The Owl and the Dust Devil

Malbec is at its very best in Mendoza; Finca Decero is already a proven winner in that region too. It's partly that they have cooler sites; their elevated vineyards (almost 3500 feet) clearly offer grapes with better acidity than most. Their top vineyard, Remolinos, is planted not only with Malbec but also with Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Tannat. This beauty has the structure to last for years but impress drinkers now.

The Pessimist

When the Daou Brothers took their tech dollars a-shopping in Paso Robles they only bought the best: the old Hoffman Mountain Ranch. Founded by Dr. Stanley Hoffman in 1964, this was the site of some legendary wine. I can tell you about the 1976 and 1977 HMR Cabernet, but then that would be rude bragging. Let’s just say that Daou wines have an excellent and established pedigree; this one is a powerful Syrah blend.

Timbre 'Opening Act' Pinot Noir

Tinazzi Corvina

Tinazzi makes excellent Veronese wines; which means they are masters at Amarone, Valpolicella and the like. This “family selection” is made from dried grapes, as is the tradition with Amarone, but here it’s made into a dry wine, and the alcohol isn’t as lofty as with Amarone. So it’s like baby Amarone, made 100% from Corvina, the best grape of the region.

Trencalos Blanco

Amongst the many still unknown wine regions of Spain is Terra Alta, with limestone hills set above the Mediterranean, surprisingly near better known spots like Priorat and Penedes. This Garnatxa Blanca (white Grenache) is an excellent example of why this region is about to become the new thing in value wine.

Verraco Ridge Pinot Noir

California has had several Pinot Noir moments. There were some vineyards in Napa in the 70s and 80s - then people got smart and headed closer to the Pacific Ocean. Like Monterey. Open to the ocean, where vineyards are hot and sunny in the morning and cold and windy in the afternoon - these sorts of conditions make for brighter fruits in the red wines, many of them crisp and even slightly tart, you know, like Pinot Noir is. Like this wine is.

Vicchiomaggio Agostino Petri Chianti Classico

This is Vicchiomaggio with a Riserva designation, Sangiovese with a dollop of Cabernet Sauvignon, a single, great vineyard; this wine is aged in the used La Prima barrels, and then aged in larger format barrels for another half year or so. This is the Italian way and these both reflect that heritage. But they also reflect how much Italy has changed in the last twenty years and how modern and exciting the wines have become.

Vicchiomaggio La Prima Chianti Classico

Castello Vicchiomaggio is a part of Tuscan history, even if that is a place that these days more often serves as a film backdrop or wedding venue for the ultra-wealthy, but they have always had money to do really good wine. From the 1900's a new family took over the nearly millennia old estate and want to be take seriously, this wine is a good start. A single vineyard wine, aged for more than 2 years in french oak. You should try it