Chianti Classico: More Than Meets The Eye
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Sep 2020
For the first time in many, many years I was not able to make my summer trip to Tuscany to taste the wines of Chianti Classico. That’s 2020 for you. But you know what? There is something to be said for the objectivity gained by tasting the wines far away from those stunning hillside vineyards, removed from the charming towns, without any of that amazing food. Would the wines be as impressive as I have long thought?
Cellar Favorite: 1978 & 1989 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Collina Rionda
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Sep 2020
Bruno Giacosa is no longer with us, but these Barolos from his prime remain riveting testaments to an extraordinary legacy.
Santa Cruz Mountains: Wines of Breathtaking Pedigree
United States: California, featured
, Sep 2020
I tasted more truly exceptional wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains this year than at any time over the past decade. The 2018 Pinots are utterly breathtaking, while the 2017 and 2016 Bordeaux reds and 2016 Rhônes aren’t too far behind. I have long believed that the Santa Cruz Mountains is one of the world's preeminent regions for fine whites and reds that speak of place. These new releases certainly make a statement.
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2017 Domaine Leroy: Elegance, Finesse & Grace
France: Burgundy, featured
, Sep 2020
Burgundy is where I truly learned to taste wine. It is the best school. Essentially one variety for white, one for red and that’s it. The rest is all about place, about trying to understand how the attributes of a site are expressed in what is in the glass. Nowhere is that more true than at Domaine Leroy, where everything that Burgundy represents, its purest essence, is dialed up all the way.
Cellar Favorite: 2010 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault Perrières 1er Cru
France: Burgundy, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Aug 2020
Many of my most unforgettable moments in wine involve tasting fine, aged white Burgundy. There is just nothing like the thrill a perfectly stored bottle can deliver after 20, 30 or more years.
Champagne: 2020 New Releases
France: Champagne, featured
, Aug 2020
For the first time in a dozen years, this past spring I was unable to travel to Champagne to taste the new vintage and survey the latest releases. Given the extraordinary challenges this year of both traveling and collecting hundreds of samples in a timely fashion, we will be publishing Champagne reviews within this article in a continuous stream over coming weeks and months, as I taste the wines. The best way to stay up to date on additions is to make sure you are receiving our emails and turn on notifications within the Vinous app.
Santa Barbara: An In-Depth Look at the 2018s
United States: California, featured
, Aug 2020
Readers will find a wealth of superb wines to explore in this year’s crop of new releases from Santa Barbara. A mix of established producers upping their games and younger winemakers building their reputations are at the heart of one of the most dynamic regions anywhere in the world. The 2018 harvest gave producers the raw materials to make stunning wines that capture the promise I sensed when I first started tasting the vintage from barrel last year, but quality is variable in some, so a little care is essential.
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The Vinous Mentorship for BIPOC Wine Professionals
featured
, Jul 2020
The last few weeks have been a time of deep introspection at Vinous. We’ve been shocked and saddened by recent events in our country. From the very beginning, we have strived for a culture of inclusion. But we can do more, and we will. Today, I am proud to announce the Vinous Mentorship for BIPOC Wine Professionals.
Cellar Favorite: Soldera: A Look at the 2013 & 2014
Italy: Tuscany, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Jul 2020
It is hard to believe Gianfranco Soldera is no longer with us, as he was such a force of nature. Long coveted by those in the know, Soldera’s wines remain incredibly singular expressions of Sangiovese and Montalcino. Over the years I have been fortunate to visit the estate many times and taste numerous wines from cask including the 2013 and 2014 reviewed here from bottle.
Vinous Table: CORE by Clare Smyth, London, United Kingdom
Vinous Table, United Kingdom
, Jul 2020
In our first Vinous Table since lockdown, I revisit a fabulous dinner at CORE by Clare Smyth in London.