Blog - Page 45 of 124 - Ansonia Wines

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

ADVANCE ORDER: Perfect Everyday Red and White Burgundies ($295/case)

A vigneron in Burgundy once told us that making delicious Grand Cru was easy — as she put it, “we just get out of the way.” So perfect are the materials that come from these hallowed, ancient plots that a winemaker’s job is mostly to avoid screwing them up.

Conversely, we often say the mark of a good winemaker is the quality of his simplest wine. Regional level cuvées usually don’t exhibit the subtle nuances of terroir for which Burgundy is famous, but they’re a chance for a winemaker to show off cellar skills.

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Rich, Floral, Generous: New Drink-Now 2018 White Burgundy

Michel Gros is best known for his brilliant red Burgundies from towns like Vosne-Romanée, Chambolle Musigny, and Nuits-St-Georges. But he also holds quite a bit of land in the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, a patchwork of rolling hills to the west of the Côte d’Or.

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Organic, Inky Châteauneuf-du-Pape Neighbor [ON SALE]

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the Rhône Valley’s most famous terroir. Known for its bold, inky rich wines mostly from Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, the town’s best examples improve for decades, and can cost three figures per bottle.

Monday, February 22, 2021

“Intense and Gripping:” Grüner Veltliner on Another Level

The Salomon-Undhof estate dates to 1792, and is currently on its 7th and 8th generation winemakers, father and son Bert and Bert Salomon. Their terraced vines overlooking the Danube have long been an excellent source, with the country’s preeminent wine guide calling them a “figurehead of Austrian wine history.”

Sunday, February 21, 2021

“Seductive,” “Loaded” New 92-pt Cornas

Cornas is a tiny appellation of only 50 growers. By rules and heritage, it’s the Northern Rhône: its wines are pure, unblended Syrah. But in spirit and character, it’s not far from the South. Cornas (which means “scorched earth” in Celtic) harvests a week earlier than Hermitage (just 20 minutes north), and the vertiginous slopes produce wines with a southern, sunbaked character.

Thursday, February 18, 2021

Sleek, Gorgeous Five Year-Old Red Burgundy

Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-St-Georges are neighbors with opposing characters. Vosne tends towards elegance, finesse, and spice; Nuits towards richness, more structure, and bolder flavors. In the hands of a talented winemaker, both can be superb.

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

“Perfectly Balanced” 2018 White Burgundy from St-Aubin

Burgundies are not getting any cheaper. With limited supply and ever-increasing demand, good values are harder and harder to find. But one Burgundian town that continues to deliver far more than people expect is St-Aubin. And we’re not the only ones to notice.

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Dry, Refreshing Biodynamic Riesling. $22

To many wine consumers,, Riesling is a cheap, insipid wine — rarely interesting, and never noble. But to those in the know, Riesling can be vibrant, dry, and extraordinarily well priced.

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Exquisite Dry Organic Chenin Blanc from the Loire. $19

Chenin blanc has an enormous range of expression. It can be anywhere from bone dry to very sweet depending on vintage, terroir, and winemaker. Vouvray is the original source for Chenin Blanc, but the surrounding towns in the central Loire Valley produce excellent examples as well.

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

A Rising Burgundy Star: Premier Cru 2018 Red Burgundy. $38

Climate change is hard to ignore when you’re a farmer. Warmer summers and earlier harvests have provided Burgundian growers with new challenges, as balance and freshness have become trickier to achieve. But in some corners of Burgundy, the warmer weather has been welcome.

Monday, February 8, 2021

Joyful, Old-Vine, Unoaked White Burgundy. $28

The most famous white Burgundies come from the Côte d’Or. Hailing from towns like Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet, and Meursault, these are regal white wines with every bit as much complexity as their red counterparts. They’re sophisticated, polished, and classy.

Sunday, February 7, 2021

“Fleshy,” “Supple” Old-Vine Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru

Chambolle Musigny is best known for three famous terroirs: the Grand Crus Musigny and Bonnes-Mares, and Premier Cru Amoureuses. All three fetch prices north of $500/bot, and are among the jewels of many serious collectors’ cellars.

Monday, February 1, 2021

Brilliant, Tension-Filled Dry Riesling under $20

Ask a group of sommeliers to name their favorite wine region and most will say Burgundy. But ask them for just one favorite grape varietal, and it’s likely Riesling. Aside from its excellent food friendliness, Riesling communicates terroir with as much honesty and precision as any other grape.

Monday, February 1, 2021

“Vibrant,” Old-Vine 2018 Premier Cru Chablis

Romain Collet took over his family’s fines in 2008, and has since made great strides. Having introduced organic farming, natural yeasts, and a lighter hand in the cellar, the Domaine Collet has regained its once loft status among sources for high-end Chablis.

Monday, February 1, 2021

Terrific New Grower Champagne under $50

The vignerons of Champagne grow Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Blanc de Noirs cuvées are blends using the two Pinot varietals, whose skins are dark but whose juice is clear – Blanc de blancs cuvées come from Chardonnay.