This latest Up From The Cellar is varied, with a mix of cellar favorites and miscellaneous new releases.
Looking at the new releases, it covers the latest from Michel Rolland’s Argentina project, including Bodega Yacochuya (Cafayate Valley) and Bodega Rolland (Mendoza). These are textured, balanced, hedonistic wines as well as terrific values.
There are two Pinot Noirs from the team of Morét Brealynn and Adam Lee, the Dial Tone and Busy Signal Pinot Noirs. These are both from Santa Barbara County and are up-front, fruit-loaded, and represent terrific values.
I was also able to taste the négociant wines from Jean-Louis Chave, including the Mon Coeur and current releases from the Northern Rhône. These are incredible values and are well worth your time and money to seek out.
Lastly, there are three 2020s from Matt Morris. I first tasted Matt’s wines in 2016 (which, I believe, was the first release) and continue to absolutely love his wines. While early releases focused on the rarely planted Charbono variety, the 2020s include two Santa Barbara County Syrahs, which are absolutely fabulous wines. This is a producer you should have on your radar.
Looking at the older wines, the report is heavy in both Rhône and Bordeaux, with some true gems including a 1961 Pontet-Canet, 1989 Haut-Brion, 2015 Le Pin, 2012 Petrus, and a number of 2010s. On the Rhône front, there are some incredible wines from Allemand, Bosquet des Papes, Bonneau, Beaucastel, Chapoutier, Clos des Papes, Charvin, Janasse, Jamet, Pégau, and others.
And last but not least, this report includes an incredible retrospective of Château Mouton Rothschild, which was poured at a masterclass for the Naples Wine Festival earlier this year. The event raised 26 million dollars supporting underprivileged children in the local community, and bravo to the incredible team at the Naples Winter Wine Festival as well as to the team at Château Mouton Rothschild for their contributions to the event, which included wines going back to 1986, as well as many vintages poured from magnum.
