Tag Archives: wine of the day

Wine of the Day: Cave Mont Blanc 1187 Extra Brut 2012 5-19-2016

Cave Mont Blanc ‘Blanc de Morgex & de la Salle’ 1187 Extra Brut, Vallee d’Aoste 2012 750ML ($31.95) Buy Now: $28 special

The domaine was founded in the early eighties with the stated purpose of reviving abandoned vineyards along the picturesque slopes of Mont Blanc in the Valle d’Aosta. This northwestern Italian pocket features the highest-altitude vineyard sites in all of Europe; very few machines are even capable of working such extreme topographies – needless to say, they’re seldom employed within the region.

The ‘1187’, made from 100% Prie Blanc, wonderfully tethers the balance between delicate and powerful – it’s a thing of paradoxes. The bubbles are soft yet move quickly along the palate, and the minerals are bracing yet the wine translates as elegant and smooth. White flowers, meringue, and apricot presents itself with a dry, lasting finish. It’s a pretty, nuanced wine which isn’t shy yet won’t scare anyone away. Very worth trying! – Tyler

Wine of the Day: Brick House Vineyards ‘Cascadia’ Chardonnay 2012 5-18-2016

Brick House Vineyards ‘Cascadia’ Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2012 750ML ($39.95) Buy Now: $33 special

At Brick House, their Biodynamic farming features careful but not excessive interventions. As a result, their wines boast outstanding complexity and transparency. Cascadia is fermented on native yeasts and is raised in only used oak, completing malolactic fermentation before aging for a full year on the lees. The wine presents a bit more weight and richness while maintaining buoyancy. Fantastic! – Tyler

Wine Spectator 91 points “This sleek, open-textured and inviting white is light on its feet, showing apricot-tinged pear and spice flavors and finishing with finesse. Appealing now, but should develop depth with cellaring. Drink now through 2019. 520 cases made.”WS

David Schildknecht – Wine Advocate 90-91 points “Last tasted from barrels (old demi-muids) in July, the pieces that will have become Tunnell’s 2012 Chardonnay Cascadia – from several clones (some top-grafted to older vines) – display fresh apple laced with candied lime peel and garlanded with honeysuckle. There is a lovely sense of lift and primary refreshment allied to textural caress and subtly creamy lees-enhancement. This is going to be a deliciously versatile wine for enjoying through at least 2017. (I won’t of course report until next year on Tunnell’s 2012 Pinots, but can’t help mentioning already that from barrel they are an extremely impressive group.)”DS

Wine of the Day: Marc Deschamps ‘Les Champs de Cri’ Pouilly-Fume 5-18-16

Marc Deschamps Pouilly-Fume Les Champs de Cri, Loire 2012 750ML ($29.95) Buy Now: $24 special

Forget what you know about Sauvignon Blanc! The ‘Champs de Cri’ from Marc Deschamps delivers an insanely complex combination of lemon zest, fresh herbs, jasmine, and elderflower. Roughly a year of aging on the lees affords the wine more texture and weight, yet the overall delivery is that of precision and grace. The result is an energetic, slightly salty Sauvignon Blanc with real dimension – a must-try for Loireheads, Sauv blanc lovers, and the drinker who wants the best in the wine life! A bottle like this can and should age wonderfully, though that shouldn’t prevent the reader from digging in to their stash a bit for a remarkable value from a Loire legend.

– Tyler

Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2.3-hectares parcel Champs de Cri in Les Loges produces the most complex, elegant and long-lived Fumé of the estate. From vines about 55 years old, the pale golden 2012 Pouilly-Fumé Champs de Cri was kept on the lees for several months more than the other cuvées of the domaine and it is released later. It is a very complex and tightly woven wine, which was totally closed but extremely promising when I tasted it in early August 2014. The nose disclosed most of all the extreme deep mineral foundation of this Fumé with subtle hints of citrons, bitter orange, straw, jasmine and elder flowers. On the palate this is a full-bodied, rich, concentrated and multilayered Pouilly-Fumé of great elegance and expression. It’s an aristocratic, extremely well-balanced, fresh and lingering monolith of natural beauty.” WA

Wine of the Day: Bergstrom Le Pre du Col 2014 5-17-2016

Bergstrom Le Pre du Col, Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($69.95) Buy Now: $59 pre-arrival special, ETA Friday, May 27th

The Le Pre du Col (or ‘meadow on the mountain’) is a bright and fresh Pinot with plenty of body and acidity to spare. It opens with a bright zesty note of spice and herbs. The palate shows notes of purple flowers and red cherries with hints of iron and tobacco. I would give this a few years in bottle before opening or, if need be, 4-5 hours in a decanter before serving.

Le Pre du Col is planted to marine sedimentary soils in the Ribbon Ridge AVA. The winery describes the AVA as offering Pinots sweet cinnamon spice and ripe Oregon strawberry and cherry aromas.

While the 2014 is just hitting the market and has not yet been reviewed, Wine Spectator rated the 2013 vintage 95 points. -Suzanne

Wine of the Day: Fernando de Castilla PX Sherry NV 5-16-2016

Fernando de Castilla Antique Pedro Ximenez Sherry, Andalucia, Spain NV 500ML ($49.95) Buy Now: $39 special

Not long ago, I had the opportunity to sample a diverse range of Sherries, ranging from dry, salty and austere to sweet, silky and oxidized and seemingly every possibility between. There was a 1970 Bodegas Tradicion Oloroso (hidden under the table and only poured for those that asked, of course), the light and salty Innocente Fino from Valdespino, and even a couple of ever unusual Palo Cortados. Of the sweet options, the one that stood out did so not really by any crazy exotic flair but rather for lingering pleasantly for about 5 minutes after tasting. I’ve experienced a few other bottlings from Fernando de Castilla, but the PX is by far my favorite for its length, value and flavor. The PX pulls off the unfined/unfiltered/hands-off style of the estate with gusto.

Thick and viscous, this dessert PX sherry is a delight. While the viscosity might not quite reach the extreme of blackstrap molasses, the color certainly does. It offers upfront notes of dark raisins and roasted nuts, moderate acidity and a lingering note of dark chocolate. The acidity and faint notes of dried orange peel help keep this from being cloying. Enjoy with coffee-, chocolate- or dried fruit-based desserts or go wild with caramel-coated roasted nuts. –Suzanne

Wine Spectator 93 points “This deep and viscous version shows good range, as warm ganache, buckwheat, toasted poppy seed, black walnut, rum-soaked raisin, sweet Turkish coffee and prune eau-de-vie notes are all seamlessly layered, while a gingerbread accent at the very end imparts lift. Thoroughly unique. Drink now.” WS