2005 Domaine Auguste Clape Saint-Peray, France

Last week on his blog, Brooklynguy asked his readers which wine they would select from the wine list at Bleu Provence in Naples, Florida, if they had $100 to spend.  Lots of people responded, and the choices were diverse.  We couldn’t resist posing the challenge directly to the restaurant’s sommelier, Jacques Cariot.  Msr. Cariot also [...]

2006 Domaine La Barroche, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France

The first pick of 2010 comes from Kristina Long, sommelier at one of North America’s finest resorts, the Post Hotel & Spa at Lake Louise in Alberta:  ”This Chateauneuf-du-Pape offers bright blackberry and cherry fruit with notes of dried herb and black olive.  It’s got soft tannins, but still maintains a firm structure making it [...]

2005 Andre Brunel Les Cailloux “Cuvee Centenaire” Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France

This Week’s pick is offered by Brian Zipin, Wine Director at Central Michel Richard in Washington DC.  In anticipation of the upcoming big meal we will all enjoy on Thanksgiving day, we asked Brian to recommend a very big wine, and made the interview available on our podcast.  Here’s a portion of Brian’s comments:  ”The [...]

2007 Domaine la Monardière, Les 2 Monardes, Vacqueyras, France

This week’s pick comes from Eric Zillier, sommelier at the Wine Spectator Grand Award-winning Alto in New York City.  Eric offered the following comments about the 2007 red from Vacqueyras:  ”Until recently, those people that loved to drink Chateauneuf-du-Pape enjoyed some of the best values in the wine world.  The price of Chateauneufs have gone [...]

Jaboulet, Parallèle “45” Côtes Du Rhône

Tom Natan gave up a career as a chemical engineer after sampling wines of a select group of wine makers in Europe who were not exporting their wines across the Atlantic. Tom started First Vine in order to bring these delicious bottles to you. His current offering of Rhône reds and whites are tremendous values, [...]