Vintus

Vintage 2011 Vintage Port Tour

Quinta do Noval has just formally declared the 2011 vintage for both Quinta do Noval and Noval Nacional!  In order to bring more attention to the 2011 vintage, Quinta do Noval and the Fladgate partnernship have partnered together to hold three tastings in early June. Save the Date!  Click the invite to download it.

Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve - An Enduring Vision

Errazuriz has just released a new video highlighting the Errazuriz icon wine, Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve 2010. Entitled "An Enduring Vision", the video expresses how Don Maximiano Errazuriz set out to create timeless wines and founded the winery in a "viticultural paradise". Check out the video below!

Chateau Montelena in W&S

The June 2013 issue of Wine & Spirits Magazines has a mention on Chateau Montelena's recent historic recognition and the recent parting of founder James Barrett. See below for the clip and excerpt.

"Chateau Montelena continues to make wine 125 years later in Tubb's stately stone building, and both the founding period and the later rebirth of the winery recently  earned Montelena a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. While the latest recognition arrived, another chapter in Chateau Montelena's story came to a close - founder James Barrett passed away on March 14, 2013. Barrett served in the Navy during World War II and spent over 20 years practicing law before purchasing and refurbishing Chateau Montelena in 1972. Barrett remained involved with the winery until his death, and his son Bo continues to manage Chateau Montelena and make the wine."

Heartland wins Best Shiraz!

Heartland took home the "Best Shiraz" Trophy at the 2013 Langhorne Creek Winemakers Showcase last week. A group of well-known judges including wine writer Huon Hooke tasted over eight categories in the showcase. The Best Shiraz trophy was awarded to the 2010 Director's Cut Shiraz. Click here to read the full press release.

Winophilia on Saint-Joseph: "the insider's Old World Syrah"

Stephen Tanzer's Winophilia posted an article entitled "Saint-Joseph: the Insider's Old World Syrah" by Josh Raynolds. Raynolds writes on how Saint-Joseph has until recently been the northern Rhône Valley's insider secret. "The expression of syrah in the northern Rhône is considered by most cosmopolitan wine lovers to be the benchmark for the variety. The wines display vivid black and blue fruit, floral and spice character and a bright minerally quality that’s rarely produced by syrah elsewhere."

Needing no introduction to Rhône whine lovers, as Raynolds says, E. Guigal's 2009 Saint-Jospeh shows the opulence and extroverted dark berry quality of the vintage, and Philippe Guigal himself has made it a personal mission to increase the profile of Saint-Joseph. To read more about Saint-Joseph on Winophilia click here.

Dog Point Harvest Newsletter

Dog Point recently shared their April 2013 newsletter featuring their harvest report along with other news, wine reviews, and upcoming events. The 2013 harvest is described as widely regarded as one of the most intense and compact ever experienced. "A fantastic summer with plenty of sun and warm weather has led to excellent ripening of the fruit, making for a busy time as Dog Point's fruit is transferred from the vineyard to the winery." Click here to read the full newsletter and more about each wine!

Don Max in Wines of Chile Master Class

Terroirist, a daily wine blog, published a piece on a Master Class hosted by Wines of Chile at Chrlie Palmer Steak in Washington DC. The wines ranged from $9 to $85 per bottle (wholesale) and were tasting in three flights - Chardonnay, Workhorse Reds, and Icons. The 2007 Errazuriz Don Maximiano Founders Reserve led the "Icons" category. Here are some tasting comments:

"A look into how these wines can age was provided by the 2007 Errazuriz Don Maximiano. The structure on this wine featured a regal, even tannin set, refreshing acidity and well-integrated fruit and earth. I’d be excited to try this wine in ten years — or more." Click here to read the full post on the Master Class.

Wine Spectator: Florent Baumard

The Wine Spectator featured a video with Florent Baumard that looks at two of his key wines, Clos du Papillon and Quarts de Chaume.  The video goes deeply into the precision viticulture and vinification that is necessary to create beautiful, balanced Savennieres, and the trademark mineral backbone of Quarts de Chaume – click here to see.