Page 16 - Staff Tastings

Usseglio, though an Italian name, quickly conjures up thoughts of France’s Rhone valley for those in the wine world. In 1931 Francis Usseglio left Italy for work in Chateauneuf du Pape and shortly after WWII became a tenant farmer producing his own wine.  Francis had two sons Pierre and Raymond. Pierre took over managing the family vineyard, and after buying more plots founded Domaine Pierre Usseglio which eventually became known for the special cuvees Mon Aieul and Reserve des Deux Freres. Raymond purchased his first vineyard in 1962 and in 1964 established Domaine Raymond Usseglio. Currently the domaine is run by Raymond’s son Stephane with consultation from Xavier Vignon and there are basically 3 red and 3 white Chateauneuf du Pape wines currently being produced. 

Beginning in 2007 a limited cuvee known as La Part des Anges has been produced focusing on the Mourvedre grape, but it is their Cuvee Imperiale that most customers seek out. From vines planted

I was very excited to try the new release from Tyler Winery – the 2013 Tyler Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County that was given a 92 point rating from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. Friday nights in my house usually consist of friends, steak and wine.  What better way to welcome the weekend than with a hearty cut of sirloin accompanied by a full bodied Pinot Noir.

Tyler Winery is one of my favorites from California. Their focus is on producing delicate, balanced wines that drinkers will love, which is precisely why I continue to drink their Pinot Noir. Each sip is a wonderful experience that transports you to the coast.  

Dark fruits and a bouquet of flowers greeted me upon opening this bottle.  It was a little bit tight at first, but showed much promise.  With a few swirls and some time to breathe, the wine did exactly what I hoped; it opened up

Argiano may be one of the most picturesque estates in Montalcino beginning with a lane lined with beautiful cypress trees. The 17th century villa on the property is now available to guests, allowing Brunello enthusiasts the opportunity for an unforgettable Tuscan experience. Daily wine and olive oil tastings are offered - and who would turn either down? - and the property also features gorgeous, lush gardens and a petite, enchanting chapel. The staff there promises memories to last a lifetime...

If traveling to Tuscany is not an immediate possibility, a bottle of their 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is! I opened a bottle recently on a quiet weeknight when my husband and I were both in the mood for Italian. Handmade semolina gnocci and a hearty meat sauce were pulled from the freezer and while those began to bubble in the oven, we talked over the day's events and assembled a simple salad of romaine and baby portabellas. All of this gave the wine plenty of time to open up before we sat

The 2012 vintage in Napa is going down with some of the other great age worthy vintages, such as 2001 and 2007, but can be enjoyed right away as well. So I was happy to have the opportunity to try this classic vintage with the 2012 Ramey Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, which coincidentally can trace its beginnings back to Petrus, another age worthy wine. 

Ramey was founded in 1996 by David Ramey and his wife Carla. However, before there was Ramey Cellars, David worked for a short while for the Moueix family at the legendary Chateau Petrus, where he brought what he learned there in winemaking back to California. David has helped establish such vineyards as Matanzas Creek, Chalk Hill, and Dominus Estate (which is owned By Christian Moueix of Petrus), before starting his own winery in 1996. David Ramey is known as one of the great California winemakers. Robert Parker has said that

“I have always found Branaire Ducru to be curiously underrated, undervalued, and somewhat forgotten whenever Bordeaux enthusiasts discuss their favorite wines.” 

“2000 was the first vintage to demonstrate that numerous high quality Bordeaux wines can be made in all price categories.”

In short, these two quotes by Robert Parker are the reason we recently purchased 2000 Branaire Ducru.  

Chateau Branaire Ducru is located in the southeastern portion of St. Julien, across from Chateau Beychevelle which it once was part of up until 1680. The winery’s vineyards located throughout the commune contain various amounts and types of gravel in the clay soil, allowing for beneficial drainage of the vines, about 70% of which are Cabernet Sauvignon. The current owner and winemaking team at Branaire feel these vines perform best at an age of 35 years and gently renew portions of the vineyards

“This iconic winery continues to offer wines with personalities and styles that set them apart (especially the estate wines) from just about anything else readers will taste from California.”– Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

Mt Eden is a historic boutique winery located in the Santa Cruz Mountain appellation about 15-20 miles from the Pacific Ocean.  It was founded in 1945 by Michael Ray, and he focused primarily on small plots of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet. Like Robert Parker mentioned in the quote above, these wines are very different from the usual California wines, and they definitely have their own distinct personalities.  

The 40 acre vineyard is farmed sustainably without irrigation and is planted on a shady cool mountaintop.  It’s comprised of 20 acres of Chardonnay, 13 acres of Bordeaux Varieties (Cabernet, Cabernet Franc & Merlot) and 7 acres of Pinot Noir.  In 2007, they purchased a nearby

The groundwork that Robert Mondavi laid for the American wine industry is forever etched in the history of great winemaking. His accomplishment in bringing the American winemaking industry to the forefront is legendary, and we have him to thank for the successes that California winemaking has today.

The Robert Mondavi Winery was established in 1966 by Robert. It was the first major winery built in Napa Valley and for decades, it was California’s most famous winery.

Being in the wine industry for as long as I have has given me wonderful opportunities to taste a wide range of wines as you can imagine. This inevitably has given me a certain insight, especially when comparing similar varietals from different regions. A perfect example is the 2012 Robert Mondavi Reserve Chardonnay that I had last night. I normally prefer white Burgundy, just a personal preference, but after reading recent reviews on this one I thought I would give it a go. I was certainly pre-disposed to

The commune of Gevrey Chambertin possesses nine Grand Cru vineyards, more than any other in the Cote de Nuits. In the heart of them you will find Chambertin along with Clos de Beze, the two benchmarks of the commune considered by Clive Coates, MW to produce “immaculate and full, firm and rich, concentrated and masculine” wines. Many consider Chambertin to be the King of Burgundy, Musigny the Queen, and along with a handful of Grand Crus from Vosne Romanee, they comprise an elite core of arguably the First Growths of Red Burgundy. 

Nicolas Potel began his winemaking career at Domaine de la Pousse d’Or, his family’s place in Volnay. Around the same time as his father’s untimely death in 1997 and the sale of their stake in the Domaine, Nicolas started his own negoce company. Though he sold the Maison to the Cottin brothers of Laboure Roi in 2004, Potel continued to produce some wonderful examples of Red Burgundy for them until his departure

“In the Esclans Valley angels whisper. If you drink this wine, you might hear them. If by chance you visit us, you might see them.” - Sacha Alexis Lichine, Winemaker 

June 21st has come and gone which means summer is upon us. I think most of us can agree summer was here even before that date. School is out, the heat seems like it is turned up this year which just makes me yearn for the sun, sand and of course a drink in my hand.  

This is the season of Rosé and what better bottle to kick off the summer than the 2014 Chateau D’Esclans Whispering Angel Rosé.  Year after year Chateau D’Esclans produces a magnificent bottle of light, refreshing Rosé that is a pleasure to experience each time you pop and pour.  I’ve stocked my wine unit with a case; wouldn’t you like to do the same?

Whether you plan on having

This past week I had the great pleasure of celebrating my lovely daughter’s graduation from high school. The weather was pristine and all 422 students were assembled outside for commencement. Needless to say, it was a proud moment for me. My youngest has blossomed into a beautiful, strong and incredibly savvy young lady. Our entire family gathered to celebrate. Being a balmy 100 degrees that day, I wanted to bring a few bottles of white wine to celebrate the moment. The highlight of the day was the 2010 Vincent Girardin Chassagne-Montrachet Les Caillerets. Superb minerality, impeccable balance, and palate quenching zest were only some of the superb qualities this gem brought to the table. Being among many who don’t necessarily appreciate the nuances of fine wine, I was pleased that many offered unsolicited remarks and compliments regarding this superb effort. At only $59.99, it over-delivers for a Premier Cru from this heralded family. 

2010