Enobytes

Virginia might not be your first thought when you think of “up and coming” wine regions but they are aspiring to have a presence on your dinner table soon. Making wine in Virginia is not new. In fact, its presence in Virginia is older than any other region in the United States. The history of [...]

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Had it not been for heavy rains near the end of harvest that caused slight dilution, this would have made an exceptional vintage. Regardless, 1999 is still a great year that showcases finesse, intensity and aromatic complexity. Succulent and rich, this first growth Premier Grand Cru offers a textural sensation of red and black fruits, [...]

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It’s always fun when an old friend comes around for a long overdue visit. That’s how I felt when this sample from Gundlach-Bundschu arrived. When Pamela and I worked for the Kimpton Group, one of our wine distributors was totally enamored with this producer and we also had a crush almost as intense on them [...]

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As early as 1365, the Bosq family started growing grapes in the Pessac-Léognan region. In the 18th century, Scotsman George Smith purchased the property and renamed it to what it is now, Chateau Smith-Haut Lafitte. In 1842, Duffour-Dubergier, the mayor of Bordeaux,  inherited the estate from his mother and transformed it into a Grand Cru. [...]

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Bright and bouncy aromas rise right after the wine hits the glass. The flavors exceeded my expectations and that is a very hard task to take to heart when asking me to review a wine. Oh yeah, I said it, Bonterra has struck my fancy with this 2009 Merlot. It transcends the organic status on [...]

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If you have forgotten what really good merlot tastes like you should reacquaint yourself to this grape by buying a bottle of this Mollydooker and experiencing what merlot should be instead of that homogenized everyman wine that seems to be what a lot of bigger wineries are aiming for no matter what they charge per [...]

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