Category Archives: Wineries We Cherish

Wine of the Day: Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses, Loire 1990 6-10-16

chinoOlga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses, Loire 1990 750ML ($69.95) Buy Now: $59 special

Were the Loire Valley to be a house, the ‘Les Picasses’ vineyard would be the attic: full of secrets, haunted if by history, and unscathed by the harsh hand of modernity. Domaine Olga Raffault, now run by Mme. Raffault’s grandaughter Sylvie and Sylvie’s husband Eric, is the perfect guide to the tour of this beautiful – if fictitious – house.

‘Les Picasses’ sits atop the steep slopes along the Vienne River in Savigny-en-Véron, a bucolic little commune east of Saumur and south of Bourgueil. Vines there are roughly fifty years in age, planted in alluvial clay soils with a chalk-limestone base. Chez Raffault winemaking is careful, organic, and traditional.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Crowley ‘a la votre’ Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2014 6-9-16

alavotreCrowley ‘a la votre’ Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2014 ($19.95) Buy Now: $16 special

We’re always excited about a new wine from Crowley. Tyson’s wines tend to be quite cerebral, understated, and complex. The ‘a la votre’ cuvee is new to this year; the wine showcases the freshness of W.V. fruit in a way which is approachable and direct without lacking character. Cranberries, spice, and a touch of earth make for a perfect summer red! – Tyler… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Chateau Auney L’Hermitage ‘L’Hermitage Blanc’ 2013 6-8-16

cbe1cdc5-dd23-48e1-a649-ed6056550b08Chateau Auney L’Hermitage ‘L’Hermitage Blanc’, Graves 2013 750ML ($27.95) Buy Now: $24 special

Is white Bordeaux having a moment? If not, it should be! The 2013 from Chateau Auney is nothing short of divine. Melon, minerals, and honey make for a near-perfect wine; aromas of vanilla and exotic fruits invite the drinker into a balanced and complex mêlée of soft and assertive elements. It’s a practice of opposites, of harmony, and of elegance. – Tyler… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Antoine Arena ‘BG’ Bianco Gentile, Corsica 2012 6-7-16

Domaine Antoine Arena ‘BG’ Bianco Gentile, Corsica 2012 750ML ($49.95) Buy Now: $21.90 special

arenaBGAntoine Arena makes arguably the greatest wines of Corsica. His vineyards are dramatic, with rocky terrain and fast-rising slopes rising from the fertile island. Some of the land was once olive groves, while others were long-lost vineyards which had lain unused and unseen because of their rugged and remote situation. As operations grew, Arena blasted out rocky plots and planted new vines to supplement their 60-year-old plantings.

From a miniscule, half-hectare vineyard of clay and limestone soils planted in the late-90’s. Bianco Gentile is an ancient varietal which Arena had discovered and had genetically tested; the wine is rich, complex, tangy, and broad. Salty sea air and peach fruit qualities make for great concentration and a long, lingering finish – this would be fantastic with rich seafood dishes!… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Clos Cibonne ‘Cuvee Tradition’ Rosé 2014 6-6-16

cinbonneroseClos Cibonne Cotes de Provence Cuvee Tradition Rose, Provence 2014 750ML ($29.95) Buy Now: $24 special

I only suggest this wine if you’re okay with having your entire rosé world rocked to its core. Really! We’ve got a game changer here, folks.

Clos Cibonne sits handsomely along the coast in Provence; this, their signature wine, is fermented in stainless steel before spending 12-18 months in hundred-year-old casks under fleurette, or a thin layer of yeasts. This unique manner of élevage makes for a textured, hugely complex wine of great versatility. Nectarine and mandarine orange fruit come across in the medium-bodied, honey-tinged wine; the finish is long and floral. – Tyler

… Read the rest