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Otella Lugana 2008.  This is a brisk, elegant white wine from the southern shores of Lake Garda in the Veneto region in Italy.   Otella is a small family operation.  Their wine is immaculate — the palest yellow and scrubbed clean.  The nose is delicate and a little briny.  The taste has lemon which is a [...read more]

Dedalus Wine Class – Sunday September 21st Three Tomatoes Restaruant on Church Street from 3:00 – 4:30 $35 – seating limited to 20 – call or email the shop for tickets and information Before the movie Sideways was even a glimmer in the scriptwriter’s eye, Pinot Noir was a phenomenon. It was, and may still [...read more]

Wines for Thansgiving – Sunday October 26th Three Tomatoes Restaurant on Church Street $35 – Seating limited to 20 – call or email the shop for tickets and information. [...read more]

We’ve got four beautiful wines – the wines of love, we’re calling them – to taste with you and your Valentine. The tasting begins with a seductive and unusual Rosé Prosecco, winds its way through a coy little Barbara d’Alba, and a sexy Nero d’Avola, and finishes up with a gentle, sweet sparkling Brachetto (the [...read more]

Sunday, February 22nd from 3:00 – 4:30 $35/Person Grape growing in the Rhône is an arduous physical and spiritual sacrifice. Many of the Vineyards are carved into the treacherous mountains that descend dramatically, down towards the banks of the the Rhône river. Here, machine harvesting is impossible, and the small terraces that create a visual [...read more]

Sunday, January 11th from 3:00 – 4:30 $35/Person Grape growing in the Rhône is an arduous physical and spiritual sacrifice. Many of the Vineyards are carved into the treacherous mountains that descend dramatically, down towards the banks of the the Rhône river. Here, machine harvesting is impossible, and the small terraces that create a visual [...read more]

Grape growing in the Rhône is an arduous physical and spiritual sacrifice. Many of the Vineyards are carved into the treacherous mountains that descend dramatically, down towards the banks of the the Rhône river. Here, machine harvesting is impossible, and the small terraces that create a visual topography of the mountains are so narrow and [...read more]

Some wines are best praised as clean. No off tastes; no odd smells from the alley behind the house. The 2004 Paul Jeune Chateau Valcombe Signature from Côtes du Ventoux is a reliable expression of the Grenache-based red wines from Provence. We drank and gave away more than a case over the holidays. Everyone liked [...read more]

Domaine Maestracci E Prove 2004 is a big-hearted Corsican red wine which you can learn to love. I first tried a glass on its own without food and, to be honest, it was a bit much.  It is a frankly tannic wine, just this side of “rough.”   I felt a bit defeated.  A week later [...read more]

Spanish wines can have a marvelous ashy, mineral taste, especially at the finish.  It is like getting a little bit of the campfire on your hot dog.  It reminds you of where you are and where the wine comes from. 2006 Flor d’Englora Negre Jove is a worthy example.  This wine comes from Montsant, a [...read more]

Spain has 50 different wine regions with a variety of soil types and 7 distinct climates. The country currently has the greatest number of acres under vine in Europe. The variety of soils, climates, grape varietals, and altitudes allow Spain to grow a wide variety of grapes; with the most popular being Monastrell, Tempranillo, and [...read more]

Friday March 6th from 5:00 – 9:00 Australia makes its share of mass produced everyday drinking wines.   The country is the fourth largest exporter of wine and many of these wines you might see in gas stations and grocery stores.  Many producers get grapes shipped to them from long distances and make their wines as [...read more]

Sunday, March 15th from 3:00 – 4:30 $35/Person Tuscany is the birthplace of Chianti and Brunello, and home to the sangiovese grape and the Super Tuscan. The region’s wines are among the world’s most famous and, in some cases among the most controversial. What’s a Super Tuscan, why do folks trample each other for a [...read more]

Let’s look at three of the Piedmont reds: Barolo, Barbaresco, and Barbera d’Alba. Barolo and Barbaresco are stately wines which can reach a great age. When they are good, they smell like wet fir trees and taste like the forest floor. Barolo is the more sonorous and formidable; Barbaresco is ready to drink sooner and [...read more]

2007 Domaine Monpertuis Côtes du Rhône Vignoble de la Ramière is a Rhône red wine built along traditional lines.  It is largely Grenache (90 %) with the remainder Syrah.  In describing the contribution of Grenache to the Rhône wines, the great winemaker Joseph Ducos put it best in 1880:  “Giving liquor, heat, and the marrowy.” [...read more]

Every month you’ll get two bottles of wine picked by the Dedalus tasting panel.  For Club 25, we’re on the lookout for cool, distinct wines that will give you great bang for the buck.  We’re constantly tasting wines from up-and-coming regions, wines made from interesting grapes, and by interesting people – you’ll always have something [...read more]

Sometimes the things we overlook astound us when they actually come into focus. Saint-Péray is one of those things. The tiny appellation in France’s northern Rhône bears the burden of Napoleon’s first wine-drinking experience as a young cadet. Back then, the sparkling wines of the region rivaled those from Champagne both in terms of their [...read more]

Portugal: Ancient Revolutionary All of a sudden everybody’s talking about Portuguese wines – as though they’re the new kid on the block. Somehow, the delicious port-induced haze that has covered the country’s other wines, has started to lift. And, while we love her fortified wines, Portugal has much more to offer. You don’t have to [...read more]

Juan Rojo 2004 Toro is a well-made tempranillo from northern Spain.  Toro is a remote and very rural denominacion de origen close to the border with Portugal.  It is known for the great age of its vines which were left largely untouched by the phylloxera blight.  The soil, sandy and spare, proved to be inhospitable [...read more]

Sunday March 15th from 1:00 -2:00 at 1/2 Lounge. $15.00 / Person [...read more]

Sunday, June 14th from 3:00 – 4:30 $35/Person This event is Sold Out.  Call or email the shop to be added to our waiting list.  We will be releasing another class series soon. [...read more]

Sunday, May 3rd from 3:00 – 4:30 $35/Person Call or email the shop to reserve your seat. [...read more]

Since the time of the Cistercian monks and the Romans before them, Bierzo in the far northwest corner of Spain has produced wine from the mencia grape.  The wine is inky dark and idiosyncratic.  The grapes grow on steep hillsides in soil which is quartz and slate.  Many vines are a century old. Pétalos 2006 [...read more]

Sunday, April 19th from 3:00 – 4:30 $35/Person SOLD OUT!  Call or email the shop to be put on our waiting list. Piedmont is home to what may just be the most interesting wines on earth. Fashioned from Nebbiolo, the wines of Barolo and Barbaresco are stylish, mouthwatering wines, each different from the next. With [...read more]

Sunday April 19th from 1:00 -2:00 at 1/2 Lounge. $15.00 / Person Call or email the shop to reserve your seat. [...read more]

The northern Rhône produces the world’s finest expression of the syrah grape.  The famous districts include Côte-Rôtie (the “burnt or roasted hillside”), St.-Joseph, and Hermitage.  These wines will put a dent in an AIG bonus.  But there is good news: just west of the Rhône river, the region known as Collines Rhodaniennes also produces marvelous [...read more]

Argentina: Beyond Malbec Since Argentina first burst onto the international wine scene in the early 1990’s, her rich, intense Malbec bottlings have certainly become pillars of the country’s reputation for excellent wines (and huge value). But over the last two decades, Argentina has also quietly become one of the world’s most innovative wine producing countries. [...read more]

We’re tasting Italian wines, and not a one of them comes wrapped in a straw basket. We decided to stay away from the big attention hogs, and instead we focused a bit more on the cool little appellations and edgy bottlings popping up all over the country. Stop by the Friday, between 5 and 9, [...read more]

A few miles northeast of Florence, the Rufina district produces excellent Chianti.  Fattoria Selvapiana 2006 is a striking example.  Selvapiana is an ancient estate – once the summer resort of Florentine prelates.  In 1827, the Giuntini Selvapiana family bought the property.  They have stayed to make wine and olive oil for many generations. The 2006 [...read more]

Dedalus and the Green Room bring you the first dinner in a new, regular wine dinner series.  Sabor will be a a chic dinner featuring edgy, distinct wines from several of Spain’s hottest winemakers. Each course of Chef David Pratt’s food will have you dining at the edge of your seat. Each wine will bring [...read more]

Some nights only a clean Burgundy will do.  2006 Philippe Colin Bourgogne is a light pinot noir.  It is a beautiful color – light red but deep and real.  You can see your hand through the glass. The nose is bracing and positive.  The taste is acidic — very evergreen.  The tartness and balance are [...read more]

You’re going to love pouring these wines for your friends. Especially if you do any entertaining and extra-especially if you’re into grilling and relaxing outside. What could be better than having your own little selection of delicious, crowd pleasing wines? Well, knowing that everybody who gets a glass of them will be in awe of [...read more]

Les Terrasses 2005 Alvaro Palacios.  Priorat.  This is a fully shaped, large Spanish wine.  It tastes of tar and plum and soft leather.  The fruit taste is rich and encompassing.  The wine is smooth at all times.  You can taste the skins of the grape at the end.   The finish is long and dry. Priorat [...read more]

Germany: Unraveling the Code Germany produces some of the most underappreciated and misunderstood wines in the world. Are they dry or sweet? Sparkling or still? And what’s with those labels and all the huge words and weird codes? This complexity belies an even deeper complexity in the wines themselves which, glass for glass, makes them [...read more]

Sunday November 1st from 2:00 -3:00 at 1/2 Lounge. $15.00 / Person Call or email the shop to reserve your seat. [...read more]

A serious value proposition – the Sacred Hill Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc brings some fireworks to the picnic. This is big, fun juice. The Sacred Hill is a ripe gooseberry and lemongrass explosion  that you’ll want to set off in a backyard, with the grill humming along, the music playing and the sun shining. It is [...read more]

A knockout artisan New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc that assaults the pleasure receptors. Mahi’s SB does it in a big-is-beautiful sort of way. One hundred percent free run juice, cold fermented and sur lee aged for three months. Translation: this is one fine, artisan wine. The Mahi is ripe and tart at the same time -  [...read more]

Mind-blowing Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire. It’s true, it exists and you can score a few bottles here. This isn’t that big, fruity stuff that your friend picked up at the gas station because he was running late for your dinner party. This is the pinnacle of Sauvignon Blanc. An amazing mash-up of super-bright citrus, [...read more]

Once you start drinking crisp, juicy, super-focused wines from the Loire or powerful, intensely flavored wines from New Zealand, I bet you’ll forget about Chardonnay for a few weeks. I’m also pretty confident that your going to become a missionary for these wines. Before you know it, you’ll be converting friends with every marvelous bottle [...read more]

Rentas de Fincas Reserva 2002 is a warm Rioja.  This wine is soft and earthy — very agreeable.  Like so many Riojas, it has waited a long time for you.  In this case, 7 years, more than a few in wood.  The result is rich and smooth with a light crackle of tannin and cigar [...read more]

You’ll want to drink these wines by the bucket! Austria’s wine scene has been slowly coming in to focus here in the USA. After years of greedily snapping up their own wines (they’re just that good), the Austrians are finally willing to share a few of these sleek, compelling beauties with us. Reds, whites sparklers [...read more]

The Blanco Nieva 2007. Here is another Spanish wine with good manners — a white made from the verdejo grape in the high plain of Rueda, northwest of Madrid. The summer is long and hot; grapes are harvested at night for freshness. Verdejo has grown into one of Spain’s leading white wine varieties. Blanco Nieva [...read more]

Alsace: Delicate Thunder Alsace is an under-the-radar sort of wine region. But for those who’ve had a glass of Alsatian wine, it’s one that’s never forgotten. The region’s wines run the gamut from delicate and feminine to steely, powerful and dramatic. They make for a tremendous compliment to food, but the don’t play second fiddle. [...read more]

Thursday June 11th – Firehouse Gallery 6:00 – 8:00 tickets $75 By now, many of you have seen the film Bottle Shock; a celebration both of the legendary winemaker Bill Pullman, and the rugged American wine scene of the early 70s. To the disappointment of many a wine geek, the film really did a number [...read more]

That’s right folks, after almost 2 years at our little backroom shop at 95 College Street, we were bursting at the seams. So we’ve packed the whole operation up, and moved it to a shiny new space at 209 Battery Street. We’re not completley set up yet, but we’re open and all the wine is [...read more]

Sunday September 20th from 2:00 – 3:00 at 1/2 Lounge. $15.00 / Person Call or stop by the shop to reserve your seat. The class will be held at the 1/2 Lounge on Church Street. [...read more]

2008 Strauss Welschriesling is an Austrian white wine — very light and dry, low alcohol (11.5 %) and bright and clear.  The taste is stony, clean, and mildly acidic.  In your glass, it will be as clear as water.  It has a light floral nose.  It is highly refreshing and a pleasure to drink in [...read more]

2007 Turley Juvenile.  Let’s start at the back.  “Juvenile” refers to the age of the Zinfandel vines — for this wine, 25 years or younger.  Turley is a Zinfandel specialist, gathering old vine grapes planted  in California before Prohibition.   “Juvenile” is made from the occasional replacements since even the life of a vine is not [...read more]

The Menu: Reception: Epiphany Grenache Blanc, Santa Barbara House Smoked Tazmanian Salmon on Grilled Crostini. 1st Course Chiaretto Rosé, Italy Pepepr-Grilled Jumbo Sea Scallop Thin Sliced White Balsamic Strawberry, Grilled fennel slaw. 2nd Course Carignan Rouge, France Grill-smoked duck breast, with grilled figs. 3rd Course Rolf Binder Heinrich, GSM, Australia Slow-Grilled Pork Loin, Plum Chutney. [...read more]

2008 Les Pallières au petit bonheur rosé.  This is a very beautiful rosé from the Gigondas region in the southern Rhone valley.  I do not say it lightly.  I never turn down a glass of rosé, especially at lunch, but it is not a wine I would seek out.  Usually bright, acidic, very pink, very [...read more]

2005  Château  Fonguillon L’Enclos.   Here is a straight-from-the-shoulder Bordeaux at a reasonable price.  It is a merlot-based wine, frank and unadorned.  It is made in AOC Montagne St-Emilion which is the largest satellite of the august St. Emilion region. L’Enclos smells of leather and brass.  The taste is dark and not sweet with a tannic [...read more]

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Sunday August 23rd from 1:00 -2:00 at 1/2 Lounge. $15.00 / Person Call or stop by the shop to reserve your seat.  The class will be held at the 1/2 Lounge on Church Street. [...read more]

Sunday July 19th from 1:00 – 2:00 at 1/2 Lounge. $15.00 / Person Call or stop by the shop to reserve your seat. The class will be held at the 1/2 Lounge on Church Street. [...read more]

Quinta do Feital, Vinho Regional, “Auratas”, 2007 – Portugal The warmer months are here, and I need tasty, big-on-value white wines. Lucky for me, our wine clubs transition to white wines for the summer months. Also lucky for me, we came across this beautiful, golden-hued wine a couple of weeks ago. Portugal is the new [...read more]

We’ve been pushing Rosé on our customers for the last few weeks. The response we’re getting is awesome and, predictably, one of happy surprise. Initially, many of you think that these wines are going to be sweet. No doubt that this is a hold-over conception from the peak of White Zin’s popularity. C’mon, you know [...read more]

d’Arenberg Chardonnay, Adelaid, “The Olive Grove”, 2006 – Australia d’Arenberg has a penchant for funny names. Their flagship bottling, for example, is the Dead Arm Shiraz. The Olive Grove Chardonnay takes its name from the olive trees that pop up between rows of vines in d’Arry’s original Chardonnay vineyard. Chester Osborne is the winemaker at [...read more]

Domain des Corbillieres, Touraine Sauvignon, 2008 – France As the mercury rises, so does our interest in juicy, thirst-quenching white wines. I’m a big proponent of equal-opportunity consumption throughout the year, but I must admit that my zeal for crisp, high-acid whites leads me around by my nose for most of July and August. For [...read more]

Bodegas Laxas Albarino, Rias Biaxas, 2008 – Spain Despite a rather dismal start to summer, you can almost always guarantee that August will bring the heat!  And on those blistering days when you feel like cranking up the air conditioner or better yet sitting back in the shade, you need a wine that will leave [...read more]

Curious Cove Pinot Gris, Hawke’s Bay New Zealand, 2008 ABOUT THE WINE: September in Vermont is known for its warm, sunny days and cool, crisp nights. Our wine club wines this month are designed to mimic that weather forecast perfectly. The Curious Cove Pinot Gris comes from Hawke’s Bay, which is the second largest wine [...read more]

It is officially Autumn in Vermont. The leaves are showing their colors, the delicate yellows, blazing oranges, and brilliant reds. This is one of my favorite times of year, when everything is so rich and vibrant. It is harvest time and a wonderful time for your senses to get blasted with all that comes with [...read more]

Thanksgiving weekend is a great time for wine whether in the dining room or (for football fans) by the television.  A good Thanksgiving wine is bold and fruity enough to stand up to “The Meal”.  And as every ones Thanksgiving table is different, a food friendly and diverse wine is key.  I think you will [...read more]

Sunday December 13th from 2:00 – 3:00 at 1/2 Lounge. $15.00 / Person Call or stop by the shop to reserve your seat. 802-865-2368  The 101 classes  are held at the 1/2 Lounge on Church Street. [...read more]

The first installment of our multi-post Rosé-pushing mission got a great response at the shop. Lots of people popped in to buy the St. Martin and, as predicted, our pink wine drinking converts are now legion – we’re building an army of Rosé crusaders!  After reading the Rosé Wine entry in my edition of the [...read more]

This is a brisk, elegant white wine from the southern shores of Lake Garda in the Veneto region in Italy.   Otella is a small family operation.  Their wine is immaculate — the palest yellow and scrubbed clean.  The nose is delicate and a little briny.  The taste has lemon which is a way of recognizing [...read more]

Terre d’Ardoise Carignan Vieilles Vignes 2007.  Pity the humble carignan grape.  Frequently blended, jugged, boxed, and overlooked.  As recently as 1998, it was the most widely planted variety in France and valued for the immense productivity of each hectare.   In the late 1990’s carignan was blamed for the over production of vin ordinaire — the [...read more]

Jean-Paul Thévenet Morgon 2007 “Vieilles Vignes.”  Imagine the great slope of eastern French wines running from Burgundy down along the river systems of the Saône and the Rhône into the steep, dry hills of the south.  From north to south, the style and flavor change from the highly mannered, clarion fruit of the pinot noir, [...read more]

Who drinks the wine of the ancient Samnites?  Who sings their songs and moves to their dance?  Who reads their letters, inscribed in lintels and scratched in the doorways of Pompeii?  Who remembers these fierce tribes and Oscan, their lost language? For much of the 4th century B.C., the Samnites and their allies marched from [...read more]

Where do wine and history connect?  The change of grapes into wine, year in and year out, stands apart from the tumult of great events.  Can we taste the hopes of a people in their wine?  If the intensity of struggle and identity appears in any wine, it must surely be in the wines of [...read more]

Chinon is an ancient castle in the Loire valley.   Closely associated with Henry II Plantagenet and later with Jeanne d’Arc, the sprawling stronghold looms over the river Vienne, close to its confluence with the Loire.  It is an old place — not altogether cheerful. But we are here to consider its wine:  the Chinon cabernet [...read more]

Thanks for Choosing Dedalus Wine! If you are here because you would like to order one of the many wines we have advertised online, or would like to inquire about ordering wine, you have two options: 1)     Call the shop, and we’ll happily process your order over the phone. We can be reached at (802) [...read more]

The Craft of Food & Wine – A Dinner Featuring the wines of Robert Sinskey Vineyards with guest speaker: Mark Neville “the only way to truly be good at the craft  of winemaking is to know your materials…” Jeff Virnig – Winemaker, Robert Sinskey Vineyards From vine to bottle, these wines are the embodiment of [...read more]

Every great love is built on mystery – on the desire to know more and the impossibility of knowing it all. Wine is no exception. For many of us, what’s in the glass is the beginning and end of an infinite exploration. Where did it come from? Who made it? How’d it get there? Without [...read more]

St. Urbans-Hof’s Ockfener Bockstein Auslese is the product of ancient vines in one of the most prestigious vineyards in one of the most iconic regions in all of wine world. What does that translate into? Dang good! This creamy, mandarin orange and apple laced mother-of-a-wine packs a whopping 80 grams of residual sugar, but you [...read more]

The name borders on the ridiculous, but don’t let that stop you. Pfalz is a region known for steely, brisk wines, with intense citrus and mineral flavors wound tight around a bright pillar of acidity. The Messmer adds a beautiful density and the alluring edge of baked apple and ripe pear to the mix. Texturally, [...read more]

Nahe – a region where the wines tend to be a bit more restrained and higher in acid as opposed to overtly ripe and sweet. This wine is explosive. It’s packed full of exotic tropical fruit like papaya and banana. Its touch of sweetness cloaks a powerful streak of acidity that works almost like a [...read more]

In a rare coup, Dedalus Wine Shop and the Bluebird Tavern happily bring you a dinner featuring three winemakers from three legendary French estates.  Spend an extraordinary evening dining with winemakers Serge Férigoule, Sylvain Fadat, and Thierry Delaille. Wines from each artisan estate will be paired with five courses prepared by chef Aaron Josinsky. We’ll [...read more]

Many longtime Dedalus fans are, by now, also fans of Bruce Neyers and his wines. Vintage after vintage, the bottlings from Bruce’s Conn Valley Ranch in the heart of the Napa Valley, are a testament to what many of us consider Napa’s real potential. These wines aren’t fruit monsters. They don’t blow your face off [...read more]

Here is a small mystery.  We are all looking for something special when we choose Chianti.  Glamor, of course, a certain balance, not too sweet, not too dry, a certain bella figura, a little racy, a little exotic, not too crazy – - why am I recalling those freshman dorm room conversations about girls? We [...read more]

You wanted more wine, better wine, a chance to roll up your sleeves and taste like a pro. We’ve been listening! We’re bringing a monster selection of dynamite wines and delicious food to the Firehouse Gallery on Thursday; December 3rd.  Get your tickets before they’re all gone! On Thursday, December 3rd from 6pm to 9PM [...read more]

For three centuries the great port wine houses which stand along the Douro River in northern Portugal  have shipped vintage port across the English-speaking world.   The region has always produced table wine as well from the same grapes — but these wines stayed at home.  This has changed — we can now find very good [...read more]

Saturday night – the last Dedalus tasting in 2009!! One last chance to taste yet another set of 5 wines from our list of this year’s favorites! Saturday’s tasting starts at 1 and ends at 6! WINES Churchill’s Estate, Douro Portugal, 2007 Colimoro, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Italy, 2007 Ada Nada, “Valerano” Barbaresco Italy, 2004 Gosset, Grand [...read more]

Friday the 18th – the second free in-store tasting in our line-up! Check out another round of 5 different wines from our list of this year’s favorites! Friday’s tasting starts at 5 and ends at 8! WINES: Fredric Mallo Riesling, Rosacker Vineyard Grand Cru, Alsace France, 2002 Lemencier Saint Peray, Rhone France, 2006 Domaine Catherine [...read more]

We’re running free in-store tastings for three straight days starting Thursday, December 17th. Each day you’ll get to check out 5 different wines from our list of this year’s favorites! Thursday’s tasting starts at 5 and ends at 8! WINES Mahi Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough New Zealand, 2007 Dehesa de Rubiales “Alaia”, Castilla Y Leon Spain, [...read more]

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The region of Alentejano or Alentijo, is located in the south central part of Portugal. The area is commonly known as the “bread basket” of Portugal, a region of vast open countryside with undulating plains and rich fertile soil. Apart from the vines, you can also find olive trees and cork oak, the primary source [...read more]

Priorat covers a small area in northeastern Spain near the town of Tarragona. The area is of volcanic origin, which confers interesting characteristics to the soil and eventually, the wine. It’s characterized by its unique terroir of black slate and quartz soil with small particles of mica that reflects the sunlight and conserves heat. The [...read more]

This wine is a cannon.  Wait no, it’s a symphony. Ok wait, really, it’s a ballet dancer dancing on a gently flowing river of smoke and stone. It’s not what I wanted – but that’s a good thing for all of us. What I wanted was a Grüner Veltliner for the holiday ham. What I [...read more]

It’s usually about this time of year when my craving for deeply luscious wines kicks in. And my soft spot for gutsy, plush reds from the Barossa Valley in Australia cannot be denied. They are usually a meal in themselves, not requiring food. They are usually quite big, chewy, and often high in alcohol, this [...read more]

Good Bordeux at less than 20 bucks a bottle is the Chimera of wine – a mythic beast. The first wave of bottlings from Bordeaux’s epic 2009 vintage is hitting the American wine scene. If the once-simple drinking wines making up this first round are any indication of what’s to come, we’re in for volley after [...read more]

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Wine is stuck with its fair share of stereotypes. Thanks to the almost comedic persistence of their origins, it’s not often that one of these stereotypes gets dismantled. Sometimes the perfect storm hits and, poof, a stereotype disappears. According to the supplier of the Pinot Project, whose mission is to find “fabulous quality Pinot Noir [...read more]

So you may have had Tempranillo from Spain before, but this one is a little different.  From the second largest wine appellation in Spain, Ribera del Guadiana is unknown by many.  Most people have had Tempranillo from Rioja or Toro, but the grape changes and adapts to different geography.  Near the Portuguese border, the vineyard [...read more]

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It always amazes me when a producer is capable of turning out totally distinct wines from plots of earth that are pretty much identical. But that’s what makes me a casual observer when it comes to vineyards. And the capacity to squeeze that difference, that goût de terroir into a bottle is precisley what makes [...read more]

I like my Sauvignon Blanc to be interesting. Is that too much to ask? But wait! I also want it to be crisp, steely, flinty, smoky, minerally, bright, and clean. So… it’s a lengthy list, but no worries, it’s an easy list of demands for the Régis Minet Pouilly Fumé to accomodate. The wine offers a fresh [...read more]

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There’s a reason that Grenache is one of the most widely planted grapes in the world. Grenache has great body and vibrant fruitiness and it’s naturally low in tannins, making it a lush and generous wine. From France and Spain to Australia and the US, Grenache is everywhere. It’s often used as a blending grape, [...read more]

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Formidable. That’s how I would describe this wine. No, it’s not some brooding, bash-your-face, over-oaked monster. It’s formidable in the way that Roy Lichtenstein was formidable, or in the way that Wilco is formidable. There’s an easy accessibility – and instant connection and understanding that happens. You get it – you can enjoy it right [...read more]

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This wine is bottled by, and exclusively made for Michael Skurnik Wines. Michael Skurnik Wines is an importer and distributor of fine wines based in Syosset, New York. They don’t have a “house palate” per se but they do favor and select wines that express terroir through limited yields and non-interventionist techniques. The wines must [...read more]

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Let there be light- KAPOW! And there was light, and it was good… The time has come – t-shirts, sunglasses, a smoking grill and a bunch of people getting happy outside, under blue skies. This month’s wines are for the hedonists among us – they’re meant to be chugged in the backyard or on the [...read more]

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It’s spring my friends, and not only is it difficult to plan what outfit you’ll be most comfortable in (welcome to the season of layers), but it’s also a tricky time to plan what wine to drink! Sunshine screams for white wine, cool evenings beg for red. What’s an oenophile to do? We’ve got you [...read more]

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This wine is a bit mysterious; efforts to dig up information about the winery and the wine, yielded fruitless results. There is almost zero information about this wine on the web, which nowadays, is quite amazing! Do we let that deter us from sharing it with you? Heck no! Because what we do know about [...read more]

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What do you get when you combine an epic vintage, a legendary producer, huge press, and tiny production? The perfect Father’s Day gift for dad, that’s what. With abundant aromas of framboise, black cherries, truffles, herbs, and grilled steak and a spicy, peppery rich mouthfeel and silky tannins, Coudelet de Beaucastel Cotes-du-Rhone is an incredible [...read more]

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In Burgundy, specific sites in lesser vineyards often overshadow their bigger brothers, and some rival or exceed many of the Premier Crus.  This is one such wine. Marsannay is located on the very Northern end of Burgundy, and as a result, picks up on the power of this geography.  Not only is the quality of [...read more]

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The Hill of Corton is a landmark in the northern portion of the Côte de Beaune, a prow that both red and white vineyards climb up the sides, and capped with a “wig” of woods…it is the highest elevation in the Côte d’Or.  Nearly all of the vineyards are of Grand Cru status. The Guillemot [...read more]

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We’ve selected wines this month that are designed to quench your thirst in the midst of a steamy Vermont July. Summer Quaffers! First we have the Domaine la Hitaire which is a blend of Ugni Blanc, Colombard, and Gros Manseng, which are classic Gascony varietals. Gascony is located in the southwest of France, east and [...read more]

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I have to be honest here. After a fabulous, and full, holiday weekend I’m kinda drained. And as I sit here typing this, looking out the window onto a beautiful sunny summer day, I can’t help but think about things non-work related, like sitting in my back yard, glass of something tasty and cold in [...read more]

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Angelo Mastroberandino  was surrounded by war and economic depression, but he resisted the call to grow grapes for cheap bulk-wine production. Instead, he became a scholar of the vine. He studied the land, the soil, the history of ancient grapes in Irpinia and Campania. He amassed a tremendous understanding of the hows and whys of [...read more]

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Olivier Cousin is a minor celebrity in the natural wine producing world. His ideals and passion about winemaking comes across in the wine. You can taste it. And that is truly an amazing thing. The Cousin Anjou Pur Breton is 100% Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley. The average age of the vines is 40 [...read more]

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“Well,” you might be saying, “this doesn’t look like Riesling. It’s not in that tall skinny bottle!” It also doesn’t say “Kabinett” or “Spatlese”, terms folks are used to seeing on their Riesling bottles. This one? Qualtatswein. This classification translates to “Quality wine” and comes just before the more noted classes that speak of ripeness. [...read more]

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The Italian word dolcetto means “little sweet one”, and though they tend to be fruity, Dolcettos are almost always decidedly dry. The Italians in Piedmont, where this wine is from, like this red for everyday drinking, I suppose you can’t have Barolo every day. Dolcetto is a wine of modesty, the most humble of the [...read more]

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The estate of La Verriere is tucked away in the heart of Provence in the Ventoux AOC appellation in the Rhone. It’s a private estate comprised of a medieval priory and winery surrounded by the vineyard and private woodlands in a nature reserve. The 35 hectares of vines are 40 years old and the winery [...read more]

Pierre Breton taught me a lesson. He taught me that my conception of terroir was a bit pedestrian, a bit normative. Terroir is a concept that we tend to couch in our understanding of the physical world that surrounds a vine and its vineyard. The word ‘terroir’ is itself a bit misleading. It takes it’s [...read more]

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Eight generations (and counting) of the Guillemot family have held the reigns of the family domaine. In a post-Enron world, the average member of Gen-Y might switch careers a dozen times. A career calling has become a rarity. A family calling – the type of epic, multi-generational commitment we have here – has become a window into the past. [...read more]

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At this time last year I was in Rhode Island for my husbands cousin Suzanne’s wedding. We arrived the day before so we could attend the Rehearsal Dinner at Suzie’s house in her beautiful back yard. They had some large tents and tiki bar set up when we arrived and the day was cooling down [...read more]

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Thrilling. This isn’t an adjective you see applied to wine very often, but it fits here. Maxime Magnon’s wines – every one of them – will make you stop for a second to contemplate their inner energy. You might like them, you might not. But there’s no denying that there’s something alive about them – [...read more]

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Jean-Benoît Cavalier’s family has been farming the family vineyards for thirteen generations. The family’s existence is bound to the land across a timeline that reaches back beyond the World Wars and the French Revolution. The vineyards seem to exist outside of time, in an isolated 25-hectare pocket of land surrounded by 350 hectares of old [...read more]

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This wine is not glorified fruit punch. This bottle is not ornately gilded in a flowery explosion. This juice is not forced into bottle before it’s ready just so it can hit the market in time for the holidays. This wine is not Beaujolais Nouveau. It is something altogether different and better than what many [...read more]

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Geographically speaking, Castilla is a Spanish indication for Vino de la Tierra wines located in the region of Castile La Mancha. It’s quite a large region, the 3rd largest in Spain at about 30,600 square miles, around the size of Czech Republic. Vino de la Tierra is basically Spain’s answer to France’s Vin de Pays [...read more]

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The Vietti family has been growing grapes since the 19th Century, and over the course of time, they got pretty good at it.  In 1919 Patriarch Mario Vietti started making wine from their grapes, and they quickly got pretty good at that as well. Vietti’s notoriety was reinforced by being one of the first to [...read more]

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Here’s your next great wine find. Bernard Baudry’s Chinon is a superstar’s bottling — a Cab Franc from the Loire that delivers an enormous heap of value. I remember my first glass of the domaine’s wine. My friend Big Al — wine geek par excellence — sent me an email from San Francisco. He told [...read more]

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This is sort of “step into the light” wine. It has the kind of character, depth, and drinkability – the kind of soul, that makes drinking it one of the sunnier moments in a day. To keep playing the metaphor, it is also a revelatory wine. Our expectations of the wines from this ancient, storied [...read more]

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The vineyards in Lower Garda sit atop clay soils with an almost unfathomable density. Great. Wait, you probably want to know what that means. Clay soils stay very cool. This coolness slows down the ripening process, allowing a wine to develop tremendous acidity and, when combined with the right exposure, great depth. Pratello has all [...read more]

The Viticcio Estate lies in the heart of the Chianti Classico region. The focus at the winery, which is under the direction of second generation Alessandro Landini, is to produce high-quality wines worthy of an international clientele while at the same time respecting the traditions of the region, something we hold in high regard here [...read more]

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Don’t be fooled by the quirky label, this is a seriously delicious Bordeaux. A blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Cabernet Franc, this wine gives you dark black fruit and dry earth on the nose. The palate has nicely balanced acidity and tannin and a medium-long finish. Flavors are of black cherry, [...read more]

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Get ready to be seduced by this wine. I know Malbec isn’t necessarily the sexiest of grapes. Stacked up against delicate Pinot Noir or perfumed Grenache, it seems a little pedestrian, but I assure you, this wine will captivate you. La Puerta Alta Malbec is hand harvested to preserve the integrity of the grapes. Then [...read more]

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You’ve been hard at work treating everybody else to a bit of holiday cheer. Here’s an opportunity to take control of your own happiness. Cap de Faugères, a Bordeaux bottling from the Cotes de Castillion, is the ultimate feel-good wine. It’s a powerhouse – big, rich and exciting. Vintage after vintage the wine is plush, [...read more]

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Some people choose their wine on how the label looks. Others, claim that the packaging has nothing to do with their selection. I’m on the fence. I don’t choose a wine strictly because it looks pretty and I don’t refuse to try it because it looks unappealing, however I think there is something to be [...read more]

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I like to make a New Year’s Resolution. I like to challenge myself to be better in general, because that is really what you’re doing. Whether you resolve to eat healthier, get to the gym more, watch TV less, it’s all an attempt to live better. Well my New Year’s resolution for living better comes [...read more]

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Buy this wine now. Don’t read any further. Sigh. Fine. Bouvier’s Gevrey-Chambertin is, vintage after vintage, one of the triumphs of the appellation. Gevrey-Chambertin is the largest appellation in Côte de Nuits. Gevrey-Chambertin is also one of the most famous wines in France. Régis Bouvier is something of a genie, turning out lovely Burgundies at [...read more]

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Tuscany is a picturesque landscape of rolling hills and few, but fertile plains. It has been home to some of the most influential artists and scientists. (Do the names Dante, Da Vinci and Michelangelo sound familiar?) Tuscany is not only home to beautiful countryside and historic art, but also delicious cuisine and some of the [...read more]

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Spain is the third largest producer of wine in the world! With over 2.9 million acres planted, it is the most widely planted nation but comes in behind France and Italy in terms of production. The grape most people associate with Spain is Tempranillo. The skins of Tempranillo grapes are thick and dark and the [...read more]

This Western Australian shiraz comes from the first winery to be established in Western Australia’s Great Southern wine region.  Looking at a map, this would be the very south-west corner of the Country that protrudes down.  The winery has played a significant role in helping develop the five sub-regions of the Great Southern appellation.  The [...read more]

This 100% malbec from Mendoza is named after a flowering plant grown in North America, the Caribbean, and East Asia.  The vineyard is 70 years old and located in the Alto Tupungato area of Mendoza, that’s known for being one of the best areas for growing wine in Argentina.  The vines are above 4000 feet [...read more]

As I write this wine review I can hear the strangest sound coming from outside the wine shop. It sounds familiar and yet decidedly odd. I look out the window and see our property manager raking. That’s right, it’s mid-February and the landscaping tools of choice are a rake and broom. At my own home, [...read more]