Jean Grivot Nuits Saint-Georges Les Roncières
France: Burgundy, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Nov 2022
This bottle of 1993 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Roncières 1er Cru was ‘magpied’ off a list in Beaune, one of the few bottles whose umbilical had not been cut within the last three years.
Cellar Favorite: 1996 Domaine Robert Denogent Pouilly-Fuissé Les Carrons Vieilles Vignes
France: Burgundy, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Nov 2022
A few months back, I reported on a cluster of old Pouilly-Fuissés from Château de Beauregard that attested to their under-appreciated longevity. Here is another bottle that was bright as a daisy when opened in Beaune as a pre-prandial wake-me-up.
Cellar Favorite: 1991 Dominus
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, United States: California
, Nov 2022
I’m no California expert. But I know a great California wine when I meet one.
Cellar Favorite: 1928-2011 Lascombes
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Bordeaux
, Oct 2022
During this year’s en primeur campaign I had a chance to taste nine mature vintages of Lascombs. I plan to assess more recent vintages for a more in-depth, standalone piece. But in the meantime, these wines see the light of day as a Cellar Favourite.
Cellar Favorite: 1964 La Tour Figeac
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Bordeaux
, Oct 2022
Given price inflation in recent years, a good tactic is to aim for a vintage/wine region with a high reputation and go a little off-piste. Take the Right Bank in 1964, for example. Sure, you can open that bottle of Cheval Blanc or Petrus, and it will knock your socks off…but you’ll pay a king’s ransom for the privilege. Foraging around a retail shop in Burgundy, I spotted a bottle of 1964 La Tour Figeac with a reasonable fill and clarity. I decided it was worth a gamble, given that I had no idea of provenance and no experience with the estate in this era.
Cellar Favorite: 1982 Domaine Georges Vernay Condrieu
France: Rhône & Beaujolais, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Oct 2022
A lot of Condrieu is consumed in its youth. “It doesn’t really age,” remarked one friend. I recently tested the veracity of that statement when I joined a friend at Noble Rot restaurant, forewarning that I intended to serve a bottle completely blind without a clue how it would show. Personally, I have never drunk a Condrieu more than a decade old, but there is something thrilling about venturing into unchartered vinous waters.
Cellar Favorite: 1978 Etienne Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline
France: Rhône & Beaujolais, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Oct 2022
La Mouline debuted in 1966, a year after the family purchased a 1.5-hectare limestone-rich plot of old Syrah vines interpolated with around 10% Viognier in the heart of Côte Blonde from esteemed winemaker, Joannes Dervieux.
Cellar Favorite: 1978 Domaine Alain Voge Cornas
France: Rhône & Beaujolais, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Oct2022
Every now and then, I am reminded of the greatness of mature Rhônes, especially from Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie and Cornas. Alain Voge was instrumental in putting Cornas on the map.
Cellar Favorite: Blandy’s Madeira – 2022 Bottlings
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, Portugal
, Sep 2022
I recently joined Blandy’s CEO, Chris Blandy, and head winemaker, Francisco Albuquerque, for a tasting of their 2022 Madeira bottlings.
Cellar Favorite: 2018 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, United States: Washington
, Sep 2022
There are very few wines that I personally seek out year after year. For a wine to become a recurring purchase for my cellar, it takes a proven track record, unparalleled quality among. peers, vintage-to-vintage consistency and. relative value. The Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon is such a wine, even with steady price increase over the past ten years.