The Poor Man's Guide's
Wine Reviews

The 05 jumps from the glass with well focused oyster shell, wool, lemon verbena and lemon seed, all bolstered by a salty beach minerality. This vintage is already quite fat and ripe in flavor, but still maintains that vibrant, bitter citrus pith and seed and wooly waxiness of young Savs. Very distinctive and almost seems to have a lingering sweetness to the fruit. The mouth is much more ripe than the nose lets on and is more ripe than these usually are this young. Should continue to improve for some years. Two Stars.

Classic waxy and wooly Chenin fruit with hints of tropical fruit laced with chalky minerals jump from the glass. Quite round and waxy in texture with relatively low acid for a young Sav, this nevertheless stays fresh and vibrant. It is clearly for a rather ripe vintage for this part of the Loire but right now it is singing with complex flavors and a luxurious depth you can sink your teeth into. This isn't a teeth enamel stripping, mineral and acid monster like some intense young Savs can be, but it is fresh and fun and quite fetching right now. It should hold and even improve more for some years to come, but this probably won't make old bones like some vintages will (2002 and 1996 come to mind in the recent past). One Star Plus.

This shows off young, tart citrus and salty minerals like a hypothetical blend of a saline, maritime Muscadet and a Vouvray Sec. Stoney and citric with a strong pink grapefruit flavor. Like Muscadet with a bit more ripe fruit, like the melon and apple from a Riesling and Savennieres. Steely and nervous, a truly singular and characterful wine but this isn't for the faint of heart. Two Stars.

This 07 is quite young, hesitant on the nose with just hints of chalky minerals. While a bit hard to evaluate, in the mouth this really shows that it has a lot of potential. Hark, chalky rocks, hints of fine oak and very pretty, silky primary fruit. This is a refined and natural Meursault that should have a fine evolution assuming no problems with oxidation down the road. Two Stars.

Waxy, chalky with hints of ripe melon and pear, this is pretty and unassuming. In the mouth it is dry, fresh and minerally, yet with a bit of that almost Alsatian waxy roundness that gives it depth. One Star Plus.

Quite a bit more effusive than the Jobard from the same vintage, this has a butter, even creamy nose but with a very pretty subtle depth of minerals and flowers. Rich and seductive, this is also young but the granite mineral texture has a fine silky relief that is something to behold. A very different expression than the Jobard but still fine and with great potential. Two Stars.

This Bandol has hints of that typical sea air, Provençal herbs and bright strawberry fruit. It is fresh, lively and fun. It is relatively simple, but it is a nice value for a refreshing wine to enjoy during the heat. One Star.

This is similar in character to the Galantin although it has less of that sea air brine-like minerality you see in Bandols, given that Bandol is much closer to the Mediterranean coast (the town of Bandol is actually right on the water). But it still has that Provençal character and fresh, juicy red fruits. Another easy quaffer that is fun to drink and quite refreshing. One Star.

The Terrebrune Rosé tends to be on the more elegant, refined end of the spectrum, not as flamboyant and in your face as some more fruity or rustic examples. This comes off initially as a simple but very pretty rose with aromas of strawberry, chalk and sea brine with great purity and freshness. The purity of this makes it seem simple on first look, but as you snuggle up to it you notice excellent depth and complexity. It is pure, clean and fresh with a briney quality that makes it excellent with food, almost like a splash of fresh oyster juice. Very tasty. Two Stars.

Barbera is sometimes referred to as "the poor man's Barolo" and it could not be more true with any other Barbera. This is quite simply the best Barbera I've tasted. While the regular Barbera was a wonderful wine in its own right, this just takes everything to another level in the stratosphere. A stunning perfume literally leaps from the glass, showing off ripe fruit but the other accents are what dazzles. Flower petals, tar, rich soil and undergrowth like savory mushrooms and truffles… I could go on and on. The complexity and aromatic personality is just stupendous. One of those wines you are just happy to sniff for hours. The flavors don't disappoint either with layers of velvety, rich fruit and all the other nuances echoing back on the long finish. This is delicious already but could certainly hold in a cool cellar for a long time. This definitely gives you a glimpse into the greatness that is Giacosa. It does not quite have the power of the best Barolo and Barbaresco but those wines tend to be quite a bit more austere and hard when young. This is in a sense and "easier" wine to get. But it is by no means just a "beginners" Giacosa, this is the real deal. Bravo! Three Stars.

Similar aromas but with a bit darker, more brooding and austere personality. This doesn't have the fleshy ripe fruit that the Barbera has, it is more introspective and firmer in the mouth with more tannin and minerality. Over time this opens up more but is always on the more restrained, austere side. The acid and tannin in this make it an outstanding foil to savory Italian dishes. In a sense this isn't as "easy" to "get" as the Barbera and Falletto Barbera but it is an excellent wine. Two Stars.

This has a meaty, peppery dark fruit nose, similar to a young, inexpensive Montepulciano. The flavors are simple and refreshing and is quite fun to drink with a slight chill on it. But it doesn't have that bubble-gummy fruitiness that cheap Beaujolais can have. Instead it has a clear dollop of dust, earth and meat that make it seem a bit more serious and complex. This is an excellent choice for an everyday summer red or a barbecue wine. One Star.