This release marks an important milestone for Les Pallières, being the twentieth vintage completed since the Brunier brothers and Kermit purchased the domaine and set about its renaissance. What a vintage to mark the occasion! On the one hand, climatic conditions of the growing season only allowed for a measly yield, by far the lowest in those twenty years—or possibly ever. On the other hand, the ridiculously low yields were of exceptional health, with the old vines instinctively giving their all to save the few remaining grapes. The 2018s contain a sap-like quality, a primordial vitality and energy, as if the vines were loading berry and seed with their full history and knowledge. You could consider this vintage a sort of direct line to the essence and soul of Terrasse du Diable and Racines—the land, the history, and the people that make the domaine what it is. In twenty years, Les Pallières has never looked so good. Here’s to twenty more.
Consistency is key for sixth-generation winemaker Yves Leccia, who year after year bottles some of the most chiseled, sumptuous Corsican whites with B...
Before opening this bottle, and confident that it would pleasantly surprise, I asked my Burgundian husband what he’d expect from Alsatian Pinot Noir...
Organic and biodynamic practices are the fraternal twins of conscientious winemaking. Though they diverge in interesting ways, they share a lot of DNA...
That one of Italy’s classiest reds comes from a grape variety most have never heard of, Refosco, is a testament to the enthralling range of native v...
This is the best bottle of Gombaude-Guillot I’ve ever tasted. This stunning red is so fine I can make out a variety of spices on the nose, like mill...