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The Chilean Coast: Where the Pacific Shapes Vibrant Reds and Whites
Chile, featured
, Jul 2024
A little-known strip of Chile is producing a rich seam of distinctive, characterful reds and whites, with Cabernet Sauvignon conspicuously absent. This report focuses on Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cinsault, País and more from the Chilean coastline, where a range of delicious wines are ready to be discovered.
The Bewildering 2024 Season in Argentina
Argentina, featured
, Jun 2024
The 2024 vintage, despite being one of the warmer ones, presents wines with distinct fruit flavors, vibrant colors and juicy freshness in its reds. While the exact reasons remain unclear, both barrel samples and winemaker reports suggest this trend. This report explores hypotheses to understand the uniqueness of the 2024 vintage.
2021 and 2022 Set the Tone for the Classic Reds of Mendoza
Argentina, featured
, May 2024
The northern oasis of Mendoza is a large and diverse area that covers almost one-third of Argentina's wine production. However, in the foothills, known as the Primera Zona, the cool 2021 and 2022 vintages allowed for delicate balance and complexity in the wines. This report is a journey through the region and its styles, with some bottles brimming with the magic that made Malbec famous.
Chile: El Niño Brought a Slow-Motion Season with a Long Harvest Window
Chile, featured
, May 2024
Two thousand twenty-four was characterized by the El Niño phenomenon, resulting in a cool spring and a summer with erratic veraison. By March, when the harvest window opened, the grapes had barely developed any sugars. Biding your time and choosing the perfect moment were the key factors in a year with less structure and more delicate fruit flavors.
The Many Riojas of Rioja: A Tale of Forking Paths
Spain, featured
, Apr 2024
Rioja finds itself at a crossroads. Like many a great story, Rioja is being challenged by small and mid-size producers over its identity. A dynamic and fascinating scenario is unfolding as a result, reflected in the almost 800 bottles that make up this report. Certain producers' enthusiasm and stylistic exploration are inspiring amidst a general decline in sales, defining a wine landscape as diverse as it is attractive. Rioja is currently an adventure of contrasts and discoveries.
Argentina: Where Extremes Offer Up Unexpected Surprises
Argentina, featured
, Feb 2024
Wine consumers often mistakenly conflate Mendoza with Argentina—not an unreasonable error given that 70% of the country’s grapes grow in the province. But, when one tilts their glass toward the country’s other regions, perceptions can often be altered. Argentina’s varied whites and reds reflect the essence of a vast range of quite different landscapes. This report takes us on a journey through them.
The Whites of Rueda Get Serious
Spain, featured
, Feb 2024
A region famous for simple, fruity whites that are ideal for casual summer drinking, Rueda is increasingly producing wines of greater depth and sophistication. The effort put in by producers is beginning to pay off, although it is still early days. In this report, I review some of the bottlings that offer a glimpse into that promising future.
Reds From Toro: Old Vines and New Knowhow
Spain, featured
, Dec 2023
Renowned for producing wines with good structure and energy since medieval times, Toro is a small but proud DO located in Castilla y León that focuses mainly on reds. With vines that date back to pre-phylloxera times and soils that temper the region’s sunny climate, several of the labels found in Toro offer breathtaking energy and flavor.
Ribera del Duero: A Shifting Frontier for Spanish Wine
Spain, featured
, Nov 2023
Forty years after its official inception, the Ribera del Duero DO is experiencing a period of change, with a wide range of new wines and styles that run the gamut from traditional to strikingly forward-thinking. Whether its producers are focused on expressing the identity of a region or looking to push the boundaries of what can be done with premium red wines in the higher areas of Castilla y León, the DO offers a diverse range of reds along with a handful of whites whose character is defining the area’s transition from the past into the present.
The Uco Valley: Where Diverse Terroirs Work Their Magic
Argentina, featured
, Sep 2023
The mountainous region in the center of the province of Mendoza has enjoyed a boom in investment and vineyard expansion in recent decades. It is now the home of some of the country’s most accomplished efforts to make wines with an authentic sense of place. Thanks to in-depth studies of local terroirs and an increasingly diverse range, the Uco Valley produces some of Argentina's most interesting wines.