2010 Jacques Puffeney Poulsard “M” Arbois Rouge, Jura, France
Puffeney is perhaps the Jura region’s most recognizable name, and his wines rarely disappoint. His single parcel Poulsard is no exception, with a high strung acidity and a nose of violets, freeze-dried raspberries, Mediterranean herbs and cedar. A… Read more
2005 Feudi della Medusa Cannonnau di Sardenia
Better known as Grenache, Cannonnau wouldn’t probably be my first choice for a single-varietal wine from Sardinia. But in this case it works, making for an unusual wine destined for some legendary food-pairings. Smoke, garrigue and even a bit of… Read more
2010 Domaine de la Pinte Arbois Poulsard de l’Ami Karl, Jura, France
Easy drinking and supple after a light chill, this Poulsard has Merlot-esque smooth tannins and a nice enveloping wood-aging note that reins in acidity and cherry-raspberry fruit. MSRP: $21.99 (October 2012) Wine Lines Rating:… Read more
2010 Louis Antoine Luyt Empedrado Carignan, Maule, Chile
As if natural Chilean wine wasn’t unusual enough, here’s a natural Chilean wine – a Carignan, no less – that is absolutely silky smooth and easy to drink. At 12.9 percent alcohol, it is more Old than New World, reflecting the profile of its… Read more
2010 Azienda Vinicola Calabretta ‘Gaio Gaio’ Rosso, Mt. Etna, Sicily, Italy
At only 11.5 percent alcohol, this Rosso is impossibly easy to drink. But in stark contrast to some easy to drink wines, the “Gaio Gaio” (“Joy Joy”) is also complex. The opening is a veritable forest of flavor, with crushed red berries,… Read more
2010 Les Vins Contes (Olivier Lemasson) ‘Le Petit Rouquin,’ Touraine, Loire Valley, France
Fundamentally, Olivier Lemasson’s “Le Petit Rouquin” is a wine that defies traditional descriptions and rating systems. Lemasson, who produces unfiltered natural wine under his Les Vins Contes label with no concern for the appellation’s… Read more
2010 Correggia ‘Anthos’ Brachetto, Puglia, Italy
Regular readers of Wine Lines know that I’m a sucker for elusive, lesser-known varietals and funky, unusual chilled reds from small-scale vignerons. The 2010 Anthos, then, is practically made for my palate, with vibrant Rainier cherries, a touch of… Read more
2010 Alamosa Wine Cellars Graciano, Tio Pancho Estate, Texas Hill Country
You don’t find much Graciano outside of Spain’s Rioja region, but Jim Johnson grows it in Texas and makes a decent varietal wine with it. Its high acid makes it ideal for a simple spaghetti dinner, and its burnt cherry, tar, tobacco and earth… Read more
2011 Palamà ‘Arcangelo’ Negroamaro I.G.T., Puglia, Italy
100 percent Negroamaro wine is hardly ever available this young, but this mono-varietal release from Nini Palama is a vibrant, expressive bargain that pumps out lush, glycerine flavors. Indeed, one might say it’s a pity only 3500 cases were… Read more
2009 Frank Cornelissen ‘Contadino 8’ Rosso, Mt. Etna, Italy
Frank Cornelissen’s wines don’t just have “a bit” of a cult following – they are more like the definition of “love-hate.” Count me in the first camp, as I find Cornelissen’s unfiltered, no-sulfur added bottlings delightfully peculiar… Read more
