Reviews

The 2012 Beaune Les Montée Rouge is another super-impressive entry-level offering from Vougeraie. Here the fruit is wonderfully centered and poised, which gives the wine its sense of direction and focus. Licorice, dried rose petal, cinnamon and sweet rasp

The 2012 Clos du Prieuré Blanc presents an attractive mix of apricot, mint and spice notes. Here the style is soft, round and caressing, with a touch less minerality than some of the other whites but more texture, resonance and breadth. There is a sense o

Firm and rich on the palate, this red is lightly aromatic, offering notes of lavender, dark berry and crushed rock, with lively acidity and tannins.

Firm acids and softly dusty tannins give this medium-bodied red a welcome bit of structure. Meanwhile, hints of garrigue accent black cherries, with dried-fruit, licorice and cocoa flavors emerging on the finish.

Fresh and snappy, with vibrant pear, honeysuckle, ginger and piecrust notes. Still raw, but offers persistent core of flavors.

The 2011 Chardonnay Hawk Hill Vineyard is slightly more mineral-dominated, revealing notes of wet gravel, honeysuckle and a hint of white peach. This medium to full-bodied, delicious, impressive 2011 Chardonnay should be drunk over the next 3-4 years.

A limited cuvee of 300 cases, the 2011 Chardonnay Private Reserve possesses more length, richness, subtlety and complexity. Delicate honeyed, buttered popcorn, citrus oil and orange blossom notes are present in this medium-bodied, refreshing yet steely Chardonnay. With good minerality, ripeness and balance, it can be enjoyed over the next 2-3 years.

The 2010 Pinot Noir Maboroshi Vineyard is one of the first vineyards from which the fog lifts in the early morning. Dark ruby-hued, with notes of root vegetables, earth and berry fruit, this soft, round, voluptuous Pinot is far more sexy in the mouth than I expected. Drink this attractive, lush Pinot Noir over the next 2-3 years.

The 2010 Zinfandel Forgotten Vines spent 15 months in a combination of French and American oak. It possesses a healthy dark ruby color along with impressive cherry, raspberry and cranberry fruit notes intermixed with notions of pepper and spice, medium to full body, and lots of character and personality. Drink this excellent Zinfandel over the next 4-5 years.