Cellar Favorite: 1982 Kistler California Cabernet Sauvignon Veeder Hills Vineyard
United States: California, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, March 2019
I was absolutely floored by Steve Kistler’s 1982 Cabernet Sauvignon Veeder Hills Vineyard, a wine I had never come across before.
Cellar Favorite: 1869, 1879 & 1893 d’Yquem
France: Bordeaux, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, March 2019
It was not until the 1930s that tastes began shifting away from sweet wines to dry reds, though d’Yquem will never relinquish its status as Bordeaux’s best sweet wine, a reputation consecrated by the 1855 classification as its sole Premier Cru Supérieur.
Cellar Favorite: 1971 Egon Müller Scharzhof Scharzhofberger Riesling Beerenauslese
germany: Mosel, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Feb 2019
I have not drunk many 1971 Rieslings, but whenever the occasion does arise, I tend to be blown away, which is what happened when Egon Müller IV poured a birth-year gem in Beaune last November.
Cellar Favorite: 1986 Ravenswood Pickberry Vineyard
United States: California, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Feb 2019
Joel Peterson’s Ravenswood wines have a track record of aging brilliantly, so I was intrigued to check in on this 30+ year-old Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc-based blend.
Cellar Favorites: 1953 & 1975 l’Angélus
France: Bordeaux, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Feb 2019
Sometimes these forgotten and frequently traduced periods are not as fallow as you might presume, especially in this Manichean age where we prefer to see things in black and white.
Cellar Favorite: 1971 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Burgundy
, Feb 2019
From whatever perspective you examine this Clos de la Roche, at least on the basis of this solitary encounter, I can only conclude that it is a perfect wine.
Cellar Favorite: 2005 Domaine Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Nuits Saint-Georges Clos de la Maréchale 1er Cru
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Burgundy
, Jan 2019
There aren’t too many values left in Burgundy. Frédéric Mugnier’s Nuits Saint-Georges Clos de la Maréchale 1er Cru is one of them. Let’s be clear, Clos de la Maréchale is not an inexpensive wine by any means, but it does offer tremendous character and plenty of Mugnier finesse, especially in the best vintages.
Cellar Favorite: 2005 Larcis Ducasse
France: Bordeaux, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Jan 2019
Larcis Ducasse remains one of the truly great, reasonably priced wines of Bordeaux. I was once again reminded of that when I tasted the 2005 recently. Almost shockingly young, tannic and tightly wound for a wine of its age, the 2005 is positively stellar.
Cellar Favorite: 2010 Domaine Armand Rousseau Bourgogne Blanc
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Burgundy
, Jan 2019
I am at Domaine Rousseau and ask Cyrielle Rousseau about the mysterious Bourgogne Blanc. She confirms that her family produced it for a number of years from a parcel in Gevrey-Chambertin, solely for personal consumption or to give to friends and associates. They no longer make it.
Cellar Favorites: Coutet Cuvée Madame
France: Bordeaux, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Jan 2019
An unexpected message pops up on my Smartphone. It is from Aline Baly, daughter of co-proprietor Dominique Baly, enquiring whether I can meet for an impromptu tasting of eight vintages of Coutet’s Cuvée Madame. The odds are slim. I am flying back to Blighty at some ungodly hour the following morning and I am midway through a marathon tasting. Then again, this is not just any Sauternes, but an elusive and fascinating bottling.