2012 Oso Libre ‘Osezno’ Zinfandel (Paso Robles): Ripe, big, and stewed, but there’s life left in the old girl yet! $40 B+ 2016 Dutton-Goldfield Dutton Ranch Emerald Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir (Green Valley): Putting on a veritable spice-and-herbs clinic; and it’s quite the show. $62 A 2018 Mas de la Dame ‘La Gourmande’ Rose (Les…
On The Retirement Of Robert Parker
Robert M. Parker, Jr. – arguably the world’s most famous, but unarguably its most influential, wine critic – is hangin’ up the spurs. Last week, The Wine Advocate announced that Parker, who had steadily been down-shifting his wine review duties over the better course of a decade, is retiring from the publication. What’s poised to…
Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For May 20, 2019
2017 Domaine Elodie Balme Côtes du Rhône (Rhône): A bit funky, a lot peppery, and even more fruity, friendly, and crowd-pleasing. $NA B+ 2016 Domaine Combe Juliere (Rasteau): Sexy, grippy, and with the kind of density that requires advanced physics calculations. $30 B+ 2016 Domaine du Trapadis ‘Les Adrés’ (Rasteau): Red fruits and spices, tied…
Height Matters (Exceptional Gigondas)
Smack up against the Dentelles de Montmirail mountain range sits Gigondas, a former ancient Roman soldier retirement home area and Southern Rhône cru that, technically, contains more woodlands than vineyards. And that’s after a killer frost in the 1960s wiped out a good portion of olive tree plantings, ushering in a shift towards more vine…