Wine of the Day: Chapuy Carte Noire Brut Tradition, Champagne NV 7-1-16

Chapuy Carte Noire Brut Tradition, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) Buy Now: $30.90 pre-arrival special, ETA July 8th
Chapuy Carte Noire Brut Tradition, Champagne NV 375ML ($21.95) Buy Now: $18 pre-arrival special, ETA July 8th

I could smell the aromatics from this Champagne when it was poured in my glass several feet away. It’s one of the most explosively aromatic Champagnes that I’ve tried. Picture that curl of citrus zest sitting in a glass of Negroni. It smells of a mix of red fruits, exotic spices and oodles of freshly grated citrus zest. On my first sip, there was still plenty of citrus to enjoy (mostly lemon), with a clean, fruity taste. Certainly dry, it was not too lean or acidic.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Bourgogne Passe-tout-grains 2014 6-30-16

Wine of the Day: Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Bourgogne Passe-tout-grains 2014 750ML ($27.95) Buy Now: $21.90 special

Passetoutgrain wines have a special place in my heart. For one, throwing a little Gamay into the Pinot terrain makes for a more playful,  textured wine. To be frank, it’s not all that fashionable a wine, which is fine by me: the underdog status keeps the price down!

60-year-old Gamay vines in Volnay? Yessir! The roughly 60/40% blend of Pinot and Gamay make for a broad, fresh, and easy-drinking example of affordable Burgundy. If anything, it’s a little tight at the moment, which suggests that this little cutie could age for a good while. Enjoy it! – Tyler… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Chateau Devise d’Ardilley Haut-Medoc 2010 – 6-29-16

Chateau Devise d’Ardilley, Haut-Medoc 2010 750ML ($29.95) Buy Now: $24 special

Bordeaux’s Haut-Médoc doesn’t play the futures game like down in Pauillac or Margaux, but the 2010 Devise d’Ardilley does give you options: drink now, or cellar for a few more years. The 2010 Left Bank vintage impressed the critics with its ripe, healthy fruit, evolved tannins, and crisp acidity. Today, the 2010 Devise d’Ardilley sits between youth and maturity. While still on the fruit, the wine’s edges have softened. Plenty of tannic grip remains, but the developing bouquet of blueberries, currants, and earthy spice evolves nicely en carafe. Why not drink now while the markets are on edge?  – Daniel

Wine Enthusiast–Editors’ Choice 91 points: “From a small estate, this big, ripe and fruity wine has swathes of black fruits to go with the dark, brooding tannins.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Mas Cal Demoura L’Infidele 2010 6-28-16

Mas Cal Demoura “L’infidele” 2010 750ML ($31.95) Buy Now: $27 special
I have no shame in loving the rough-and-tumble wines of southern France. When the yields are kept in check and the wine’s development isn’t stunted by efforts of standardization, the resulting wines can be at once charming and startling. These sorts of blends have a broader appeal than I think we allow – I’d bet a day’s wages, for one, that you could get a Napa Cab guy and a Loire geek to agree on some gems of the Languedoc.

One such gem comes from Mas Cal Demoura, situated not far from Montpelier along the slopes of the Cévennes mountain range. These wines are soulful, playful – reverent, even, as they’re not shy to display the seemingly-paradoxical traits of their terroir: bold, fresh, mineral-laden, layered, dynamic…“L’Infidele” integrates all five varietals of the domaine each vintage: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and Carignan.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Azienda Agricola Maria Donata Bianchi Vermentino Riviera Ligure di Ponente, Liguria 2015 6-27-16

Azienda Agricola Maria Donata Bianchi Vermentino Riviera Ligure di Ponente, Liguria 2015 750ML ($27.95) Buy Now: $24 special

vermerenetTucked away along the Italian Riviera is the small, often overlooked wine appellation of Liguria. Here, nestled among the grape vines that skirt the rolling hills dotted by olive trees, is the Bianchi winery. The family that has owned the winery for four generations first began bottling their estate wines in 1977.

The Vermentino is produced from all hand harvested and destemmed grapes aged in stainless steel tanks. It opens with a savory-salty quality with notes of fresh green herbs –a refreshing tonic for the hot summer to come. On the nose are notes of aloe, dried mint and sea salt. It has a zippy acidity to balance the fuller body.… Read the rest