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Jean Biecher & Fils Alsace Marie 2023 $16 (88 points)

An expressive burst of flowers, melon, quince and lemon rind is full and unctuous on a round palate. Salty, tangy acidity keeps this balanced. An example of the fruity, ripe Alsatian style. Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris. Drink now. 20,000 cases made, 500 cases imported. Source : 5dc2683a377e8b1d1a59e1e8176fa2d9

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Bierzo reborn: 10 of the best from this revitalised region

Mengoba’s vineyards lie at more than 600m on the slopes of Espanillo, to the north of Cacabelos. Kinshasa, Zaire, 1974. Undisputed heavyweight champion George Foreman takes on Muhammad Ali, a boxer with an impressive pedigree but who is now on the comeback trail. Physically intimidating, with unrivalled punching power, Foreman is the clear favourite but Ali, dancing, ducking and dazzling …

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Vinography Images: Spring Pruning

A view down a long row that’s just been pruned at Spottswoode Vineyards in Napa Valley shows the first flush of spring green under the vines and the canes that will be chipped and mulched to make compost for next season’s growth. Spottswoode is a Regenerative Organic and Demeter Biodynamic certified property. INSTRUCTIONS:Download this image by right-clicking on the image …

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Napa’s Historic Newton Vineyard Will Close Permanently

In a brief statement to its wine club members, Napa’s Newton Vineyard announced Feb. 13 that the winery is permanently closing. “We have cherished every moment spent crafting exceptional wines and sharing them with our dedicated wine club members,” the announcement read. The winery, owned by luxury giant LVMH since 2001, was destroyed in the 2020 Glass fire and has …

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Outpost: Finding a Napa pied-à-terre

Christian Seely was viewing another vineyard for sale in Napa in 2018 when he got the call about Outpost, based on the higher slopes of Howell Mountain. AXA Millésimes had decided to add a Napa estate to its winery portfolio in 2016 and managing director Seely had been searching for the right property over the following years. Scroll down for …

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Wine investment: Market malaise hits Bordeaux prices

Stock market down on a black background. Bordeaux prices have dropped notably over the past 24 months, according to data from international merchant Bordeaux Index (see chart below). This partly reflects a wider market malaise, although Bordeaux didn’t rise by as much as Burgundy, Champagne and Tuscany in the prior boom… Source : https://www.decanter.com/premium/wine-investment-market-malaise-hits-bordeaux-prices-550866/

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A terroir making its mark – key Salta wines to try

To explore the wines of Salta is to discover an enchanting corner of Argentina where a dramatic natural landscape and winemakers’ expertise combine to create distinctive vinous expressions. Here, vineyards withstand the extreme conditions found at high altitudes – from 1,530m to 3,111m elevation – combined with a dramatic diurnal range and long daylight hours. Although its winemaking history dates …

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Spanish Icons: La Rioja Alta, Gran Reserva 890

La Rioja Alta, Gran Reserva 890, Rioja First vintage: 1890 The Gran Reserva 890 remains La Rioja Alta’s flagship and most symbolic wine, produced only in vintages deemed of sufficient quality, from selected plots of bush-trained vines in Rioja Alta, aged no less than 50 years. The wine flew under the radar of collectors and investors until recently. Scroll down …

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Jeremy Seysses of Burgundy’s Dujac in Napa Cabernet venture

Jeremy Seysses, winemaker and co-owner at Domaine Dujac, has stepped beyond Pinot Noir to help create a new expression of single-vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  Trailside Vineyard in Rutherford represents a partnership project that begun in 2020, including Seysses and Carlton McCoy Jr MS, CEO of Lawrence Wine Estates, which is the owner of Heitz Cellar among other wineries.  A …

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Market Watch: Bordeaux in the spotlight

Bordeaux prices have dropped in the past 24 months amid a wider fine wine market malaise, according to data in the Market Watch section of Decanter magazine’s newly published March 2025 issue. Market Watch, which is also published on Decanter Premium, is sponsored by international merchant Bordeaux Index and its LiveTrade online trading platform. ‘Bordeaux currently occupies an unusual position in …

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Luce exclusive: 30 vintages of an under-the-radar Super Tuscan

Michaela Morris interviews Lamberto Frescobaldi. Launched in 1997 with the simultaneous release of 1993 and 1994, this Super Tuscan was born as a collaboration between two formidable wine families: Robert Mondavi brought California’s modern sheen to Frescobaldi’s rustic Tuscan charms. Over the years, Luce has garnered high praise for its opulence and power. To chart its history, I sat down …

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Spanish Icons: Dominio de Pingus, Pingus

Peter SisseckDominio de Pingus, Pingus, Ribera del Duero First vintage: 1995 ‘It’s almost a damnation to produce a wine that becomes an icon from day one,’ says Peter Sisseck when describing the attention and pressure that fell upon him with the release of Pingus’ first vintage. It all started with few expectations and a lot of wonder; the Danish winemaker …

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Church of England bans alcohol-free wine from Holy Communion

Church leaders were asked to consider allowing alcohol-free wine and gluten-free bread alternatives during the Eucharist ritual. However, they ruled that using alcohol-free wine would break Church law, as the process of fermentation would be ‘nullified’. They also decided that wheat alternatives such as rice flour, potato flour or tapioca flour cannot be used to make the bread or wafers …

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French wine export value falls as buyers seek more affordable wine

French wine exports by value fell for a second year in 2024, as foreign buyers preferred less expensive sparkling wines to Champagne and favoured more affordable bottles from the Loire Valley and Provence over Bordeaux wines. The value of wine exports fell 3% to €10.9bn last year, French wine and spirits export agency FEVS said. That remains the third-highest on …

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Great-value rosé: 14 top bottles to try

Pink wine and sunshine? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. But there are still plenty of reasons to enjoy a glass of great-value rosé this time of year. Whether you’re looking for a bottle for Valentine’s Day, something to pair with a particular dish or simply something to put you in mind of warmer climes, the selection below offers plenty …

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After 34 Years, New York’s Iconic Wine Restaurant Tribeca Grill Will Close

In 1990, on a sleepy corner of Lower Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood, chef and restaurateur Drew Neiporent (the force behind fine dining venues Montrachet and Nobu) and Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro caused a stir with the opening of Tribeca Grill. In the decades that followed, the Wine Spectator Grand Award winner’s dining room would be filled with Hollywood stars, …

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2021 Quinta Do Portal Douro Reserva

Every time we see a Portuguese bottle hit Costco shelves we pick it up immediately. It might be the best “bang for the buck” region in the wine world today. This bottle was a particularly fun find for us. We’ve reviewed a couple of this producer’s less expensive bottles in the past, and they were […] Source : https://costcowineblog.com/2021-quinta-do-portal-douro-reserva/

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