The Vinous 2018 Holiday Gift Guide
Beyond Wine, FAQ
, Dec 2018
Looking for that perfect gift for the wine lover in your life? We’ve got you covered with a selection of gifts ranging from new books, glasses, maps and much more.
Vinous Table: La Ciau del Tornavento, Treiso, Italy
Vinous Table, Piedmont, Italy, Italy: Piedmont
, Dec 2018
One of Italy’s best and most beautiful restaurants, La Ciau del Tornavento offers memorable views of the vineyards and one of the country’s “top ten” wine cellars, making it a must-visit, especially in the off-season.
Beyond Wine Album Review of Make My Bed EP - King Princess
Beyond Wine
, Dec 2018
Ladies and gentlemen and all those in between, I present a bona fide classic song: “1950” by King Princess. Its centerpiece is an effortlessly simple melody that you cannot believe has not been written before, one that immediately lodges itself in your brain.
The Wines of Alto Adige
Italy: North, featured, Italy
, Dec 2018
Alto Adige arguably makes Italy’s best white wines. Climate change and more judicious use of oak have also improved the red wines, especially the delicious one-two punch delivered by the Schiava varieties and Lagrein. The odd bottle of outstanding Pinot Nero and Cabernet Sauvignon rounds out a truly noteworthy offering of world-class wines.
Cellar Favorite: 1970 Château de Fieuzal Rouge
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Bordeaux
, Dec 2018
Old bottles of Graves have been regrettably few and far between. When I do encounter mature Graves from the 1940s and the 1970s, they always remind me how well they age, how their qualities are overlooked vis-à-vis other Bordeaux appellations.
Champagne – The Season’s New Releases
France: Champagne, featured
, Nov 2018
I came away from my annual fall Champagne tastings absolutely exhilarated by the quality of the wines. As it turns out, I reviewed most of the new releases from the grandes marques in our Summer Preview, so this article focuses heavily on grower Champagnes. That is merely a coincidence, or maybe in the end, it isn’t. As I scan through the domaines covered in this article I can’t help but pause to think about how much Champagne has changed in just the last decade or so.
Vinous Table: JY’s, Colmar, France
France, France: Alsace, Vinous Table
, Nov 2018
JY’s is without a doubt one of Alsace’s three best restaurants, offering a combination of precise, complex dishes, a good wine list, professional service and a romantic, refined location along the river Lauch in Colmar’s pretty Little Venice district.
New Zealand: Just For Starters
New Zealand, featured
, Nov 2018
Upon joining Vinous, New Zealand came back into my purview for the first time since 2010. Its location on the opposite side of the world meant that finding time to visit this year was not quite as easy as nipping down to Bordeaux or Burgundy on the daily easyJet. This interim report covers more than 400 new releases from a wide range of estates.
Cellar Favorite: 1990 Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, Piedmont, Italy: Piedmont
, Nov 2018
The 1990 Barbaresco Costa Russi brings back a rush of memories from a tasting that feels like it happened just yesterday. Time has been exceedingly kind to the 1990.
Vacqueyras 2016 and 2015: Value and Consistency
France: Rhône & Beaujolais, featured
, Nov 2018
Vacqueyras enjoyed virtually flawless growing seasons in 2016 and 2015 and its producers responded by making wines of consistently high quality. While prices have been steadily rising for current releases from neighboring Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas, pricing for Vacqueyras wines has mostly been holding steady, which is terrific news for wine lovers.