2015 Catena Zapata ‘Catena Alta’ Historic Rows Malbec (Mendoza): All the haters who like to complain about Malbec being a “one note” grape can go suck it. $55 A- 2017 Pewsey Vale Dry Riesling (Eden Valley): Oh, how I have missed your electric touch! $20 B+ 2016 Yangarra Estate Roussanne (McLaren Vale): Rich and complex,…
Out Of Time In Piedmont (Scarpa Recent Releases)
Despite the fact that I have content to write up that spans more than a year of travel (including my takes on the wine scene in Israel, the southern Rhone, and Romagna), the thing that’s been rattling around in my brain and not letting the hell go stems from a much more recent excursion, when…
Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For February 4, 2019
2016 Berta Paolo 1842 “175 Vendemmie” (Barbera d’Asti Superiore): Classically trained, and laying down the Old School style funk, resplendent in cloves & cedar. $NA B+ 2016 Franco Roero “Sichei” (Barbera d’Asti Superiore): You’ll feel the breadth, herbs, and spices, and just about every single individual percent of its powerful 16% abv. $NA B+ 2014…
“Not California” (Exploring Idaho Wine Country)
Among Idaho’s state slogans and motto (which have included Esto perpetua, “Great Potatoes,” “What America Was,” and “Tasty Destinations,”) was the phrase “Not California.” There’s a slight air of desperation and defiance in defining your identity in the negative; though in the case of Idaho’s budding wine production scene, it’s not entirely inappropriate: despite 150+…