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Idlewild The Bee Flora and Fauna White Wine 2017Proprietor Sam Bilbro has spent virtually a lifetime around wine. His family owns Marietta, while brothers Jake and Scot are behind the reborn Limerick Lane. At Idlewild, Sam Bilbro focuses on Italian and other less well-known varieties. In addition to these wines, I also tasted the, Arneis Fox Hill Vineyard, Vin Gris Dry Creek Valley and Grenache Gris Gibson Ranch. The best wines in this range are compelling, and point to a bright future. ANTONIO GALLONI, www.vinousmedia.com
Having had a relationship with the Bilbro family as importers of the Marietta wines some years ago we were delighted to find youngest son, Sam, was behind this new venture, Idlewild. In many ways the wines are the anitpathy of what so many believe Californian wines are supposed to be. Hunting out heritage stands of Italian and Rhone varietals (mostly in Mendocino County) Bilbro makes extremely interesting wines characterised by texture, savouriness and subtlety. Skin contact is a part of the wines as is a relatively non-interventionist approach; both indicative of the preferences of the younger brigade of Calfornia producers. PWS
The 2017 White The Bee Flora & Fauna, is a classy, polished wine to drink now and over the next few years. Green pear, mint, white flowers and light tropical overtones all grace this very pretty, expressive wine. The Muscat in particular adds an attractive aromatic flair. ANTONIO GALLONI2017Arneis, Cortese, MuscatUSA362$63.00 As low as $56.70 -
Jean Luc Jamet Cote Rotie Les Terrasses 2019The star of the show is the 2019 Côte Rôtie Terrasses, which can thought of as a hypothetical mix of the 2017 and 2018, with perhaps a nod to the 2017. Both red and black fruits, peppery herbs, dried flowers, graphite, and a beautiful sense of minerality define the bulk of the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with fine, building tannins, terrific overall balance, and a great finish. From a vintage that produced ripe, tannic wines, this stays balanced and pure and is loaded with potential. (96) JEB DUNNUCK
2019Shiraz ViognierFrance467$295.00 As low as $265.50 -
Cuilleron Cote Rotie Bassenon 202090% Syrah, 10% Viognier, from gneiss soils in southern sector, Bassenon the name of stream at foot of hill, official vineyard name Coteaux de Semons
Full, hearty red robe. The bouquet is full, but precise in its fruit declaration, has a smoky-oak coolness, lines up cassis, blue fruits. The palate carries the softness of Bassenon, is supple in feel, offers a gourmand set of mixed fruits, plums, carries squeezy, engaging tannins, ends on a wheel of roundness. It's attractive and true. Drink 2025-2047 5 STARS JOHN LIVINGSTONE-LEARMONTH
Vivid purple. Intense, sharply focused aromas of ripe red and blue fruits, licorice, exotic spices, apricot and olive. Stains the palate with sappy cherry, boysenberry and candied violet flavors. It steadily picks up spice and mineral flourishes with aeration. Well-concentrated and lively as well, finishing with excellent clarity, sneaky tannins and strong, floral-driven tenacity. Drink 2027-37 (95) JOSH RAYNOLDS
2019Shiraz ViognierFrance467$170.00 As low as $153.00