March 8, 2019

DOMAINE CHIGNARD “Les Moriers” Fleurie Beaujolais 2016

(Beaujolais, France) $26

Recently my old friend Kevin Zraly and I debated whether great cru Beaujolais could be the wine of the future. (He thinks so). I’m less convinced … unless most cru Beaujolais becomes as extraordinary as this dynamite Chignard Fleurie—a wild phantasmagorical swirling energy field of fruit and minerals. Outrageously floridly juicy and yet savory and complex at the same time, this is a serious wine (at the terrific price of $26). And like all of the top cru Beaujolais, it’s born in rocky granitic soils. Some wines completely upend your assumptions. This wine changed mine. (Ok Kevin, score one; but we’re not done yet). (12.5% abv)

92 points KM

Available at Vivino.com

What wine region boasts the oldest cabernet sauvignon vines in the world?

A. The Graves region of Bordeaux

B. The Ribera del Duero region of central Spain

C. The Barossa Valley of South Australia

D. The Livermore Valley, east of San Francisco

Cabernet vines planted in 1888 in the Barossa Valley of Australia are thought to be the oldest in the world. The vines are part of Penfold’s famous 10-acre “Block 42” parcel within the Kalimna Vineyard. Grenache and shiraz (syrah) vines that are more than 100 years old are also commonly found in Australia. Amazingly many of these oldsters are on their own roots (not grafted onto American rootstock), since Australia was not crippled by phylloxera, the root-eating insect that between 1860 and 2000 destroyed vineyards in most other parts of the world.

Concrete Eggs

Large egg-shaped concrete vessels used to ferment white wine. There are distinct advantages to using concrete eggs instead of oak barrels or stainless steel tanks. The oval shape of the egg helps create a vortex causing… Continue reading

DOMAINE CHIGNARD “Les Moriers” Fleurie Beaujolais 2016

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