Around the world, extreme weather is throwing grape harvests off of their A-game. Harvest conditions can significantly impact vintage quality, price, and availability. So what can we expect next year, when 2017 wines start hitting shelves and menus? Here’s a quick cheat sheet by region. California – Napa & Sonoma Early verdict: 2017 Napa and …
Bordeaux lovers may want to stock up on 2015 and 2016 Bordeaux while supplies remain plentiful — 2017 isn’t shaping up too well. Via multiple news sources including Business Insider, frost has caused the Bordeaux region to lose an estimated 50 percent of its buds. For us wine drinkers, that will equate to approximately 350 …
2017 Bordeaux Harvest Will be 50% Smaller Due to Frost Read More »
First, record rains and humidity. Then, wildfires. The past year hasn’t been easy for the Chilean wine industry. And via Bloomberg News, this will drive price increases across the board for Chilean wines. The Chilean agricultural ministry estimated a 10% smaller harvest in 2017 compared to 2016. This smaller harvest is pushing grape prices up …
The RoséWatch continues! As we mentioned last month, everyone is hopping on the rosé train, with no slowdown in sight. Here are a few of the latest rosés of note: Bota Box Dry Rosé: For the eco-minded consumer. Bota Boxes are 100% recyclable and use BPA-free plastic. This is your typical refreshing, clean rosé with strawberry notes. Each …
RoséWatch: New Rosé from Bota Box, Chloe Wines, and More Read More »
The 2014 vintage of Château Angélus is out — and via DrinksBusiness, it is one of the first Bordeaux to be marked with RFID underneath its label. This storied Bordeaux is just one of four Premier Grand Cru Classé A wineries in St. Émilion, the highest classification possible. While counterfeiting is not a major issue …
For most, Alsace wine equates to dry whites like Riesling and Gewurtztraminer. But due to global warming, Alsace may also soon be known for pinot noir. Via the Chicago Tribune, record warmth has enabled recent vintages of Alsace pinot noir to achieve fuller ripeness, flavor, and color than ever before. Winemakers are starting to prioritize pinot …
Beaujolais haters, take notice: 2015 might just be the vintage to turn you around. For the longest time, words like “bubble gum”, “pear drop”, and even “nail varnish” were used to describe Beaujolais. But no more: new descriptors for the 2015 vintage include “deep”, “dense”, and “balanced” — a ringing endorsement from James Suckling. According …
For those who like to discover new wines before they get big — Partage Wine Company might be your next find. Usually, we entrust our winemaking to oenology experts or viticulturists. But why not also entrust winemaking to someone who has the incredibly refined palate to judge those wines? Mark Bright, who partnered with Joshua …
New: Partage Wine Company from Former Saison Sommelier Read More »
Amphora wine pioneer Josko Gravner has released his latest vintages, and today they are available via Italian Wine Merchants. The 2008 Breg Anforae and 2008 Ribolla Gialla Anfora are amber wines that spent at least five months in large clay pots before being transferred to wooden barrels for another six years. The 2006 Pinot Grigio Riserva …
Gravner’s Newest Releases of Amphora Wines are Out Read More »
Chiles Valley is about to get a little more attention. This higher altitude subregion of Napa Valley is home to Maxville Lake Wines, which launched today as the newest addition to the Terlato portfolio (via PR Newswire). Despite its name, Chiles Valley is actually a higher altitude sub appellation of Napa. The Maxville vineyards sit …
New Wine Alert: Terlato to Launch Maxville Lake Wines Read More »
