Orchard Fresh

• September 2014

  In a world where extremes are becoming the paradigms for perfection its a little surprising that one doesn’t hear much of the wines of Saxony. Strike that. One doesn’t hear anything about these wines. And that is not surprising because the production is tiny and the wines almost all consumed locally. But you should be hearing about these wines, ... Read More

  From the article Wines You'll Probably never Try

  
  

• August 2014

  I’ve been through this so many times before that it becomes rote. The differences between Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio. Well, there really aren’t any, when we are referring to the grapes. One is the name in French while the other is the name in Italian. When it comes to the wines though, there remains some distinction, though that is disappearing... Read More

  From the article Time to Ponder Pinot Gris(gio)

  
  

• August 2014

  I was recently in Oregon, for the annual International Pinot Noir Celebration, which is a splendid reason to visit Oregon’s wine country, though you don’t need such motivation to be wowed by what you’ll find in McMinnville and the surrounding areas. While tons of Pinot were in fact tasted and consumed during that long weekend, today I want to ta... Read More

  From the article Oregon's Unheralded Chardonnay

  
  

• August 2014

  There are so many great value wines right under our noses that we often miss them as we’re scouring the shelves for something new. Some inevitably are those ‘old’ wines that we just dismiss out of hand for various reasons. Take white Bordeaux for example, easy to dismiss, but what a mistake that might be. There are many lovely examples out there... Read More

  From the article Wow! Is That White Bordeaux?

  
  
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  August 2014

  Chateau Chauvet Sauvignon Blanc 2012

  Snoothrank:

  Fruity and fresh on the nose with attractive if simple aromas of chalky and slightly smoky earth over slightly waxy orchard fruits. Bright on entry and driven by good acidity. this is medium bodied for White Bordeaux with slightly pithy citrus and apple flavors layered over a base of chalky earth. Very much in line with the nose with added hint... Read More

  Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz

  
  

• August 2014

  I’m often asked what my favorite wines are. Just today I was asked what “Which wine would an expert like you suggest for a hot summer?” No fooling. I replied “I'd drink a white wine, something light and crisp like Assyrtiko from Santorini in Greece, Vinho Verde from Portugal, or Vernacchia or Orvieto from Italy.” All great choices and certainly ... Read More

  From the article Pinot Blanc, Pinot Bianco, Weissburgunder.

  
  

• July 2014

  Time to do a little cellar cleaning and what better way to start than with the odds and ends of Italian wines that have been building up in the basement. Sadly theres no real cohesive theme here, though a few varieties do appear more than once among the tasting notes that follow. There’s not even a pricing paradigm that’s  useful here, though mo... Read More

  From the article Discovering Italian Whites

  
  
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  July 2014

  Perticaia Trebbiano Spoletino 2012

  Snoothrank:

  Lots of subtle dried floral character, butchers wax and dried apple aromas greet the nose. This is rather complex if savory on the nose and quite attractive with hints of chalk and apple stem adding detail. Light bodied and fresh with an immediate wave of pear fruit on the attack, this settles into more subtle orchard fruits on the palate with a... Read More

  Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz

  
  
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  July 2014

  Tasca d'Almerita Tascante Buonora Carricante 2012

  Snoothrank:

  Tight and focused on the nose with some waxy notes and hints of apricot pits followed by effusive white flowers, hints of cotton candy, mint and ginseng. Rich in the mouth but at the same time this is rather clear on the palate, light and fresh, if not particularly bright. The fruit is beautifully detailed with notes of citrus, raw cashew, sugg... Read More

  Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz

  
  

• May 2014

  Chardonnay is a pain in my ass. Really it is. I’ve mentioned it before, and it’s worth mentioning again. When I lead staff tastings in retail the Chardonnay days were the only one we all feared. Why you ask? Too many wines smell of old tuna fish cans and taste even worse. OK, that is a slight exaggeration, but the truth is that there is more cra... Read More

  From the article Chardonnay under $15

  
  

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