Category: Reviews

Domaine Zind Humbrecht has produced some of the most widely recognized wines to come out of Alsace, France. Leonard Humbrecht married Genevieve Zind in 1959 and the couple has been at the forefront of the organic and biodynamic movement, creating wines with a forward-thinking approach from their inception. While their most well known wines come… Continue reading Zind Humbrecht Pinot d’Alsace 2005

Querciabella is a small Italian property based at Greve in the heart of Chianti. Their considerable reputation rests upon a range of superb hand-crafted biodynamic wines (see my Querciabella review). These include the Super-Tuscan Bátar, Palafreno and Camartina plus a delicious Chianti Classico DOCG. Owner Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni has expanded by planting a new vineyard… Continue reading Mongrana, Querciabella, Toscana, Italy 2006

I found this biodynamic wine at Bar Boloud in New York City, while dining on pâtés and blood sausage. Rarely does a wine from the Vacqueyras region of the southern Rhône Valley embody such a degree of complexity. A blend of Grenache and Syrah, Clos Montirius evokes aromas of macerated cherries and developed red currants,… Continue reading Clos Montirius Vacqueyras 2003

This wine comes from the Entre-Douro Minho region of northern Portugal, where the Vinho Verde country borders the river Douro. Owner Nino Araújo bought Quinta de Covela 15 yrs ago from the previous owners – Port House Ramos Pinto. There’s a long history of viticulture here, 19 ha of vines plus orchards and cork oaks… Continue reading Quinta de Covela Escolha, Portugal 2005

“I don’t like Merlot, and I like this.” This statement from our Editor-In-Chief set the scene for OWJ’s first wine tasting. The theme of the night was Merlot, and Adam was skeptical. So why was he staring into his glass with a look of bafflement, as if he had just discovered Jessica Simpson had a… Continue reading We’re Not Drinking Any !#$?!#! Merlot!

“Pick a theme,” we told Jean-Baptiste Humbert, owner of Wine Therapy in Manhattan’s Soho district. With his penchant for interesting tastes, and unusual grapes, we weren’t sure what to expect. The six wines he chose seemed to lack any connection, other than being red. No two shared the same region or varietal. As we tasted,… Continue reading Wine Therapy

Is there a difference between organic wine and organic winemaking? Alto Adige is an autonomous region of northeast Italy, where a majority of the population speaks German and there are the occasional calls for reuniting with Austria. The wines our panel tasted seemed to reflect this schizophrenic soul. “Organic” in winemaking usually applies to how… Continue reading The Divided Soul of Alto Adige

Spring is my favorite season. Everything is green, flowers are blossoming, and birds are chirping. It’s finally time to wear lighter clothes and drink lighter wines. But this doesn’t mean I’m about to compromise when it comes to complexity and intensity. Yes, Virginia. It is possible to have a wine that is light, yet intense… Continue reading Organic Wine Gal’s Spring And Summer Picks

Can Vendrell 2005 Chardonnay Xarello – Penedes, Spain This beautifully clean non-oaked white wine leads off with a scintillating nose of citrus, honeysuckle and slate followed by a brisk palate of assorted ripe melon, orange zest and tropical fruits with great acidity. This wine would be great with regional dishes like paella, with a focus… Continue reading Organic Wine Gal’s New Picks

After meeting with grape grower and educator David Salazar (read the previous article) we went to taste wines. First stop was the Rio Embudo Valley, just south of Taos, where Vivac and La Chiripada are found. Rio Embudo is a fertile, agricultural valley; a little scruffy, but full of earthy charm. La Chiripada We’ve been… Continue reading Land of Enchantment – The Wines