Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards and Reviews of Fall 2016 National Release Wines

Earlier this summer, Paul Draper announced his retirement from Ridge Vineyards after forty-seven years. His statement about his retirement and career is here. (Continue reading here.)

A Few Attractive Languedoc Rosés -- Champart, Fontsainte, Riberach

The Languedoc (and Roussillon) can be very good sources of rosé, and generally at prices below those of Provence. I haven't had time to explore current releases in depth, but here are a few that I did enjoy. (Continue reading here.)

Some Select Rosés from Provence for the Dog Days of Summer -- Clos Cibonne, Fondrèche, Peyrassol, Pradeaux, Terrebrune,

In the past several years, the world outside of the south of France has come to appreciate that dry rosés from Provence can be the best thing (perhaps excepting beer) to drink in hot weather. Demand has skyrocketed accordingly. Here are some of my favorites of this summer. (Continue reading here.) 

Caveau de BACCHUS/Lucien AVIET & Fils (Montigny-par-Arbois, Jura)

Here’s a new discovery for me, and if these wines are typical of the estate, one that has moved immediately into my top tier of Jura producers. Lucien Aviet and his son Vincent work inlutte raisonnée (organic except where no other means of protection of the vines works). Their bottles are done in a beautiful calligraphic script that recalls hand-labelled bottles of long past. (Continue reading here.)

Domaine Bénédictine & Stéphane TISSOT/Domaine André et Mireille TISSOT (Montigny-les-Asures, Jura)

André and Mireille are the parents of Stéphane, who makes the wines under the names of both his parents and himself. The estates are certified biodynamic. Considered together, they are among the top Jura estates, in my estimation. (Continue reading here.)