2016 Quinta do Crasto Vinhas Velhas – Old Vines Reserva (Douro): A spicy, sultry delight that is totally comfortable showing off its wild side. $42 A- 2018 Carmim ‘Monsaraz’ Reserva (Alentejo): Big & deep, but also tart & focused; dusty tannin lovers, rejoice! $30 A- 2020 Domaine Bousquet Gaia Pinot Noir Rosé (Tupungato): Heft and…
Wine In the Time of Coronavirus, Part 43: Run to the Hills (a Collio Deep Dive)
When you’re talking about Italy’s Collio region, you’re talking about hills. And I mean, meta-levels of hills. That point was emphasized more than a few (dozen) times during my recent Zoom+samples tasting organized by the Consorzio Tutela Vini Collio, during which wine writer Matteo Bellotto gave us the lay of the land (more or less…
Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up for June 14, 2021
NV Cave de Die Jaillance Cuvee Imperiale Tradition (Clairette de Die): A spirited game of tropical fruits, blossoms, and sweet citrus kisses. $17 B NV Marsuret San Boldo Brut (Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore): Refreshing, delicious, and cutting to the chase with irresistible fruitiness. $18 B 2018 Sensi ‘VegantE’ Biologico (Chianti Superiore): Bright enough to liven up…
Wine In the Time of Coronavirus, Part 42: Fighting the “Viticulture of Death” (Avignonesi Recent Releases)
Virginie Saverys is fighting against what she calls the “viticulture of death.” Born in Ghent, Belgium, Saverys graduated in law from the University of Paris, and moved to Tuscany in 2007. After taking the helm at Avignonesi two years later, she was, as she told me during a recent Zoom tasting of her wines, “a…