Updated July 22

I’ve had a great run of tasting experiences lately, including some remarkable reds. But, sorry, it’s too damned hot to talk about red wine today, although my fellow wine bloggers Sandra Crittenden (http://winelifehouston.com) and Russ Kane (http://vintagetexas.com) both ferreted out smart options as you’ll read below. Anyway, these were my favorite bottles of bubbles and rosés, plus a lovely debut sauvignon blanc from my old friends at Alexander Valley Vineyards.

BUBBLES

Champagne Bruno Paillard Première Cuvée Extra-Brut

From the winemaker: “A straw gold color and very fine bubbles. Its delicate hue comes from to the use of a high percentage of chardonnay (33 percent) and of the first pressing only. The first aromas reveal the citrus character of the chardonnay, such as lime and grapefruits. Red fruit aromas then come out, including redcurrant, raspberry, morello cherry – typical pinot noir (45 percent). On leaving the wine to open up, candied fruits, even exotic fruits of pinot meunier appear with aromas of banana and pineapple. The palate is lively. The nose is confirmed by the first taste, including citrus, almonds, toasted bread and “brioche”… but also redcurrant jelly, and dark fruits like cherry, fig or blackberry. The palate is full, quite long, with a very clean finish. Elegant, but not without complexity, this wine perfectly illustrates the house style.”

From me: Paillard was born in Reims in 1953 into a family already several generations steeped in the champagne trade — but only as grape growers and brokers. He, too, began his career as a broker before, at the age of 27, launching the first new champagne house in his neighborhood in nearly a century. Fourteen years later he had done well enough to purchase his first vineyard, three grand cru hectares in Oger in the Côte des Blancs. Today, his daughter Alice runs the show. Their bubbles are as good as bubbles from Champagne get at this price point.

$60.99 at Spec’s

2015 Artesa Codorníu Grand Reserve Brut

From the winemaker: “Continuing the grand tradition of Cavas Codorniu, which dates back to 1872, this Brut was produced using old world methods, and taking benefit of the incredible quality of the grapes farmed in our beloved region of Los Carneros, Napa Valley. It displays beautiful, fragrant aromas of pear, honeydew and apricot. Uplifting citrus flavors and fine bubbles are wrapped in crisp acidity, yet the round, creamy mouthfeel that comes from the wines years of lees contact persists through a lingering finish. Over time, the sparkling wine will continue to develop complexity.”

From me: A friend introduced me to this sparkler, which is available only through Artesa, and I’ll be internally thankful for that. It’s a tad pricey for what can only be described as an American Cava but still worth every penny.

$60 at http://shop.artesawinery.com

Pierre Spar Cremant d’Alsace Brut Rosé

From the winemaker: “Salmon pink color with fresh aromas of soft red berries, predominantly strawberry and raspberry. On the palate, round and fruity with hints of peach. The flavors are intense, with lively acidity framed by a well-made structure and delicate bubbles. The finish is smooth, clean and dry.

From the Wine Enthusiast, which score it a 90: “Yeasty mellowness is all that the shy nose gives away. The dark-pink hue of this wine promises body and fruit, which duly appear on the creamy palate. Mellow strawberry and apple pair with gentle freshness. A chalky texture supports the frothy foam while freshness highlights the dry roundness of the finish.”

From me: Maison Pierre Sparr knows its stuff. The Sparrs have been producing cremant since 1680. Made from pinot noir grown in Alsace’s prestigious Hau Rhin, it’s a superb bargain. It’s yet another bottle of excellent bubbles introduced to me by a friend. No man is an island, right?

$21.99 at Whole Foods

ROSÉS

Chateau Trinquevedel Tavel Rose 2021

From the winemaker: “A pink appearance like raspberry, expressive nose with notes of little red berries. On the palate, the wine is very balanced and in line with the nose. The palate is full with a long length. Good acidity provides a tense finale. Beautiful complexity, fine, fresh, fruity and elegant.

From the Wine Enthusiast, which scored it a 93: “Pale garnet in color and gorgeously perfumed with blossoms and watermelon, this crisp, blackberry-flavored rosé juxtaposes zesty black fruit flavors against a deep, penetrating undertone of crushed stone and spice. A stately expression of Tavel that’s likely to drink beautifully year-round.”

From me: Tavel’s are unique because it’s France’s only AOC permitted to produce rose and rose only. Trinquevedel owner Guillaume Demoulin is the fourth generation of his family to farm these vineyards, which were purchased along with a ramshackle chateau by his great-grandfather in 1936. But it took 24 more years to get the grapes up to snuff. Note that it was Louis XIV who first put Tavel on the map. The pink wines from the sunny region were almost all the Sun King drank.

$19.79 from http://wine.com

2022 Scaia Rosato Veneto

From the winemaker: “This Rosato is a pink-hued wine made from rondinella, a traditional Valpolicella grape variety that is not often seen on its own. It’s fresh and floral and delightfully refreshing.”

From James Suckling, who scored it a 90: “A pale, tight and nervy rosé with aromas and flavors of apricot skin and orange peel. Medium-bodied with super-clean, crisp flavor. Nicely done.”

From me: The Scaia project, begun in 2006, was established by the four brothers behind Tenuta Sant’Antonio in eastern Valpolicella with the aim of creating wines with a modern style not constricted by the denomination system. Why Scaia? That’s a word in the Veronese dialect for crumbs, like little pieces of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese that break off the large block, which the soil resembles. It’s thought to impart a higher acidity and bolder fruit character to the wines.

17.99 at http://wine.com

WHITE

2022 Alexander Valley Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

From the winemaker: “There are aromas of tropical fruits, passion fruit, green apple, grapefruit and melon. Bright acidity is followed by fresh juicy flavors of citrus – lime, grapefruit, and lemongrass, along with a slight minerality. It’s a lively wine bottled with a stelvin closure to lock in the freshness.”  

From me: The newest member of the AVV family — a double gold medalist in the 2023 North Cosat wine Competition — it was made from fruit grown in the Croft Vineyard, a unique parcel on the southern edge of the Alexander Valley that sits in a saddle 700 feet above the valley floor, allowing the fog from the coast to penetrate early in the morning. That cools off the vines and extends the hang-time for the grapes. Et voilà!

$24 at http://shop.avvwine.com (Or $26 at Porta’Vino)

H-town Happenings

Free Tastings every Saturday: Noon-5 p.m. at French Country Wines. http://frenchcountrywines.com

Tasting Thursdays at Cueva in the Marriott Marquis Houston: 6:30-7:30 p.m. every Thursday. $40

Wagyu and Wine Night: 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 26, at R-C Ranch. http://eventbrite.com $100

An Evening with Ridge Vineyards’ David Gates: 6:30-8 p.m., Thursday, July 27, at Vault & Vino. RSVP to JAMESBARLOW@SPECSONLINE.COM $50

Drop It like It’s Hot: An Evening of Savory, Sweet & Wine: Seatings at 6 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Thursday, July 27, at Fluff Bake Bar. (fluffbakebar.com, drinkwithdodie.com). $125.

Nickel and Nickel Winery dinner: 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, at the Atkins House. http://eventbrite.com $130

Platinum Wine Vault Luxury Tasting Event: 6:30-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11, at Bayway Cadillac in The Woodlands. https://www.wineandfoodweek.com/events/2023/platinum-wine-vault-2023

Women & Wine Empowerment Weekend: 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, at Norris Conference room at CityCentre. http://eventbrite.com $97-$1,500.

SERCA Gran Corte Vertical Tasting: 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at the SERCA Tasting Room. SERCA Wines – Upcoming Events $80 ($64 members)

Follow me

Podcast: Sporty Wine Guy, wherever you get your podcasts.   

Instagram: http://@sportywineguy

Twitter: @sportywineguy

Facebook: Dale Robertson

Others to follow

Jeremy Parzen (http://dobianchi.com)

My podcast partner in crime writes: “Thanks to my teaching gig at the Slow Food University of Gastronomic Sciences in Piedmont, I’ve been making at least two or more trips to the region every year for the last eight vintages. That’s been great news for my Jewish boy stomach: Piedmont is home to what is arguably my favorite dish of all times — vitello tonnato . . .”

Sandra Crittenden (http://winelifehouston.com)

Sandra writes: “For Galveston Monthly’s July issue, I wrote about chillable red wines to beat the heat during the hot days of summer and beyond. Try one of these wine recommendations and keep your cool today . . .”

Russ Kane (http://vintagetexas.com)

The Texas Wineslinger writes: “As long as it’s 76 F inside, I can pretend that it is late October with the low-humidity wind coming nicely out of the north. But, now… what wine? After a search of my wine cooler, I found it…”

Jeff Kralick (http://thedrunkencyclist.com)

Embarking on a catchup pinot noir tasting, the DC writes: “I am currently experiencing a phenomenon that I could not have fathomed a decade ago: I am awash in samples. According to my inventory, I am currently hovering around 200 bottles that were sent to me to taste. Since I am a bit of a math geek, I did some calculations: If I average going through 15 bottles a week (three a day—I try not to “work” on the weekend), that comes out to about 13 weeks of wine . . .”

Katrina Rene (http://thecorkscrewconcierge.com)

Kat writes: “If you’ve followed my adventures to Oregon wine country here and here (to name a couple) you know that I’ve got mad love for the wines of the entire state! Since the dreaded ‘Rona reared its ugly head, there has been so much going on there with some really notable changes. Of course, we were all locked down and some of it sorta went unnoticed. Emerging from the pandemic, the changes have continued. One of the big changes has been the creation of additional Willamette Valley AVAs. American Viticultural Area (“AVA”) is just a fancy way of saying a designated region. And for Oregon, it’s a big deal . . .”

Updated June 11

Back in February I was planning to write about Tony Parker’s buying a piece of the La Mascaronne winery in Provence, and we had a nice phone conversation about same. Despite his French roots, Parker gave most of the credit for his becoming a serious oenophile to Greg Popovich. The San Antonio Spurs coach was a super-serious collector and, to his credit, Pop wasn’t the least bit hesitant to pop corks on special bottles with his players.

But he proved real hesitant talking about same. The man is a superb coach with five championship rings, but he’s also intensely private away from the arena, and it didn’t help that Pop was enduring his worst season ever with the Spurs. I got nowhere trying to nail down a wine-centric chat with him, so my story stayed in limbo.

Fortunately.

Had it been written after our first interview, some rather significant stuff wouldn’t have made the piece, which finally ran Sunday in the San Antonio Express-News (Spurs legend Tony Parker toasts to the future (expressnews.com). In mid-March, the news broke that Parker would be going into the Basketball Hall of Fame this summer — along with Popovich. Then, in May, the Spurs won the right to make Victor Wembanyama the first pick in NBA draft.

Parker is France’s greatest basketball player ever. But, should he ever loses that title, it’s likely going to be claimed by the 7-3 Wembanyama, who, like Parker did back in the day, will make his NBA debut at 19 this fall. Needless to say, a second conversation with Parker would be required and it happened the morning after the Spurs called Wembanyama’s name.

Tony said he’d been doing interviews with French journalists for more than an hour before we hooked up and many more were scheduled. He promised to text me with the wines he’ll be tasting once he’s officially a member of the Hall of Fame — that happens Aug. 12 in Springfield, Mass. — and we discussed a rendezvous at La Mascaronne in September, when he’ll be there for his second harvest. My home in the Southern Alps is less than three hours from the winery, located in the Var above St. Tropez, and it’s a beautiful drive. Can’t wait to clink glasses with him.

But you don’t have to fly to Provence to taste the excellent La Mascaronne lineup. The wines are available in Houston at French Country Wines, 2433 Bartlett, in Rice Village (http://frenchcountrywines.com).

The Miraval mess

Speaking of Provence, If you’re curious about how Chateau Miraval devolved from being a very good under-the-radar rosé to mass-produced plonk, check out the latest issue of Vanity Fair: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/06/brad-pitt-angelina-jolie-miraval-rose-divorce While the story is primarily about the nasty “Brangelina” break up, the inside stuff about the winery was fascinating, too. Key fact: Under Tom Bove, who sold Miraval to the now-divorced Hollywood power couple, production had been 150,000 bottles annually. When Pitt partnered with the Perin family (Château Beaucastel), Bove said it skyrocketed to 10 million. That explains everything.

In fairness, the wine has gotten better over the last couple of years, but it’s still way down on my list of favorite pinks from Provence.

Bove, by the way, was also the proprietor of La Mascaronne before selling that property to Parker and the French entrepreneur Michel Reybier. In its case, however, there has been no drop-off whatsoever in quality.

Breaking news

Pastore Italian kitchen (https://pastorehouston.com/) has finally opened on Dunlavy in the same complex as George James, but it’s hardly the casual red-sauce and pasta joint chef Chis Shepherd seemingly envisioned before he parted ways with his Underbelly Hospitality investors suddenly last year. Rather, it’s starkly sleek and sophisticated space with a seafood-centric “coastal Italian” menu and a small but tantalizing wine list presided over by sommelier Zach Newman, who was previously part of Mollie Austad’s wine team at Bluedorn.

Newman inherited the Pastore list and, although there’s nothing to fix, he’ll surely want to put his own stamp on it going forward. When I popped in recently with Jody Schmal, my former Houston Chronicle Flavor Section editor, Newman sold us on the Ca’ Del Bosco Cuvee Prestige Edizione 45 from Franciacorta in Lombardy at $75. Bravo, Zach.

“Pastore,” fyi, means “shepherd” in Italian and Georgia James is, of course, Shepherd’s mother’s name. So he’s still part of same, even if he isn’t.

Sippin’ with Sporty

Pink

2020 Natura Rosé

From the winemaker: “Fragrance reminiscent of bunches of fresh strawberries. Bright, fresh red fruit flavors are silky and elegant on the palate. Slightly off-dry with good acidity. Delicate and easy to drink.”

From James Suckling, who scored it a 91: “Pristine, Pure and the freshest rosé possible. The organically grown grapes are handpicked in March, sorted and then directly pressed. Vinification takes place in stainless steel tanks with gentle pump overs and delicate lees stirring. The wine is aged for three months in stainless steel tanks and is filtered prior to bottling. Bright light pink. Bouquet: Intense fruity aromas, such as cherry and black currant. Taste: Good body, silky and elegant on the palate. Tremendously fresh, fruity, and balanced. Delicate and easy to drink.”

From me: What he said, and what a price! I love Costco.

$9.49 at Costco

White

2021 Laird Family Estate Sauvignon Blanc

From the winemaker: “The eye-catching clear white gold color is followed by tantalizing aromas of lemongrass, key lime pie, guava, and lilikoi. The palate is a continuation of the aromatic journey with flavors reminiscent of Thai basil, grapefruit, white peach, and elderflower. This wine is gleaming with lively acidity and rounded out by a strikingly smooth finish.”

From me: From what’s truly a family operation that dates back to 1970, when Ken Laird bought a 70-acre plot covered with scraggly prune trees on Tubbs Lane near Calistoga, it’s a splendidly fruit-forward gem made from sav blanc fruit grown in Napa Valley’s Big Ranch Vineyard.

$30 at http://lairdfamilyestate.com

Red

2021 C. L. Butaud PaPa Frenchy Red  Wine

From the winemaker: “Soft sandalwood, taut black cherry, and graham cracker crust aromas give way to a spirited palate, elevated by gentle acidity. There is a focused texture on the entry that migrates to the edges of your mouth, with bright red fruits from the grenache (60 percent), herbed ham flavors from the mourvèdre, and sweet tobacco from the tempranillo. The succinct and structured finish is reminiscent of the crispness of fresh strawberry seeds.”

From me: The wine, and the winery’s name, is an homage to winemaker Randy Hester’s great grandfather, Clet Louis Butaud, whose friends called him “Frenchy.” Frenchy would be proud of this bottle, which represents outstanding value.

$18 at http://clbataud.com

H-town Happenings

Free Tastings every Saturday: Noon-5 p.m. at French Country Wines. http://frenchcountrywines.com

Tasting Thursdays at Cueva in the Marriott Marquis Houston: 6:30-7:30 p.m. every Thursday. $40

Women of Wine Charities 9th Sangria Throwdown: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, at Mercedes Benz of Houston Greenway. https://www.wowcharities.org/sangria2023/ $95

Avignonesi Wine Dinner with Giuseppe Santtarelli: 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, at Roma. 713 664-7581 $99

Drop It like It’s Hot: An Evening of Savory, Sweet & Wine: Seatings at 6 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Thursday, July 27, at Fluff Bake Bar. (fluffbakebar.com, drinkwithdodie.com). $125.

Nickel and Nick Winery dinner: 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, at the Atkins House. http://eventbrite.com $130

Platinum Wine Vault Luxury Tasting Event: 6:30-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11, at Bayway Cadillac in The Woodlands. https://www.wineandfoodweek.com/events/2023/platinum-wine-vault-2023

Women & Wine Empowerment Weekend: 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, at Norris Conference room at CityCentre. http://eventbrite.com $97-$1,500.

Follow me

Podcast: Sporty Wine Guy, wherever you get your podcasts.   

Instagram: http://@sportywineguy

Twitter: @sportywineguy

Facebook: Dale Robertson

Others to follow

Jeremy Parzen (http://dobianchi.com)

My podcast partner in crime writes: “What an incredible year it’s been already! From Lucciola in New York City to The Wine Country in Long Beach, California; from Pasta And… in Margate, Florida to Cry Wolf in Dallas and Davanti in Houston. Over the last six months, I’ve had the opportunity to interact with some of the brightest and best people in our business . . .”

Sandra Crittenden (http://winelifehouston.com)

Sandra writes: “I was very excited to visit the Asolo DOCG Prosecco region at the end of May on a press trip as it is an Italian area that I have not previously traveled through. Asolo is located in the Province of Treviso at the foot of Monte Grappa in the high hills to the west of the Piave River with views of the Dolomites. The grapes are grown in 17 communes surrounding the town of Asolo . . .”  

Russ Kane (http://vintagetexas.com)

The Texas Wineslinger writes: “I made an interesting comparison between what I called our Texas red sandy loam over porous caliche limestone and the coveted red sandy loam and limestone found in the Australian Coonawarra wine region that they called “Terra Rossa”. Literally the next day from half the world away, I received a comment to my blog coming back at me from seasoned wine critic Philip White who has written for Australia’s major newspapers and many magazines worldwide. White said that I had a bad case of “Coonawarra Envy . . .”  

Jeff Kralick (http://thedrunkencyclist.com)

The DC writes: “When I first started writing about wine, I really never envisioned that wineries would actually send me wine to review on this site. Sure, I secretly hoped it would happen, but I really harbored no illusions that my furtive desire would come to fruition. Fast forward nearly a dozen years into this blog and I still am a little flabbergasted that I receive wines on a regular basis. While I genuinely feel fortunate to receive any wines from producers, there are certainly some boxes that elicit euphoria, and at the top of that list is Tongue Dancer Wines . . .”

Katrina Rene (http://thecorkscrewconcierge.com)

Kat writes: “Oh Zinfandel, I was wrong! Zinfandel, America’s Heritage Wine, as it is referred to by some, is literally living American history. As a person who legit went out of her way to avoid Zinfandel, my anti-Zin stance started to thaw several years ago when I attended a master class on the grape and got to experience several iterations of the wine from various producers. Before then, a couple of bad experiences made me (wrongly) assume that Zin was just an alcoholic fruit bomb with very little substance or complexity. While I was indeed thawing, I still wasn’t all the way there. However, after attending a three-day wine and food extravaganza dedicated solely to Zinfandel . . .”

We got the band back together last week, which is to say my Chronicle panel convened for a too-long-in-coming reunion. But this was real work like in the good old days, not an excuse to have a party. We blind-tasted our way through 36 wines and the stars of the show follow, scored as always on my 20-point scale — a maximum of 10 for quality (average score from the panelists) and 10 for value, which I assign.

2022 Kirkland Cotes de Provence Rose

Score: 19.1 (9.1 for quality, 10 for value)

From the http://costcowineblog.com: “Nice strawberry, peach flavors with a little orange creamsicle twisted in. Light to medium in body. Crisp and refreshing; just what you want in rosé, and pairs nice with warm weather, but can go with about anything.”

From our tasters, eight of whom scored it at least a 9 with a high score of 9.5: “Fresh, with a touch of salinity. A dry classic rose.”

From me: It’s grenache/cinsault-centric (two-thirds of the blend) with syrah, carignan, tibouren, vermentino and ugni blanc playing strong supporting roles. Offers off-the-charts value in this bottle, folks

$7.99 at Costco

2021 J. Lohr South Ridge Syrah Paso Robles

19.1 (9.1 for quality, 10 for value)

From the winemaker: “Deeply colored with vibrant purple and magenta hues. Varietal aromas of black cherry and fresh blueberry are accented by black tea, bergamot, and lilac. The juicy and spicy structure of this northern Rhône cultivar is lengthened and lifted by the inclusion of grenache, mourvèdre, roussanne, and viognier.”

From our tasters, six of whom gave it at least a 9 with a high score of 9.5: “Floral nose. Ripe fruit on the palate. Chewy tannins. Delicious.”

From me: Another screaming steal at this price. Fifteen bucks? Are you kidding me?

$15 at http://jlohr.com

2022 Rouge-Bleu Dentelle Mediteranée Blanc

Score: 19 (9 for quality, 10 for value)

From the winemaker: “Named after our local mountain chain, Dentelle is a fruit driven, ready to drink wine which will charm wine connoisseurs and novices alike by its elegance and approachability.”

From our tasters, six of whom gave it at least a 9 with a high score of 9.5: “Floral and fruity. Apple and spice notes.”

From me: Rouge-Bleu, in the Sainte-Cecille AOC on the Rhone Valley floor, proved an excellent stop on my recent South of France wine tour. This bargain gem is a kitchen-sink blend of vermentino, marsanne, clairette blanc, roussanne, viognier, grenache gris, bourboulenc, grenache blanc, gros manseng, chenin blanc, muscat petits grains, carignan blanc and picpoul.

$20 at French Country Wines in Houston

2020 Greenwing Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

19 (9 for quality, 10 for value)

From the winemaker: “This vivacious cabernet sauvignon displays enticing aromas of black cherry, ripe strawberry, loamy earth and a hint of desert sage. The bright red berry layers are echoed on the lively palate, with supple tannins and juicy acidity framing the generous fruit and carrying the wine to a long, graceful finish.” 

From our tasters, seven of whom gave it at least a 9 with a high score of 9.2: “Ripe dark fruit, pronounced tannins. Spicy!”

From me: The Columbia Valley is located between the 46th and 47th parallels, the same as Bordeaux (and Burgundy). Winemaker Brian Rudin couldn’t have asked for better cabernet terroir than he’s got in the wilds of Eastern Washington.

$33.99 at http://wine.com

2019 Canvasback Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain

18.6 (9.1 for quality, 9.5 for value)

From the winemaker: “This lush and alluring cabernet begins with aromas of ripe strawberry, grenadine and Bing cherry that leap from the glass, followed by notes of sarsaparilla, root spices, black licorice cinnamon and star anise. On the palate it is both luxurious and energetic, with plush tannins and ripe red berry flavors balanced by enlivening energy and sophisticated hints of cigar wrapper, granitic minerality and sweet baking spices.

From our tasters, six of whom gave it at least a 9 with a high score of 9.4: “Lively nose and palate. Casis and dark berry flavors.”

From James Suckling, who awarded at score of 92: “Aromas of grated nutmeg, black and red currants and wild herbs. Full-bodied with firm tannins. Fresh acidity and ripe fruit create a pleasant dynamic on the palate. Well balanced.”

From me: Like it’s Duckhorn brethren Greenwing, it’s named for a duck. It’s also made by Rudin, who clearly has a great grasp of his great terroir.

$36.99 at http://wine.com

2019 Decoy Limited Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

18.6 (9.1 for quality, 9.5 for value)

From the winemaker: “This alluring pinot noir offers vibrant aromas of red cherry and raspberry, as well as hints of savory spices and forest floor. On the palate, silky smooth tannins and refined notes of toasted French oak accentuate the lush flavors, while carrying the wine to an elegant red berry and spice finish.”

From our tasters, five of whom gave it at least a 9 with a high score of 9.5: “Full-bodied, well-balanced. Should be age-worthy.”

From the Wine Enthusiast, which scored it a 90: “Working with vineyards from Green Valley, Russian River Valley and the Petaluma Gap, this wine is juicy, delicate and citrus-driven in style, laced with strawberry, pomegranate and grapefruit tones. The tannins build on the midpalate as a toasted oak accent provides lushness to the finish.”

From me: Pinots at this price point don’t get much better. But the California Decoy from the 2021 vintage didn’t do badly either, earning five scores of 9 or higher, and it’s five bucks cheaper.

$30 at http://decoywines.com

2019 Cuvaison Small Lot Arcilla Merlot Napa Valley

18.3 (9.3 quality, 9 value)

From the winemaker: “Our 2019 Merlot Arcilla is a powerhouse style of Merlot, rife with black cherry, sandalwood, coffee, and cocoa nib notes. On the palate the wine is expansive and rewards with cherry and blackberry fruit, silky tannins, and an earthy, spicy finish that is both savory and inviting. Emblematic of a cool vintage, this merlot, rooted in Arcilla clay soils, shows the richness and elegance of merlot perfectly matched to its terroir.

From our tasters, seven of whom gave it at least a 9 with a high score of 9.4: “Round and ripe with blackberries and mint flavors front and center.”

From me: Pay attention to the “small lot” designation. Fewer than nine cases were made so it won’t be available for long.

$70 at http://cuvaison.com

2019 Emeritus Pinot Noir Pinot Hill East

18.2 (9.2 for quality, 9 for value)

From the winemaker: “Like Pinot Hill itself, this wine seems to exist on that borderline between cool coastal fog and wind and the fleeting warmth of the sun. The influence of the Pacific is echoed in the mélange of sweet and savory flavors, with aromas of ocean air and dried strawberries mingling with notions of sesame oil and sunflowers. The tannins are taut like a bowstring, providing a flexible quality that adds energy to the rich red berry flavors as they glide to a bright, soaring finish. This is a fabulous food wine that should be served just a touch warmer than cellar temperature.”

From our tasters, eight of whom gave it at least a 9 with a high score of 9.4: “Rich, ripe and savory . . . Complex.”

From me: All four Emeritus pinots in the tasting — Hallberg Ranch, Pinot Hill and Pinot Hill West were the others — scored extremely well, but the East proved best. In case you’re wondering, Pinot Hill is in the Sebastopol Hills southwest of the town of Sebastopol, the coolest sub-region of the Russian River Valley.

$78 at http://emeritusvineyards.com

2022 Fiddlehead Cellars La Pressa Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Los Osos District

18.1 (9 for quality, 9 for value)

From the winemaker: “Sauvignon Blanc yearns to be wild, but has such extraordinary style when it is tamed. With our over 30 years of refinement, we know this sweet spot of warmer days and cool evenings nurtures balance in our wines. I am excited to return to this historic old vine source that I worked with 25 years ago, and to bring this Old World Varietal back to its graceful expression.”

From our tasters, eight of whom gave it at least a 9 with a high score of 9.3: “Bright and lively with expressive minerality and acidity.”

From me: Fiddlehead Cellars’ Kathy Joseph, a Santa Barbara County wine-making pioneer, describes her oak-barrel-aged sauvignon blanc style as being “textural.” What it isn’t is “green.” (Which is to say New Zealand sav blanc.) Fans of the movie “Sideways” will recall Joseph conversing with Paul Giamati’s Miles character about the Fiddlehead Cellars’ Sauvignon Blanc. She tells him it spent 12 months in oak. He replies, “This is good. Little hints of cloves.”

$36 at http://fiddleheadcellars.com

2019 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

18 (9 for quality, 9 for value)

From the winemaker: “This is an elegant wine with earthy aromas of cassis, plum, black cherry, vanilla, oak, chocolate and a slight cola note. In the glass there are lush flavors of cherry, cassis, blackberry and chocolate. The 2019 is a structured wine with firm tannins and a chewy finish that evolves with each sip. While fruit forward upon release, this wine will reward those with the patience to lay down a few bottles.”

From our tasters, seven of whom gave it at least a 9 with a high score of 9.3: “Yummy blackberries.”

From James Suckling, who awarded a score of 91: “Aromas of blueberries, blackberries and crushed sage. Full-bodied with silky tannins. Lean and focused on the palate with solid depth. Dry finish. Drink now.”

From me: Jordan remains a reference-standard cab for me. After 13 years working in the winery’s cellar, Maggie Kruse made her winemaking debut with this vintage and she nailed it.

$60 at http://jordanwinery.com

H-town Happenings

Tutti Quanti Italian Market wine tasting: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 27. Free. http://eventbrite.com

Tasting Thursdays at Cueva in Marriott Marquis Houston: 6:30-7:30 p.m. every Thursday. $40. http://eventbrite.com

Sparkling wine tasting with mini-brunch bites: Noon Sunday, July 9, at We Olive & Wine Bar. $35-$140. http://eventbrite.com

Truly Greek, Truly Unique Wine Tasting: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 13 at JMP Wines Tasting Room. $75. http://eventbrite.com

Follow me

Podcast: Sporty Wine Guy, wherever you get your podcasts.   

Instagram: http://@sportywineguy

Twitter: @sportywineguy

Facebook: Dale Robertson

Others to follow

Jeremy Parzen (http://dobianchi.com)

My podcast partner in crime writes: “From my colleague Nicola Perullo at the Slow Food University of Gastronomic Sciences in Piedmont to leading sommelier and author Pascaline Lepeltier in New York City, wine thinkers across the world are trying to forge a new language — a new dialectic — to describe the tasting experience. If ever the twain were to meet, I doubt they would agree on much — except for one thing: the hegemony of the 20th-century tasting note (and score) must be disrupted for Westerners to continue to evolve as tasters . . .”

Sandra Crittenden (http://winelifehouston.com)

Sandra writes: “I was very excited to visit the Asolo DOCG Prosecco region at the end of May on a press trip as it is an Italian area that I have not previously traveled through. Asolo is located in the Province of Treviso at the foot of Monte Grappa in the high hills to the west of the Piave River with views of the Dolomites. The grapes are grown in 17 communes surrounding the town of Asolo . . .”

Russ Kane (http://vintagetexas.com)

The Texas Wineslinger writes: “About a week ago, Austin-based Denise Clarke and her Texas Fine Wine wineries had another of their quarterly Talk and Taste sessions on Zoom. This one was “Summer Sippers” and offered wine suggestions for quenching our summertime thirst. And, it couldn’t have come at a better time as in Houston we are moving into the 100-102 F range and in the hill country temperatures are blazing at 105-107 F… It’s bloody hot all over the state, if you ask me. Check out these four “Summer Sippers”, a quench from Texas Fine Wine . . .”

Jeff Kralick (http://thedrunkencyclist.com)

The DC writes: “I am out of town again this week, first in San Diego as a wine judge for the Critics Challenge and then to Austin for another basketball tournament. As I usually do when I am out of town, I revisit a Sundays Are For Sebastian, our fourteen-year-old soon-to-be sophomore in high school(!). This one comes from four years ago when he was ten . . .”

Katrina Rene (http://thecorkscrewconcierge.com)

Kat writes: “And just Iike that – it’s June. School is out. Thank God! And I swear it seems that EVERYONE is on vacay! I definitely need to join them. If you’re headed out to Texas Wine Country, there are plenty of fun events. In fact, I need to give a special shoutout to Texas wineries. Their wines performed amazingly well as last month’s 2023 TEXSOM International Wine Awards, taking home 168 awards. Texas wine continues to shine . . .”

Truth to tell, tours aren’t my thing. When it comes to travel, I tend to be a lone ranger, setting my own schedule as I go. But my recent Gourmet Tours (http://gourmettours.biz) adventure in the South of France with my buddy Pablo Valqui and a lovely mix of new and old friends changed my thinking. By the end of our nine days together, having tasted our way through Provence, the Languedoc and the Rhone Valley with urban detours to Marseille and Nice in the mix, too, we felt like a team. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

In fact, I will do it again next spring, exploring my other co-favorite wine region, Italy’s Piemonte. Save the dates: May 22-June 2. We’ll fly into Turin and out of Milan with time set aside to tour both great cities. My favorite wineries (Ceretto, Oddero, Bruno Rocca and Marchesi di Gresy, to name a few) are certain to be in the mix, as will visits to several Michelin-starred restaurants and other fascinating places. Fact: Alba’s eateries have more etoiles on a per-capita basis than any town in the world. So watch this space. Details to come!

But, before moving forward, permit me to look backward for a moment. Here’s a list with links to the must-visit wineries and restaurants we experienced in France. I’d happily return to every one of them again and again.

Wineries

Chateau La Mascaronne (Var): Owned in part by basketball Hall-of-Famer Tony Parker, the property sits in a gorgeous natural amphitheater a short drive inland from St. Tropez. (www.chateau-lamascaronne.com) These superb wines are sold in Houston at French Country Wines (www.frenchcountrywines.com).

St. Pierre de Mejans (Luberon): Houston-area native Wendy Gobbi and her husband took over this property a couple years ago and have turned it into both a prime tasting venue and a luxury auberge, housed in a small chateau that dates to the 12th century. (http://saintpierredemejans.com). The wines can be purchased here through http://aocselections.com)

L’Hospitalet (La Clape): Unfortunately, it’s only Gérard Bertrand’s entry-level Languedoc wines are easily found on Houston shelves, but searching for the high-end offerings will be well worth your time. The Clos d’Ora GSM from the Minervois should sell for $250 because it’s absolutely that good. (http://gerard-bertrand.shop)

Chateau de Luc (Corbieres): This was the find of the trip and all credit to to Pablo for that. He picked it. The Fabre’s wine-making family goes back 14 generations and the current twin sisters who are the public face of the place, Jeanne and Clemence (pictured below), were equal parts delightful and super wine savvy. I learned more about the Languedoc’s star-crossed wine-making history in an hour with Jeanne than I knew before I arrived. And the wines should soon be in the Texas market. A family member has relocated to Austin. (www.famillefabre.com)

Domaine Rouge-Bleu (Saint Cecille): Thomas Bertrand (pictured below), who learned the wine business on the sale’s side while living in the UK, and his winemaker wife Caroline Jones, who hails from Australia, are doing great things using non-interventionist farming methods on their Rhone Valley floor terroir. http://rouge-bleu.com Their offerings can also be found in Houston at French Country Wines.

Chêne Bleu (Ventoux/Vaucluse): The gorgeously restored property, built on the bones of medieval monastery that later became a renowned glass-blowing factory, is also set in a natural amphitheater in the hills near Crestet to the east of Mont Ventoux. New Yorker Nicole Rolet, who presides over the operation, is a force of nature. The biodynamically made wines have re-defined the possible for this often-overlooked AOC, and there’s a luxurious villa for rent on site. (http://chenebleu.com)

Domaine de Mourchon (Seguret): I’ve known Walter McKinlay and his wife Ronnie for more than 20 years and have made frequent pilgrimages to the Mourchon tasting room, so it was a special treat to visit with new friends. McKinlay’s daughter Kate capably presides over the winery these days. Note that the hilltop villa on the property is now available for rental. With spectacular views of Mont Ventoux and the Baronies range to the north, I can’t imagine a finer wedding venue . . . Well, let’s call it a tie with Chêne Bleu’s.

Domaine de Cabasse (Seguret/Sablet/Gigondas): I knew it only as a hotel before our visit, but the grenache-centric wines (white and red) are excellent, very well-priced and can be found on the shelf at Spec’s. Owner Benoit Baudry is a charming raconteur, too.

Restaurants

Each gets a hearty two-thumbs-way-up recommendation from me. They range in style from super casual (Cambuse du Sanier) to tres elegante (L’Oustelet). I can’t personally vouch for three other stops the group made because I had a different itinerary those days, but everybody said they were excellent, too, with La Ferme Marine on the coast in Marseillan (www.lafermemarine.fr) receiving especially high marks. I’m proud to say we batted 1.000 on both food and wine.

Le Pigonnet (Aix-en-Provence): Elegant, refined and creative dining in the most stylish of settings. The spacious outdoor garden is even more gorgeous, but rain threatened, dang it. www.hotelpigonnet.com

Domaine du Lac (Le Luc): Wonderful patio with vineyard views. Hearty portions and happy servers. www.hoteldomainedulac.com

1860 Le Palais (Marseille center): Excellent terrace with city views, with an excellent bakery attached. Very close to the Old Port. 1860lepalais.fr

Les Bain Bars (Marseille seashore): Hipster heaven with a fine view of the sea and the islands just off the coast. lesbainsmarseille.com

Refuge de la Cure (Ubaye Valley): Chef Hubert Longeron proved to be a huge hit cooking in my kitchen. His charming, remote gîte wasn’t yet open, so he came to us instead. maljassetgite.fr

L’Art de Vivre at L’Hospitalet (le Clappe): Checked all the fine-dining boxes. www.restaurant–art–de–vivre.com

Fontfroide Abbey Restaurant (near Narbonne): Relaxed dining in a lovely setting adjacent to the famous abbey. Super-friendly servers. www.fontfroide.com

Cambuse du Saunier (Gruisson): A lively crab shack adjacent to the salt beds with a postcard view of the lagoon. www.lesalindegruissan.fr

Restaurant des Fines Roches (Chateauneuf-du-Pape): Another great terrace with vineyard views. chateaufinesroches.com

L’Oustolet (Gigondas): A place I’ve dined at numerous times, it owns a well-deserved Michelin star. www.loustalet-gigondas.com

Le Mesclun (Seguret): Set in the heart of Seguret, one of France’s most beautiful villages, with vineyard and sunset views. www.lemesclun.com

Le Panier (Nice): A cozy bistro with a family feel and an urban vibe. www.restaurantlepanier.com

Sippin’ with Sporty

No touts for you today — I’ve been trying to give my liver a rest — but a bunch of them will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead. On Monday night, I’m hosting a Porta’Vino reunion of my tasting panel that served me and the Houston Chronicle so well for so many years. Same folks, same format, which is to say some 40 wines will be sampled blind, then scored on a 20-point scale taking into account both quality and value. It’s a fail-safe process. Recommendations coming!

H-town Happenings

Classy Cork Room Old World wines tasting: 6-8 p.m. Saturday, June 17 at Classy Cork Room. $65. 832-534-1900 or http://contacttheclassycork.com

Duckhorn wine dinner: 7 p.m. Friday, June 23, at the Oceanaire Seafood Room. $175. http://eventbrite.com

Marchesi Antinori wine dinners: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 22, through, Saturday, June 24 at Potente. $275 plus tax and gratuity. http://eventbrite.com

Six-year vertical tasting (2014-19) of SERCA Gran Corte: 4 p.m. Saturday, June 24, at SERCA Wines Tasting Room. $80 ($64 for club members). http://eventbrite.com

Tutti Quanti Italian Market wine tasting: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 27. Free. http://eventbrite.com

Sparkling wine tasting with mini-brunch bites: Noon Sunday, July 9, at We Olive & Wine Bar. $35-$140. http://eventbrite.com

The Sports Page

Raising a glass to . . . the Nuggets and the Knights.

First-time champions in the NBA and NHL respectively, they gave us a break from the same ol’ same ol’ this season. Amazingly, though, there are still 10 NBA franchises and 11 in the NHL never to have claimed a title. The corresponding numbers for the NFL and MLB are 9 and 6 respectively.

Pouring one out for . . . Bob Hyde

The longtime Oilers/Titans PR man, who passed away recently after a long battle with cancer, was the very definition of an old-school good guy. I met him for the first time when he was interning with the Oilers in 1977, my second year covering the team. From that summer on, we never exchanged a cross word, no easy feat given the dynamics of what’s so often a tense relationship. RIP, Bob.

Follow me

Podcast: Sporty Wine Guy, wherever you get your podcasts.   

Instagram: http://@sportywineguy

Twitter: @sportywineguy

Facebook: Dale Robertson

Others to follow

Jeremy Parzen (http://dobianchi.com)

My podcast partner in crime talks about testing AI’s capabilities with his Slow Food University students. He also bids a not-fond farewell to Silvio Berlusconi, the clownish, corrupt former Italian prime minister who died recently.

Sandra Crittenden (http://winelifehouston.com)

Sandra reports on her recent whirlwind tour of Prosecco country.

Russ Kane (http://vintagetexas.com)

The Texas Wineslinger veers out of his lane a bit to talk about Georgia wines. As in Georgia the state, not the former Soviet republic.

Jeff Kralick (http://thedrunkencyclist.com)

The DC provides a crash course in Uruguay’s wine landscape.

Katrina Rene (http://thecorkscrewconcierge.com)

Kat suggests the perfect wine pairings for a range of summer activities.

Twenty years ago this summer, on a diabolically hot day in France’s Midi, I would stumble upon a ramshackle building south of Narbonne that had been repurposed as a winery/tasting room. Well, I think it was a winery, too, but I was only interested in the tasting part.

I had driven down from a dreadful place, essentially a failed amusement park in the middle of nowhere that Tour de France organizers had inexplicably deemed worthy of hosting a crucial individual time trial, with only one thing on my mind: a cooling breeze off the Mediterranean. And Narbonne Plage was only minutes ahead. But a  Dégustation sign with an arrow pointing off to the right turned my head. The beach could wait. A short detour was very much in order.

The place was called L’Hospitalet and the interior was, curiously, mostly decorated with rugby action photos. Lots and lots of them. Fortunately, the bloke behind the bar spoke perfect English — it turned out he was an Irishman — and had a ready explanation for me. The owner was both an aspiring winemaker and, it seemed, the former captain of the French national rugby team.

His name? Gérard Bertrand.

As a sports writer and a wine maven, although not yet an official wine journalist, that combination intrigued me. Better still, the wines I tried were excellent, something that, back in the day, wasn’t a certainty when one tasted in the Languedoc, which for much of the 20th-century had been known for mostly producing plonk.

At any rate, I vowed to return one day, especially after how wonderfully charming I found Narbonne Plage. For a day or two, I thought seriously about buying a condo there but quickly came to my senses. Did I really need to own a second property in France? Uh, no. So that was the last I thought of L’Hospitalet and its rugby-playing proprietor for a very long time.

Cut to February of 2019 and the weekend I retired from the Houston Chronicle. I was visiting another beach town, Miami Beach, attending a party at the Versace Mansion hosted by . . . Gérard Bertrand. There, I got to finally meet the man himself, and he was impressive in every way possible. Late in the evening, he even rapped with a band that he’d flown in from France. Yeah, rapped. Learning that my wife and I had a permanent residence in France, his team invited me to visit the Bertrand headquarters in the Languedoc for a full-scale tour and immersive experience.

So, on another brutally hot July afternoon in the South of France — as I sped through the Southern Rhone Valley, my Peugeot told me was 114 degrees outside — I again found myself heading for Narbonne Plage. But this time there was much fancier sign pointing toward a splendidly restored building that had been transformed into a luxury inn with a top-drawer restaurant.

“Merde,” I said. “That’s the same place. I’m back!”

And I’ll return again next week, leading a group of very nice people on a wine tour through Provence, the Southern Rhone and Bertrand’s neck of the woods in the Languedoc, where he has built a wine empire upon a foundation that his father Georges, one of the region’s most respected and forward-thinking grape-growers, laid decades ago.

Gérard worked his first harvest with his dad in 1975, when he was 10, and they spent a dozen good years together in vineyards when he wasn’t honing his world-class rugby skills. After his father died tragically in an accident in 1987, he made the decision to keep the family’s Villemajou estate and, five years later, he launched his own company, soon purchasing the Cigalus Estate, Château Laville Bertrou and the Aigle Estate. L’Hospitalet had become his in 2002, not long before my serendipitous visit.

Today, Château la Sauvageonne, Château la Soujeole, Clos d’Ora, Clos du Temple, Château les Karantes, Château Aigues-Vives, Cap Insula, Château des Deux Rocs, Château de Tarailhan and the Estagnère Estate are all his, too. His entry-level Cote des Roses wines and the Gris Blanc rose are widely available in Houston — Spec’s and Kroger are where I find them — and around France. I buy the same bottles in my town’s Casino supermarket.

The Clos du Temple may be the world’s most expensive rosé at $250. Bertrand’s flagship, the Clos d’Ora, a blend of syrah and carignan from very old vines and mourvedre and grenache from turn-of-the-21st-centry plantings in the hills of La Viviniere, sells for close to $300. Like the Clos du Temple, it’s worth every penny. But the wines mentioned in the previous paragraph go for under $15.

One day, every bottle with Bertrand’s name on it — and that’s a whole lot of bottles — will be biodynamic. He became a true believer in same after starting with Cigalus in 2002. He’s got three children. He’s determined to do what he can to keep the planet liveable for their kids and grandkids.

I’m delighted my crew is going to experience firsthand what I accidently stumbled upon years ago. And I’m delighted to be returning myself to again experience what Bertrand calls l’art de vivre. I do believe the man has figured that out. Did I mention that he also hosts a world-class jazz/pop festival at L’Hospitalet every July?

Anyway, I’ll be hyper-focused on my tour over the next couple of weeks — it begins Thursday in Aix-en-Provence before wrapping up in Nice June 4 — so I’ll be off the blogging grid until after I return to Houston in mid-June. However, I’ll be posting like a crazy person on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook as we visit many of my favorite wineries, starting in the Var Friday at La Mascaronne, owned in part by the new Hall-of-Fame hoopster turned vigneron Tony Parker.

Unfortunately, Parker won’t be on-site today. I would have loved to quiz him about Victor Wembanyama, presumably the next great French hoopster who will surely come to torture the Rockets, too. Damn lottery!

Sippin’ with Sporty

Bubbles

Faiv Blancs de Blancs

From the winemaker: “Dry and fruit forward but has a definite acidity to cleanse the palate. Elegant and smooth. Pair with pasta with creamy or truffle sauces and fish.”

From me: It’s not everyday that you see Arneis bubbles. A friend who loves traveling to Northern Italy gifted me a bottle here in France and damned it wasn’t being sold in Houston at Tuttili, too. Wonderfully refreshing minerality and citrus notes in this Marchisio Family Organic Estate sparkler from Castellinaldo d’Alba, about 25 miles southeast of Turin.

$28 at Tuttili

Red

2019 Chateau Pas De Rauzan Bordeaux Supérieur

From the winemaker: “A pretty garnet colour, it’s dark and intense. Beautiful aromas of small red fruits on the nose. The expressive and supple palate is embellished with crunchy red fruits.”

From the Wine Enthusiast: “Packed with fruit, this is going to be a generous wine. Certainly its tannins are very present, but the weight of the ripe berry fruits will come to dominate. There is a juicy crisp aftertaste.”

From me: It’s a merlot-centric (70 percent) wine that’s truly a superior Bordeaux Superieur at a super price. The winery, with 80 hectares of vines, has been in the Fourestey family since 1890.

$11.57 at Spec’s

H-town Happenings

Il Palazzo wine dinner with co-owner Lorenzo Pitirra — 7 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at Roma. 713 664-7581.

Nine and Wine — National Wine Day: 6 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at Riverhouse Houston. $30 http://eventbrite.com

Tolaini Tuscan Wine Dinner with Lia Tolaini-Banville: 6 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at the Rainbow Lodge. $165 plus tax and gratuity. https://www.rainbow-lodge.com/tolaini-wine-dinner

Woodlands Wine & Food Week: Monday, June 5, through Sunday, June 11. http://www.wineandfoodweek.com

The Sports Page

Pouring one out for . . . Jim Brown

Truth to tell, I hated him as a kid because of how he ran over, under, around and through my beloved Baltimore Colts in the 1964 NFL Championship Game, pounding out 114 yards in a 27-0 Browns romp, after which I stayed in a funk for a week. But he forever defined what a running back should be. Although the NFL season was only 12 games long for his first four years, he averaged 1,368 yards over his nine seasons and 104.3 per game. He led the NFL in rushing eight times and claimed three MVP trophies before walking away while still in his prime, which goes a long way toward explaining how he lived to the ripe old age of 87. After a second career as an action-movie hero — Remember the Dirty Dozen? — he became a vocal and widely respected advocate for social justice.

One of my sports-writing idols, Shirley Povich, composed one of the epic sentences in sports-writing history after Brown had shredded the still lily-white Washington Redskins in 1960: “Jim Brown, born ineligible to play for the Redskins, integrated their end zone three times yesterday.” Ironically, it would be Bobby Mitchell, Browns’ backup in Cleveland, who became Washington’s first Black player in 1962.

Follow me

Podcast: Sporty Wine Guy, wherever you get your podcasts.   

Instagram: http://@sportywineguy

Twitter: @sportywineguy

Facebook: Dale Robertson

Others to follow

Jeremy Parzen (http://dobianchi.com)

My podcast partner in crime reports on the catastrophic, “unprecedented” rains and flooding in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, which have forced tens of thousands to abandon their homes and killed at least nine people.

Sandra Crittenden (http://winelifehouston.com)

Sandra shares her latest story for Galveston Monthly, featuring wines she tasted recently in Paso Robles.

Russ Kane (http://vintagetexas.com)

The Texas Wineslinger shares his thoughts on, and personal history with, Gary Gilstrap’s Texas Hills Vineyards, whose wines are made, he says, in a lean Italian style.”

Jeff Kralick (http://thedrunkencyclist.com)

The Drunken Cyclist and a group of Houston wine pros recently tasted 53 “true” American rosés, which is to say rosés made from grapes grown specifically for making pink wines. You’ll find their conclusions in two posts. He swears this is the largest such sampling in the whole USA.

Katrina Rene (http://thecorkscrewconcierge.com)

Kat provides a rundown of Texas wine happenings in the merry month of May.