Mocha, espresso, rosemary and tobacco lead to a rich, voluptuous core of fruit in the 2011 OV. Firm tannins give the wine more than enough backbone to allow it to drink well for a number of years after release. Layers of spice-infused... Read More
Coming on the heels of the scorching hot 2017, this vintage started off with lots of rain in April and May that required preventative measures against fungal disease. Splendid heat and sunshine marked the summer months, but the... Read More
More supple, soft and approachable, the 2012 Vin de France l'O de la Vie comes from the younger vines on the estate and is mostly Syrah. Blackberry, violets and black pepper define this classic, delicious and easy-drinking... Read More
Equal parts Grenache, Carignan, and Syrah, the 2016 IGP Cotes du Brian La 50/50 aged only in stainless steel. It's fresh and fruity, boasting bouncy berry fruit. It's medium to full-bodied, with a tart finish and a silky... Read More
The 212 Minervois La Ciaude, which is mostly old-vine Carignan with smaller parts Syrah and Grenache, also has serious minerality to go with tangy black cherry, black fruits, leather and violet aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied,... Read More
The 2011 Minervois Les Carretals is more up-front and supple than the 2012 and reveals perfumed, complex notes of purple fruits, liquid violets, licorice, and leather. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and focused, with impressive... Read More
My favorite of the 2012s, the 2012 Minervois Les Carretals (named after the vineyard where it comes from) offers deep, layered aromas and flavors of cassis and crunchy dark fruits, licorice, vanilla bean and searing minerality.... Read More
Primarily Carignan planted in 1909, the 2016 Minervois Les Carretals aged entirely in barrel. Boasting classy aromas of crushed stone, vanilla and baking spices, it is medium to full-bodied on the palate and finishes crisp and... Read More
Marcel Guigal was shrewd enough to recognize the greatness of this vintage and bought heavily from all his sources in Chateauneuf du Pape, resulting in one of the finest Chateauneufs this firm has produced. Already delicious,... Read More