Grosjean Petite Arvine: 1997-2016
Italy: North, Verticals & Retrospectives, featured
, Dec 2019
Although the birthplace of Petite Arvine is contested between the Switzerland’s Valais and Italy’s Valle d’Aosta, there is no doubt both countries make beautiful wines. The Grosjean family’s Petite Arvine is especially fine, and it ages well, too.
Dauvissat Chablis Les Clos: 1983-2015
France: Burgundy, Verticals & Retrospectives, featured
, Nov 2019
Vincent Dauvissat’s stunningly consistent grand cru Les Clos is a textbook example of the complexity, minerality and longevity Chardonnay can achieve in the exceptional terroirs and cool northerly climate of Chablis. This vertical encompassed a remarkable range of wines all the way back to 1983.
Marquis d’Angerville’s Volnay Clos des Ducs: 1920-2017
France: Burgundy, Verticals & Retrospectives, featured
, Oct 2019
Guillaume d’Angerville makes one of the Côte de Beaune’s true icon wines from an ideally situated walled vineyard whose borders have not changed for at least 500 years. His methods are uncomplicated: fanatical attention to detail in the vineyard and in the winery. This vertical tasting made it clear that the Clos des Ducs is frequently a wine of grand cru intensity, aromatic complexity and staying power.
A Century - Not Out: Talbot 1919-2010
France: Bordeaux, Verticals & Retrospectives, featured
, Oct 2019
In December last year, Château Talbot celebrated a century of ownership by the Cordier family with a vertical tasting at the property. This article assesses the vintages and where they place Talbot in the Saint-Julien hierarchy as a new chapter opens.
Mugneret-Gibourg’s Clos Vougeot 1984 - 2015
France: Burgundy, Verticals & Retrospectives, featured
, Oct 2019
An extensive tasting of their top Grand Cru this spring demonstrated that sisters Marie-Christine and Marie-Andrée Mugneret have quietly and methodically taken their famous father’s estate to greater heights through steady improvements in the vineyards and in the winery.
Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet: 1981-2012
France: Burgundy, Verticals & Retrospectives, featured
, Sep 2019
An extensive vertical tasting of Domaine Leflaive’s Chevalier-Montrachet encompassing wines from four decades demonstrated the remarkable longevity of an exalted white Burgundy terroir in the right hands.
Larkmead’s Solari Cabernet and LMV Salon: 2001-2015
Verticals & Retrospectives, featured, United States: California
, Aug 2019
My recent tasting of Larkmead’s Solari Cabernet and LMV Salon blend showcased the comprehensive renewal that has taken place at this venerable property over the past 20 years in both the vineyards and the winery under the tenure of Cam and Kate Solari Baker.
Raveneau Chablis Montée de Tonnerre: 1985-2015
France: Burgundy, Verticals & Retrospectives, featured
, Aug 2019
Raveneau’s Chablis Montée de Tonnerre is one of the most coveted wines in the world. And with good reason. The Raveneaus have established an enviable track record for consistent quality and longevity through three generations of winemaking. A recent vertical tasting back to 1985 showed why this premier cru Chablis is so highly regarded.
Drink Your Idols: Roumier’s Musigny 1976-2008
France: Burgundy, Verticals & Retrospectives, featured
, Aug 2019
They say you should never meet your “heroes”. So when I was invited to a once-in-a-lifetime vertical of Christophe Roumier’s Musigny, did these fabled bottles live up to expectations?
The 2009 Napa Valley Cabernets at Age 10
Verticals & Retrospectives, featured, United States: California
, Jul 2019
The 2009 Napa Valley Cabernets, beautifully balanced wines from a mild growing season without weather extremes, are aging slowly and gracefully, with the better examples still short of their peaks, proving once again how well the best Napa Valley Cabernets can develop with time in bottle.