Harvested September 21 to October 7, yielding 235,000 bottles. This vintage of Léoville-Poyferré displays quite hard oak tannins and is really rather charmless, lacking the elegance and charm that distinguishes it in better years. Nonetheless the structure of the wine-read more-
Harvesting began on September 26, the same date as in 2005, and ended on October 10. 257,000 bottles were produced. On the nose this shows the earthy fruit character that is so typical of St-Julien, though some oak is still-read more-
What a difference a couple of years can make. When I originally bought a bottle of the 2004 La Coudraye by Yannick Amirault, an acclaimed vigneron from the Loire Valley, this natural-yeast fermented cabernet franc was a pretty tightly wound-read more-
First you catch the mouse that’s made a home in your vineyard. Next you skin him, discard the body, and burn the flesh into a wee pile of ashes. Then, when Venus is in the constellation Scorpius, you scatter the ashes-read more-
Fresh fields of flowers in the aroma, almost sauvignon blanc-like. A big wine, big flavors with both light fruit and maturity in the body. Light acid in a finish that ends buttery and lemony. 13% alcohol. WHO: Domaine William Fèvre-read more-
Almost deceptively light at first in its aromas and flavors. Very elegant wine, benefits from being opened for a while to round out the flavors. Moderate alcohol (13.5%). Later, it remains ethereal: a suggestion of smoke in the aroma, then-read more-
An aroma of fresh fields, herbs and wildflowers. A light-medium body, smooth on the tongue, with a touch of spice. Nicely balanced with a sizeable finish. And only 13% alcohol. WHO: Olivier Leflaive WHAT: Chardonnay WHERE: Chablis AOC, Burgundy, France-read more-
Having visited Burgundy in the summer of this “difficult year”–rainy and cold; wore all my sweaters plus raincoat every day–I was curious to see what had been produced in Chablis. This wine has a sweet, fruity nose with a hint-read more-