One of the fun things about the wine world is experimentation. Sometimes it can be good and work out well and other times it does not. Happy accidents combined with climate change and winemakers who think outside the box has brought some really cool wines into the already vast selection out there. Non traditional grapes in places only thought to grown grape x or y has always fascinated me and there are enough out there as a result of all these aforementioned factors so I have compile what has to be the first Top 10 List of this type. As usually these are in no particular order.
1. Gilles Berlioz Chignin-Bergeron Les Christine - They only Roussanne left growing in the Savoie after phylloxera ravaged the area. Roussanne in the Savoie is sensational and this wine is arguably one of the greatest wines of France. With dazzling mineral and fruit complexity and a texture to die for as a result of the flat looking concrete egg that it is aged in, there is nothing like this wine and can be held to the top examples from the Southern Rhone. The Roussanne in Savoie tends to have more acid and less alcohol than its Rhone counterparts. It's downright racy which gives the grape a new audience of wine drinkers.
2. Herve Murat Bourgogne Haute Cotes de Nuits Blanc - 100% Pinot Blanc from 40ish year old vines. This is a stunning wine and resembles a cross between a somewhat lean and high acid Weissburgunder and a rich heady Chardonnay from maybe Meursault. Cuts that line so beautifully. Apple and pear flavors but also a richness. Very complex wine after a few years of age.
3. Thörle Sauvignon Blanc Reserve - The hottest Sauvignon Blanc in Germany currently. The '15 is already sold out and for good reason. The limestone rich vineyards of Saulheim on the Rheinhessen do this grape well. There is explosive minerality and depth. Layered and very, very complex this is a superstar bottle of Sauvignon that really has to be the tops in Germany at the moment.
4. Domaine Les Alexandrins Eclipse (Tannat) - They have only made one vintage but it was AS interesting if not MORE interesting and tasty than their SW French brethren. Deep, dark rich, polished, a bit wild and also refined this is almost too delicious to be real. It has some ripe and perfectly executed tannins as well. So juicy. Tannat can be rustic and its tannins especially so, but not in this wine. I bet the 15 is bonkers. I have only tasted 14.
5. Domaine les Alexandrins Intuition (Gamay) - Gamay has an age old tradition being grown in St. Joseph where these grapes come from. Anyway this is more about terroir and granite than it is Gamay. It really speaks of the Northern Rhone and shows how the grape is only vehicle for the terroir. It's deep, granitic and juicy. Can age for 5-8 years. Terrific value at $19.99.
6. Zieriesen Syrah Gestat - This is one of the best Syrahs I've ever had from outside of the Rhone. Super dark and meat nose with ripe, soft and juicy texture, with lovely berry fruit and wonderful tannins and awesome acidity. Only 11.8 %. Such nice mouthfeel. Sickness. Best German Syrah by a longshot.
7. Sandlands Chenin Blanc - As an original gangsta New York retailer and a proud member of the Chambers Street Mafia, I have a strong bias towards Loire Chenin. I also have a strong bias against allocated hipster wines. Having said that, the folks at Sandlands have made a wine that is worthy of the hype. The best compliment that I can give it is that it tastes like really well made Loire Sec. Super fresh. Super clean. Great acidity. It also lingers on the palate. Chalk one up to American ingenuity. Good luck getting a bottle though.
8. Leon Gold Cabernet Sauvignon - Leon is a new producer I have not even yet emailed on! He makes the best Cabernet Sauvignon I've ever had from Germany in the Wurrtemberg area. It is dark, dense, deep and incredibly fresh with delicious and velvety tannins, vibrant acid spine and tannins, with great finesse and just enough decadence balanced with grit to keep it balanced. A great wine from the best area in Germany for Cabernet Sauvignon.
9. Tenuta Grillo Solleone Sauvignon Blanc - This is perhaps the geekiest wine on the list which, if you know the wizard of Piedmont, Guido Zampaglione, this is no surprise. It’s also one of the best young sauvignon blancs I’ve ever tasted. The aromatics on the nose are simple beautiful. Nuts with notes of tea and spice. The palate is simply delicious. There is some tea, and the wine is rich, almost nutty with terrific minerality and acidity. There are exotic fruit notes with a bit of passion fruit. But these are not dominant and it does not taste tropical. The wine is stunningly well integrated, clean and balanced. Terrific, terrific structure with perfect balance. The finish is super long and there are apple skin notes. There is so much going on with this wine, it’s very hard to describe but everything is supremely knit together.
10. Henri Mina Irouleguy Rouge - This is a masterful wine and made from 100% Cabernet Franc by the master Jean/Claude Berrouet of Petrus fame. Could pass for a Guiberteau it's that great. Finely etched wine with dazzling purity and structure.
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