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Buckle Your Seatbelts: 2019 Brunello and 2021 Rosso di Montalcino
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Dec 2023
We’ve been waiting two years for the next big vintage from Montalcino. I’m happy to say that 2019 delivers the goods. Moreover, the 2021 Rossos show that producers continue to hone their skills in warm and dry years.
Roederer Cristal Full Circle: 1993-2015
France: Champagne, Verticals & Retrospectives, featured
, Dec 2023
My visit to Roederer a few months ago, the first post-COVID-19, was memorable. After a survey of the 2022 vins clairs, longtime Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon presented a vertical of every Cristal he has made and released since assuming his current role in 1999. It was an incredibly instructive tasting that encompassed several themes over what has arguably been the most significant period in Roederer’s long history.
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.
Sardinia: Winemaking in the Extreme
Italy: Center & South, Italy, featured
, Nov 2023
Wild, rich, exotic, warming and seductive, the wines of Sardinia are unlike any others in Italy. While sometimes over-the-top, it's impossible to deny the sheer pleasure of exploring wines that showcase the unique personalities of the island's indigenous and not-so-indigenous varieties.
Champagne: 2023 New Releases
France: Champagne, featured
, Nov 2023
Champagne is one of the most dynamic regions in the world. Change and innovation continue at an increasingly fast pace. Many of the most coveted wines now command Burgundy-like premiums, a relatively recent phenomenon here. There’s a lot more going on beyond the obvious, though, and plenty to explore.
The Vinous 2023 Holiday Gift Guide
General Interest, featured
, Nov 2023
It’s that time of year again. With the holidays fast approaching, it's time to find that perfect gift for the wine lovers in your life. This year’s Vinous Holiday Gift Guide features a number of great ideas to make this holiday season one to remember.
Santa Lucia Highlands: Cool-Climate Excellence in 2021
featured, United States: California
, Nov 2023
The 2021s from the Santa Lucia Highlands build on a theme of excellence seen throughout California in what has turned out to be a largely impressive vintage in many appellations. Readers will find numerous compelling wines to explore, but many of the best wines are not always the usual suspects.
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.
White-on-White: Porseleinberg 2010-2020
Verticals & Retrospectives, featured, South Africa
, Nov 2023
Among South Africa’s clutch of world-class Syrah, Porseleinberg is regarded as the best. So what better than a vertical of every vintage to date tutored by winemaker Callie Louw?
Vacqueyras New Releases: Walking the Underdog
featured, France: Rhône & Beaujolais
, Nov 2023
In the sun-drenched vineyards of the Southern Rhône Valley, a captivating underdog story has been unfolding for years. Overshadowed by its prestigious neighbor, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the unassuming Vacqueyras appellation has been gaining attention for its affordable, high-quality wines. This report dives deep into the world of Vacqueyras, explores its characteristics, winemaking techniques and the latest four vintages, uncovering why this hidden gem deserves your attention.