The best Chablis wine has a fairytale quality to it. Crafted by master vintners in a remote subregion of Burgundy in northern France, the subtle flavors and aromas of these light-bodied white wines gently guide you on a journey through the idyllic green hills and breezy vineyards of this picturesque area. They may not be as famous as their Champagne neighbors to the north, but there is nothing quite like the fresh, airy purity of a quality Chablis wine.
From the first bottling of Tignanello back in the 1970s, Super Tuscan wines have played the part of the rebellious youths of the Italian wine industry, daring to step outside of conventional prescriptions of what Italian wine should be to deliver bold, powerful, unforgettable experiences. Born of necessity in the same region that sparked the Renaissance centuries before, Super Tuscan wines were created as part of an effort to revitalize Italy’s wine industry—and they continue to surprise and delight us to this day.
Some wines simply seem destined for greatness from the beginning. Hailing from the Côte-Rôtie appellation of the northern Rhône, a region rich with oenological history, Étienne Guigal’s empire was founded just over 60 years ago—not long at all, when you consider how many centuries many of the world’s top estates have existed. And yet, in just over half a century, Guigal has become a leading negociant for the Rhône and now vinifies as much as 40 percent of Côte-Rôtie wines.
As one of the exceptional five first-growth Bordeaux châteaux, Château Lafite Rothschild has enjoyed over a century’s worth of acclaim for its delicately delectable wines. Today, it remains one of the most distinguished labels in the world—and if you are looking to build a top-quality Bordeaux collection, only the best vintages of Château Lafite Rothschild will do.
MENTIONED IN THIS POST: -2013 Gaja Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo -2016 Gaja Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo -2015 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto -2001 Alfredo & Giovanni Roagna Barbaresco Crichet Pajé -2000 Domenico Clerico Barolo Per Cristina -1990 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate Riserva To those unfamiliar with them, Barbaresco wine and Barolo wine might…
As one of the highest-rated vintages of the decade, 2010 Burgundy makes an exceptional investment for collectors and casual fans of Burgundy alike. In this guide to the 2010 Burgundy vintage, we’ll look at what made this year so special, which wines are the best of the vintage, and how to get the most value from your collection.
Bordeaux’s Château Le Pin, generally referred to as just “Le Pin,” produces some of the most decadent and complex Merlot in the world. At the cost of $4,000 per bottle, on average, collectors are willing to pay top dollar to get a taste of these renowned wines. Château Le Pin’s best vintages can garner even higher prices on the secondary market; some of the top-ranked vintages are valued at $10,000 or more per bottle. Whether you’re a passionate fan of Bordeaux or an established investor looking to add to your portfolio of valuable wines, it’s important to know which years from Le Pin are considered the greatest in the estate’s history.
You don’t have to travel to Burgundy to find complex white wines with distinctive minerality and finesse. California’s northern Sonoma Coast is home to some of the most reputable Chardonnay producers in the world. Unlike most New-World Chardonnay, which is typically rich and buttery, top-rated Sonoma Chardonnay leans toward an elegant, acidic, and earthy profile. These wines have compelling notes of crisp green apple, refreshing citrus, racy acidity, brine, and wet stone—flavors and aromas that develop even greater depth with age.
If you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing food and wine pairing, it’s hard to go wrong with Cabernet Sauvignon from California’s Napa Valley. Many of these wines are powerful, high in alcohol, and fruit-forward, balanced by bracing acidity and prominent oak. The finest Napa Valley Cabernet is bold and acidic enough to stand up to the heartiest dishes but also complex and interesting enough to serve on its own or with simple hors d’oeuvres. It’s very easy to find a great Napa Cabernet food pairing and there are a few classic pairings every wine enthusiast should try at least once. The foods in this pairing guide will bring out the best flavors in your Cabernet Sauvignon; we’ll also suggest some more unusual pairings that are sure to impress your dinner guests.
The Saint-Émilion appellation of Bordeaux has an incredibly long history of winemaking and a sterling reputation among serious wine collectors. This region of the Right Bank is known for producing rich, lush Merlot and floral, tannic Cabernet Franc with spectacular aging potential. The complexity of the wines and their high secondary market value is on par with the Right Bank’s other famous appellation, Pomerol, and many wine enthusiasts consider these two regions to produce some of the very best Bordeaux. In other words, if you want to build a truly impressive Bordeaux collection, seeking out the best wine from Saint-Émilion is a good start.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-St-Vivant may not get quite the same attention from collectors as the producer’s other top wines, like La Romanée-Conti or La Tâche. However, it would be a mistake to pass over Romanée-St-Vivant. This wine is among the freshest and purest in Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s roster and is deeply enjoyable to drink. With succulent red fruit, silky tannins, perfumed florals, and a complex underlying spice, Romanée-St-Vivant is an intriguing and versatile Pinot Noir that pairs well with a variety of foods. It’s also one of the few wines from this producer that can be drunk either young or old and provides excellent value for the price, making it a popular choice among Burgundy collectors.
The hotly anticipated release of 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is finally here, and many critics are already raving about the power and purity of these Tuscan wines. After the difficult 2014 vintage (a year that was plagued by cool, wet weather and under-ripe grapes), winemakers had an excellent 2015 season. Hot, dry weather resulted in quality wines that are lush, but not overly ripe, with plush tannins and relatively low acidity. This is a great vintage for Italian wine enthusiasts, especially those looking for exceptional young wines to drink over the next few years.
