News & Features
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What We're Drinking Now
Gran Sasso Pecorino Terre di Chiete 2010
Posted: July 19, 2011 By Kim Marcus
Blogs
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Stirring the Lees with James Molesworth
Continuing up Route 414 to Hector Wine Company and Standing Stone before tasting the 2010 reds and whites at Red Newt
Posted: July 13, 2011 By James Molesworth
With the Stonecat Café next door to Bloomer Creek winery, it was easy to decide on my lunch spot on my second day of visits in the Finger Lakes. It remains one of the best dining spots around, with an eclectic menu (orange fennel sausage) that relies heavily on locally sourced ingredients. After lunch, I continued up Route 414, popping my head in at the new Hector Wine Company and Standing Stone, and then it was off to Red Newt Cellars to taste the 2010 reds and whites followed by dinner at Red Newt Bistro.
Blogs
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Stirring the Lees with James Molesworth
Up Seneca Lake's eastern shore to a winery focused on reds, and another where experimental winemaking is embraced
Posted: July 11, 2011 By James Molesworth
In most wine regions, the older generation is typically the one holding onto tradition while the younger generation employs new ideas or techniques. In the Finger Lakes, though, the older generation is just as apt to be the one pushing as the younger one—since the older generation is basically the first one to break from the old Finger Lakes model of growing large quantities of hybrids and natives, rather than cutting yields and growing vinifera. I visited two such wineries on the morning of my second day here, Damiani and Bloomer Creek.
June 30, 2011 Issue
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Tasting Reports
On the heels of the high quality 2009 vintage, France’s premier wine region offers powerful, structured reds in 2010
Posted: June 30, 2011 By James Molesworth
News & Features
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News
Châteaus Latour, Haut-Brion, Lafite, Mouton and Margaux release 2010 futures; top second-growths lower prices
Posted: June 28, 2011 By James Molesworth
Blogs
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Stirring the Lees with James Molesworth
Châteaus Margaux, Cos-d’Estournel and L’Evangile release prices on their 2010s
Posted: June 27, 2011 By James Molesworth
Today was a busy day in Bordeaux, as several big-name châteaus finally released their 2010 futures prices, including Châteaus Margaux (96-99 points from my 2010 Bordeaux Barrel Tasting), Cos-d'Estournel (96-99) and L'Evangile (94-97).
Blogs
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James Laube's Wine Flights
Bordeaux's "super cinquième" is selling out in minutes despite announcing its highest price ever for the 2010 vintage
Posted: June 10, 2011 By James Laube
Good for Pontet-Canet. They're proving Cinderella stories can come true.
This has long been one of my favorite Bordeauxs. It's a fifth-growth Pauillac that can perform like a first-growth, often offering pure, rich Cabernet fruit that's deeply concentrated. It's one of those wines I look for when dining out and want to drink a great bottle of Bordeaux.
Due to the Bordeaux hierarchy, it has never commanded prices anywhere near those of the first-growths, even as critics increasingly recognize its depth of character. Looking at James Molesworth's barrel reviews of 2010, Château Pontet-Canet is right there with Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Latour, all with projected ratings of 96-99 points.
This week, Pontet-Canet's futures price for its 2010 came out; it's being offered to consumers at a little under $200 a bottle, the highest price its ever asked, and it's still flying out the door.
Blogs
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Stirring the Lees with James Molesworth
Châteaus Pontet-Canet and Gruaud-Larose are the first big names to announce their 2010 en primeur prices
Posted: June 9, 2011 By James Molesworth
With VinExpo approaching—where the business side of the wine world meets before knocking off for summer vacation—what had been a rather sleepy en primeur campaign for the potentially tremendous 2010 vintage suddenly took on new life this week with the release of prices from a few top estates.
Both Châteaus Pontet-Canet (2010 barrel tasting score: 96-99 points) and Gruaud-Larose (93-96) released their 2010 pricing in what should spark many of their colleagues to follow suit. Château Pontet-Canet released its first tranche at 100 euros, a price owner Alfred Tesseron said he derived from the average of three tranches for his 2009, plus 8.3 percent. Château Gruaud-Larose also opened with its pricing and is now being offering at 61 euros by the trade, up from 50 euros for the 2009. The futures prices to U.S. consumers will increase as the wine moves through the distribution chain, with the exchange rate also playing a big role.
News & Features
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News
A first look at vintage quality in South Africa, with eyewitness reports from growers and winemakers
Posted: June 3, 2011
News & Features
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News
A first look at vintage quality in Argentina and Chile, with eyewitness reports from growers and winemakers
Posted: June 2, 2011
News & Features
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News
A first look at vintage quality in Australia and New Zealand, with eyewitness reports from growers and winemakers
Posted: June 1, 2011
News & Features
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What We're Drinking Now
Courtney Benham Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2010 and Martin Ray Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2009
Posted: May 13, 2011 By Kim Marcus
Blogs
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Stirring the Lees with James Molesworth
Assessing the wines of the newest vintages after my week of recent visits
Posted: May 10, 2011 By James Molesworth
After tasting through the 2009s and 2010s at numerous domains during my recent trip through the Northern Rhône Valley, lovers of these wines will have a lot to choose from. Both are excellent years, though markedly different in style. And both are potentially classic. Here are my notes.
Blogs
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Stirring the Lees with James Molesworth
Back to the flat part for two more stops before heading home
Posted: May 6, 2011 By James Molesworth
On my eighth and last day in France's Northern Rhône Valley, I stopped in the heart of the Crozes-Hermitage at two of the area’s most prominent family-run estates, Alain Graillot / Equis and Gilles Robin. Here are my notes on their most recent bottlings.
Blogs
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Stirring the Lees with James Molesworth
Jean-Louis Chave defends Hermitage while rebuilding St.-Joseph
Posted: May 4, 2011 By James Molesworth
On my eighth day in France's Northern Rhône Valley, I began at one of Hermitage's top domaines. Jean-Louis Chave carries the weight of his family’s generations working the famed hill of Hermitage. He sees his role as caretaker, protector. For Chave, Hermitage is already defined—there is nothing he can do to improve or change it. He can only make sure it expresses itself in his wine, in the best way possible, with each ensuing vintage.
But across the river, in the St.-Joseph appellation, Chave is building, changing, evolving. Following are my notes on his wines from the 2009 and 2010 vintage.
Blogs
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Stirring the Lees with James Molesworth
From Hermitage to St.-Joseph, Condrieu and Côte-Rôtie, the domaine's most recent wines may be its best ever
Posted: May 2, 2011 By James Molesworth
This continues my notes on tastings and visits during Day 7 of my current trip through the Northern Rhône. After visiting Alain Voge, Pierre-Henri Morel and Ferraton Père & Fils, I headed to M. Chapoutier to taste the most recent vintages. Here are my notes.
Blogs
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Stirring the Lees with James Molesworth
Tasting the newest reds and whites at Alain Voge, Pierre-Henri Morel and Ferraton Père & Fils
Posted: April 29, 2011 By James Molesworth
On my seventh day in the Rhône Valley I visited Alain Voge, Pierre-Henri Morel and Ferraton Père & Fils to taste the recent wines from Cornas, St.-Joseph, Hermitage and beyond. Below are my notes.
Blogs
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Stirring the Lees with James Molesworth
On my sixth day here, I headed to one of Cornas' most-established domaines and one of the region's newest small négociants
Posted: April 27, 2011 By James Molesworth
On my sixth day in the Rhône Valley I visited three wineries. Afterat visiting E. Guigal, I headed to Jean-Luc Colombo and Nicolas Perrin. Below are my notes.
Blogs
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Stirring the Lees with James Molesworth
Tasting the recent vintages of Côte-Rôtie, St.-Joseph, Châteauneuf and more with Marcel and Philippe Guigal
Posted: April 25, 2011 By James Molesworth
On my sixth day in the Rhône Valley I visited three wineries. I started at the Côte-Rôtie's iconic E. Guigal to taste not just the recent Côte-Rôtie Syrahs but also St.-Josephs, the Châteauneuf and more with Marcel and Philippe Guigal. Here are my notes.
News & Features
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Tasting Highlights
In time for summer, new reviews of crisp, flavorful pink wines
Posted: April 25, 2011 By Tim Fish
