Recent content by Bill Averett

How could I forget about Marcus's wines. The 2008 Matello Pinot Noirs are revelatory. They are built to age. He made a tiny amount of Syrah that I had a chance to have a sample. I'm sure there is none left to be had, but it was quite nice too.

Evesham Wood, Cameron, Crowley, Brick House, St Innocent(especially Temperance Hill bottling), Belle Pente, and J Christopher all already mentioned. Most of these guys are part of Deep Roots Coaliton, and make balanced wines consistently. I'd add Ayres up in Ribbon Ridge and J K Carriere in...

Indeed

Steve, I had the Belle Pente Reserve Pinot Gris not that long ago. Did Brian really tell you that he was trying to make a dessert wine and messed it up? That's pretty funny, but also explains a lot. I remember it being around 15% or something ridiculous. It smelled like a wine from Alsace...

For great sparkling, check out Cruzat. It's down the road from Catena. It is a modern, state-of-the art facility. They make a great Rose. The winemaker is very experimental, and there are different cuvees with varying dosages.

I give that post a solid, head nodding, "Nice, Levi."

I was given this bottle as a gift, thus only 1 bottle. I have heard mixed reviews on the 2004 Saar vintage. Can anyone offer any insight?

very interesting. I stand corrected. I couldn't find Foillard's site either.

Rahsaan, if you mean others may have more experience, as in they have actually visited the wineries, then I would love to hear from them. I believe you are grossly mistaken about Lapierre and Folliard practicing carbonic maceration. Everything I know of these producers has pointed in a...

I have tasted some excellent aged Lapierre and Folliard. The best aged Beaujolais I have ever had was a Folliard Morgon VV with 7 years of bottle age on it. It continued to get better over the course of 2 hours. Is there a floor limit for what you mean by aged, Rahsaan?

Looks like Picq is getting lots of votes here, so I figured I would toss my vote in too. His wines are about the best that I can afford.

You know what separates Phish from the Dead? I'm young enough to have 'grown up' listening to Phish, and although I never "toured," I can claim over 10 shows. Not many, but a nice smattering of blurry moments. Back to the question: the Dead never commanded $800/night for a scalped ticket...

In Virginia Beach, the retail IS grocery stores and Total Wine. Not that there are not some very noble people trying to run successful wine shops, but they are always behind the 8-ball. They struggle to stay afloat. The Charmer, Gallo, Constellation, Palm Bay houses send their reps into these...

I had a 2002 Ridge "Dusi" Zinfandel last week. It was a pretty wine.