Matt Straus of Heirloom Café in San Francisco sponsored a panel discussion amongst Neal Rosenthal, Steven Singer and Kevin O’Connor. The subject of the evening’s discussion was the evolution of the US wine market over the past forty years. Matt played the role of moderator.
ON THE ROAD WITH JEREMY, NEIL AND CLARKE VISITING THE GROWERS AND REPORTING FROM THE FIELD PROVENCE AND THE LUBERON As was the case throughout the south of France, the defining characteristic of the 2017 growing season in Provence was the profound drought. Our growers in the Cotes de Provence, Bandol, Cassis, and the Cotes
If it seems unusual that Pierluigi Lugano, the proprietor and vignaiolo behind Bisson in Liguria, is also our source for the declassified Prosecco known as Glera, one might ask how this wine came to be. After all, Prosecco hails from an appellation 400 kilometers to the northeast of Lugano’s hometown of Chiavari in Liguria, in
As some of you may have noted, there is a different label on the Ferrando Spumante this vintage (2011). For this vintage at least the sparkling wine is referenced as “Spumante” without the specific distinction of the DOC of Erbaluce di Caluso. The reason for this is a technical one as explained in full by
Drinking 2012 Jaugaret tonight. A perfect wine in the purity of its expression of its terroir. Every wine should be this “correct”. In the background there is an enchanting herbal, weedy, tobacco rich flavor and bouquet, the tannins are bright yet with a pleasant grip; only 12.5% alcohol which is when Bordeaux from Cabernet is
The south of France produces fantastic rosé. The Cotes de Provence west of St. Tropez is a great place to try both innovative versions (at Chateau Léoube) and ultra classic ones (at Commanderie de Peyrassol and Domaines Ott). There are other sublime experiences at these properties, too-from laid-back beach cafés to contemporary art set along
Ploussard 2014 from Crinquand: a minor note of reduction on opening that quickly dissipates and leaves one with a wine of exceptional elegance, fine tannins and a pure red berry nose and flavors; charming, exceedingly flexible at the table; one of his best efforts. Chateau La Peyre, St Estephe 2010: run to this wine before
Next year, 2017, Rosenthal Wine Merchant begins its fortieth year in the wine trade. That seems like a very long time. It isn’t actually, I suppose, when you place our presence in the commerce of wine alongside that of several of our producers whose families have been caring for the vine and crafting wines for
Wine School By ERIC ASIMOV MAY 26, 2016 As summer approaches, much of the wine-drinking world is turning its attention to rosé. I can think of no reason not to join them. Rosé is made around the world. Much of this production has come about as the popularity of rosé has skyrocketed in
The long wait is finally over , after years of hard work in the vineyard and innovations in our new cellar , finally we go out with the first three wines officially certified as ORGANIC . The super stars are white Petite Arvine Vigne Rovettaz 2015 and the 2015 Muscat Petit Grain, among the reds
20 Wines for Under $20: The Spring Edition The Pour By ERIC ASIMOV APRIL 21, 2016 Monastero Suore Cistercensi Lazio Bianco Coenobium 2014, $19.99 This is a rare Lazio white with great character, a blend of trebbiano, malvasia and verdicchio. The grapes are grown by Cistercian nuns just north of Rome and made into
We are drinking the last bottle in the cellar of 1980 Haut Segottes. It is magic! This wine stretches the bounds of believability: 36 years since the harvest in a vintage that is considered one of the least ripe in memory; yet, this wine is fine, elegant, still fresh with a silky texture, savory, actually
Upcoming: an elite travel program curated by Neal Rosenthal designed to visit the vineyards, cellars and more as Neal has done for the past 38 years … details to follow soon!
Courtesy of our long friendship with Giampiero Bea, the Umbrian wunderkind and son of Paolo Bea, we had the special good fortune of meeting Gaetano and Nicoletta Gargano, the proprietors of Il Censo, an estate of 65 hectares situated in Bivona in the south-central zone of Sicily near the town of Palazzo Adriana, the site
The year 2015 brought an exciting new domaine , NOAH, to our portfolio as we continued to expand our work in the Alto Piemonte. Andrea Mosca and Giovanna Pepe Diaz established NOAH, named after their son, Francesco Noah, in 2010 when, seeking to satisfy a mutual longing to work the land, they purchased 4.7 hectares
The Tellus Vinea recently made a full three-vintage jump from 2011 to 2014. The Pueyos did not make the wine in 2012 or 2013 due to an exciting array of climatic phenomena, and ultimately were forced to look for a new source for this wine. The site on the border with Lalande-de-Pomerol was no longer
Buenos días to all at Rosenthal Wine Merchant, I hope you are all doing great in the U.S. Here winter is extremely mild with temperatures not lower than 50F and dry. This is particularly challenging as we have been almost 80 days without any rain, so we are looking forward to some rain for a
Enjoying this wine immensely this evening. Best when opened an hour in advance. Ultimately drinks “suave” … oily, sensuous texture, pine – quinine – chamomile flavors, great length, so very sophisticated, perhaps the finest white wine from the south of France. NIR
Before letting go of that 2014 burgundies that have been dominating this site for some weeks (apologies to burgundyphobes), I’d like to draw your attention to a domaine that seems to be getting better and better. read more
Carignan is susceptible to over production, particularly when the vine is young, compromising quality. Working with Carignan, it is essential to control yields to insure quality. Chateau Valcombe, Domaine Fenouillet, Domaine du Gour de Chaulé, Domaine La Manarine
Interview with Neal Rosenthal of Mad Rose Group, Rosenthal Wine Merchant. By Christine Bates
Domaine Thevenet & Fils 2013 Saint-Véran Clos de l’Ermitage Saint Claude Vieilles Vignes 88 2013 Mâcon Pierreclos 87 Vinous is a subscription based wine publication. Get more details here. We began working with Jean-Claude Thevenet in 1982. At that point, having taken responsibility for this family domaine in 1971 from his father, Raymond, when their
Domaine du Clos des Rocs – Oliver Giroux 2014 Pouilly-Loché En Chantone 89 2014 Mâcon-Loché En Près Forêt 88 2013 Pouilly-Loché Clos des Rocs Monopole 91 2013 Pouilly-Loché En Chantone 88 2012 Pouilly-Loché Clos des Rocs Monopole 92+ 2012 Pouilly-Loché Les Mûres 91+ 2012 Pouilly-Loché Les Barres 90 2012 Pouilly-Fuissé Les Pierrotes 89 Vinous is
Domain Cheveau 2013 Pouilly-Fuissé Aux Bouthières 91 2013 Pouilly-Fuissé Les Vieilles Vignes 90 2013 Pouilly-Fuissé Vers Cras 89+ 2013 Pouilly-Fuissé Les Trois Terroirs 89 Vinous is a subscription based wine publication. Get more details here. The cellars of the Domaine Cheveau are situated in the hamlet of Solutré-Pouilly in the heart of the appellation of
First comes the buildup, and then the feast. And then? Rarely do we pay attention to what happens after the bird has been carved and eaten, after the plates have been heaped with seconds, after the pies have been portioned out and after those final few bites have filled whatever space remains. read more
It’s a family (the Daney family) joke that the Cru d’Arche Pugneau has been an unclassified estate since 1855 despite the fact that its vineyards are encircled and touched and are otherwise and in all ways in the neighborhood of the most grand and fabled estates of Sauternes. The domaine has been in the Daney
Daniel-Etienne Defaix continues this long family tradition as he maintains a domaine of 26 hectares planted exclusively to Chardonnay and primarily in a series of vineyard sites classified 1er Cru.
During Neal Rosenthal’s recent trip to the northern Rhone Valley, he took a moment to “interview” our producers of Cornas: Corinne Lionnet and Ludovic Izerable of the Domaine Lionnet and Guillaume Gilles. The subject was, essentially, the “histories” of these two neighboring domaines … one (Lionnet) covering over 400 years and the other (Gilles) a
It is one of the most widely planted grapes in the world, known as garnacha in Spain and cannonau in Sardinia, but Americans know it best by its French name, grenache. read more
Dauvissat picked in 2013 during what he called “the best window” (from September 29 through October 3),
Neal Rosenthal and his partner, Kerry Madigan, proprietors of Rosenthal Wine Merchant Ltd, have purchased two vineyard parcels within the tiny but regal appellation of Carema, in the northwestern corner of Piedmont. Rosenthal and Madigan will collaborate with their long-time friends, the Ferrando family, to work and maintain these sites. Perched on terraces in the
The Provence estate relies on family tradition and ageworthy wines, ignoring the region’s rush to produce quaffing rosés
Cava, like California chardonnay, has suffered from a bad reputation.
The world loves rosé in summer.
Why Sauternes Is Underappreciated
Nicoletta Bocca has been the driving force at San Fereolo since she acquired the property in 1992, during which time she has mastered the terroir of her Valdibà subzone and completed the conversion to certified biodynamic (Demeter). We consider the estate to be among the greatest references for the terroir of Dogliani, which is located
Hello friends of Heirloom and happy summer. Some of you know, I mentioned it a few times in early May, we hosted the sine qua non American importer Neal Rosenthal at the restaurant about a month ago for two very special events. The feedback from both the afternoon tasting and the dinner was terrific, and
During a visit to the Haute-Savoie region of France for a wedding last weekend, we took the opportunity to head east to the Valais to visit a couple of our vignerons and check in on the progress of the vines. The weather couldn’t have been better, with clear skies and temperatures in the high 70s.
Working in Maspeth, Queens may not be as glamorous as commuting to Midtown, Manhattan but it does have one major perk: my daily walk through the RWM warehouse. Housing thousands of bottles of wine, some decades old, every row of boxes holds something to discover. I like to poke around, turning up treasures like old
BRILLIANT ideas sometimes arise out of pure necessity.