Château Tertre Roteboeuf: History and Portfolio Tertre Roteboeuf occupies about six hectares two kilometers southeast of the town of Saint-Émilion, in the commune of Saint-Laurent-des-Combes. The vines descend from the family house in a south-facing curve on an extension of the slope associated with Château Pavie and Château Larcis Ducasse. From the upper ground, the … Read more
Château Cheval Blanc: History and Portfolio Château Cheval Blanc begins as part of the old Figeac estate, but its modern history starts in 1832, when Jean-Jacques Ducasse bought the core of the property and began assembling the land that would shape the estate thereafter. Over the next two decades he enlarged it with parcels from … Read more
Château La Gaffelière: History and Portfolio Château La Gaffelière stands immediately south of the medieval village of Saint-Émilion, on the road rising from the Dordogne plain toward the limestone heights of the town. Ausone lies to the west and Pavie to the east, placing La Gaffelière within a small concentration of celebrated vineyards along the … Read more
VISA Infinite Wine Country Tour South Okanagan While clouds closed in and the rain began to fall as we neared Liquidity Wines, VISA Infinite participants remained jubilant. No one whined about the liquid asset of moisture in the Okanagan region after the hot, dry, wildfire-punctuated summer. Through the gates past the tranquil sculpture garden … Read more
Château Ausone: History and Portfolio Château Ausone occupies one of the smallest and most exacting great sites in Bordeaux. The vineyard covers about 7.25 hectares on the southern edge of Saint-Émilion, immediately below the medieval village, where the land descends from the limestone plateau along a steep slope. The upper parcels sit on asteriated limestone, … Read more
Replanting after the freeze helped establish the distribution of the two varieties found in modern Bordeaux.
The 2024 vintage is made primarily from Sangiovese (90%), complemented by Merlot and Syrah.
Those differences begin with climate and vineyard soils.
Why Grape Varieties Came to Have Fixed Descriptions For much of European wine history, a buyer ordered Chablis or Sancerre; the grape names Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc usually remained unstated. Someone choosing Pauillac was expected to know that Cabernet Sauvignon would probably have an important role, although the label did not need to say so. … Read more
“In this series I will be reviewing wines shared with friends” From time to time I am the fortunate recipient of wines sent to me for review. It is especially nice to share these wines with friends. Not only does it make for lively conversation, and often diverse opinions, but it also makes for a … Read more