Freeman Winery, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir, Yu-Ki Estate, 2017
There's a very romantic story behind Freeman Winery. Taken from the winery's site:
In 1985, while crewing a yacht on its way to the Caribbean, Ken [Freeman] was forced by Hurricane Gloria to head to port near his hometown of Scarsdale, N.Y., where a friend happened to be hosting a lively party. Amidst the jeans and t-shirts of the storm-bound revelers, Ken saw Akiko, newly arrived in the United States from Japan and beautifully attired in a Chanel dress. He was smitten. The date was September 28, 1985.
Sixteen years later, they founded a winery dedicated to making wine from the two jewels of Burgundy, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
With aromas and flavors of black cherries and mint, a complex palate texture and a hint of rhubarb on the finish, the Yu-Ki Estate is the kind of Pinot where the palate might actually be better than the nose. It's really the most Burgundian New World Pinot I’ve had lately, although it’s excellence doesn’t rely on comparisons. A very sexy wine, and now I've drunk out all my purchases from my visit just before COVID. (June 24, 2021)
A producer imported by Bourgogne Crown that is very dear to me. Their vineyards holdings are based around the town of Bué in Sancerre. This cuvee is sourced from forty year old vines. The Pinard site is a bit ambiguous whether Chêne Marchand is the name of a site or a cuvee, but either way, it's powerful, mineral drenched expression of Sancerre, "lime juice etched on limestone and chalk", to paraphrase and expand on an old descriptor of mine that has always been very apt for whites like this. The finish is dry, persistent and chalky that seems to linger forever. A really great wine, a bewitching wine. (June 22, 2021)
Weingut Salomon, Kremstal DAC Reserve, Undhof Pfaffenberg, Riesling, 2018
Austrian Rieslings are all about white pepper and quartz. And that's all she wrote. (June 21, 2021)
Sphera, Chardonnay, 2019
The first few vintages gave us Chardonnay that combined subtle power and a deceiving gentleness and a touch of rainwater on the nose. This is a more muscular version. I'm not making a judgment call, just making a note. It also feels more warm-weather Chardonnay than its predecessors, with yellow apples, pears, smoke and flint. (June 23, 2021)
Schloss Gobelsburg, Kamptal, DAC Reserve, Grub Erste Lage, Grüner Veltliner, 2010
This hasn't budged much since I drink a bottle four years ago: cantaloupes, smoke, mint and minerals on both nose and palate. I think it's a great Grüner, possessing mass without weight or palate fatigue. (June 25, 2021)
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