Cellar Favorite: 1968 Cappellano Barolo
Italy: Piedmont, Cellar Favorites
, Nov 2019
I was very fortunate to run into this exquisite bottle of Cappellano’s 1968 Barolo recently. As it turns out, I had just visited the estate that very morning, so I was in a Cappellano state of mind.
Cellar Favorite: 1970 La Tour Haut-Brion
France: Bordeaux, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Nov 2019
I admit I have a penchant for deceased châteaux, perhaps none more so than La Tour Haut-Brion since it provided such a bevy of memorable bottles. Its history is entwined with that of La Mission Haut-Brion.
Cellar Favorite: 1994 Domaine Ponsot Morey-Saint-Denis Clos des Monts Luisants Blanc 1er Cru
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Burgundy
, Nov 2019
It is a pity that Aligoté must reside in the shadow of Chardonnay. Too often it is dismissed, not only by consumers, but winemakers themselves since many “forget” to show me their Bourgogne Aligoté during cellar visits. Thankfully in recent years there has been a reappraisal of Aligoté spearheaded by Marsannay-based Sylvain Pataille and the grape is finally receiving due respect.
Cellar Favorite: 1990 Château Latour
France: Bordeaux, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Nov 2019
Tasting the 1990 Latour is like running into a long-lost friend. Still dark, deep and spectacularly flamboyant, the 1990 possesses remarkable textural richness from the very first taste.
Cellar Favorite: 1994 Kanonkop Wine Estate Paul Sauer
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, South Africa
, Oct 2019
Kanonkop’s “Paul Sauer” constantly shows that world-class Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blends are well within grasp and, moreover, proves how supremely well they age.
Cellar Favorite: 1975 Egon Müller Riesling Scharzhofberger Trockenbeerenauslese
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, germany: Mosel
, Oct 2019
Though the bottle is still on the other side of the room on its way to the dining table, I instantly register that it is a) exceedingly rare and extraordinarily expensive and b) already open for serving. The thought that goes through my head is: “Is that really what I think it is?”
Cellar Favorite: 1971 Domaine Robert Arnoux Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots 1er Cru
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Burgundy
, Oct 2019
I had never tasted a bottle from the era of Charles’s grandfather, Robert Arnoux, whose passing in 1995 led to his son-in-law taking over. But this bottle revealed a connection between Robert Arnoux and Charles Lachaux’s approach to winemaking.
Cellar Favorite: Marqués de Riscal Gran Reserva 1952-2015
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, Spain
, Oct 2019
It was a pleasure to take a break during a period of alternating between Bordeaux and Burgundy and attend a tasting of one of my favorite Rioja producers: Marqués de Riscal.
Cellar Favorites: 1970 Giacomo Conterno Barolo & Barolo Riserva Monfortino
Italy: Piedmont, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, Piedmont
, Sep 2019
Giacomo Conterno’s 1970 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is one of my very favorite wines. When Il Professore told me he might bring a bottle to dinner, I didn’t think he actually would, much less show up with a bottle of the 1970 Barolo also in tow. But, so he did!
Cellar Favorite: 1985 Dunn Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, United States: California
, Sep 2019
This extraordinary bottle of Randy Dunn’s 1985 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain brought back so many memories. Over the years, one of the ways I have learned about wine is doing a full-immersion of sorts with certain benchmark producers where I focus on a single estate for a few months or years, really trying to understand the essence of each property.