Tune In to Wine with David Kohl : Bordeaux, Burgundy &; Beyond

David Kohl believes that The Alsace Region of France is vastly underrated as a wine producing area, offering top drawer selections ranging from entry level "classic" offerings to a hierarchy of grand cru varietals. Pinot Blanc is a dominant grape, akin to Chardonnay. David believes that Pinot Blanc has potential for wide consumer appeal. #learnaboutwine #alsacewines #pinotblanc #wineregionsof fran...

Tuscany is world renowned for its red wine production, but far lesser known are the white wines of Tuscany. Vernaccia is Tuscany's only DOCG white wine varietal, with a history that dates back to at least The 12 th Century. Vernaccia found a golden era during The Renaissance, when Florentine hierarchy such as Michaelangelo & The Medicis valued Vernaccia as a sophisticated luxury item. Closely...

White Burgundy lovers are wise to seek out varietals produced from the Aligote grape. Aligote is of course relatively unknown, when compared to the White Burgundy staple : Chardonnay. But with French Chardonnay pricing spikes, David Kohl believes it is likely that Burgundy winemakers will begin to focus more on Aligote as a value-centric alternative to Chardonnay. While Aligote is not widely avail...

Bordeaux's Grand Cru Classe estate Chateaux Pedesclaux in Pauillac Appellation is very impressive for many reasons. Owner Jacky Lorenzetti, a Swiss business mogul, supervised an innovative architectural program at the estate featuring uniquely designed transparent glass structures. And the vineyard produces a highly acclaimed + sumptuous 2nd wine known as Fleur de Pedesclaux, in addition to the he...

David Kohl marvels at the impeccable quality of wine production @ Chateau Pontet-Canet, a Bordeaux Grand Cru " 5 th Growth" estate in Pauillac Appellation that lies in neighboring proximity to illustrious " 1 st Growth" properties such as Chateau Lafite & Chateau Mouton Rothschild. Long a leader in organic winemaking, Chateau Pontet-Canet's owner Guy Tesseron has continually improved the viney...

David Kohl fondly recalls his visit to Bordeaux St. Estephe in 1989 for a magnificent wine dinner hosted by Christian + Lilian Thieblot, then-owners of Chateau Lilian Ladouys. As a terroir neighbor to vineyards such as Calon Segur & Cos d' Estrounel it is not surprising that in 2020 Chateau Lilian Ladouys was identified as a rising star within Bordeaux, with elevation to Cru Bourgeois Exceptio...

During The 16 th Century, the wine estate we know as Chateau Beychevelle was owned by French Noblemen. Boats on River Gironde passing the vineyard would lower sails to half mast in respect of the noble family. Thus, a name and a distinctive label were born. "Baisse Voile" is the French term for "Lower the Sails" and Beychevelle is the word / image that eventually emerged. Today, the St. Julien Gra...

Sauvignon Blanc is embraced as one of the most familiar white wine grapes. With a history that began in the Bordeaux & Loire regions of France, it continually gained in popularity, and now grows in vineyards all over the world from USA to New Zealand. Casablanca winegrowing region of Chile, situated near Santiago on the Pacific coastline, has currently emerged as another top source of unique a...

During the last several decades, many of Bordeaux's storied winegrowing families & their acclaimed winemakers have set up shop with vineyard investments + consulting projects in Argentina's Mendoza region. For example, cousins in The Cuvelier Family, known for their Grand Cru estate Leoville Poyferre in St Julien appellation of Bordeaux, operate Cuvelier Los Andes in Mendoza's Uco Valley. Malb...

When Italy was ruled as a monarchy, its royal family hailed from Piedmonte, expressing a passion for regional Barolo wine produced from native Nebbiolo grape. Hence, Barolo became known as "the wine of kings". Nebbiolo is quite a challenging grape to harvest, yet Barolo's misty + damp climate provides the perfect conditions for sustainable growth. Did you know that "Nebbia" is the Italian word for...

Here is a hidden gem because it is lesser known than other areas of Tuscany. The Carmignano winegrowing region is actually in a close 10 mile proximity to Florence, with a vineyard history that dates back 3,000 years to The Etruscan Era. David Kohl highlights his past visit to the Villa di Cappezanna estate, owned today by the family of Count Bonacossi, where he was privileged to participate in a...

David Kohl recalls his visit to Chateau Carbonnieux, a Grand Cru estate in Pessac Leognan appellation of Bordeaux, where he was greeted by owner Anthony Perrin who proudly displayed their prized 1784 letter from Thomas Jefferson proclaiming Chateau Corbonnieux as one of the finest vineyards he had visited during his role as Ambassador to France. The beautiful label is framed in a gold oyster shape...

Abbruzzo's winegrowing region in Italy is nestled between The Appenine Mountains & The Adriatic Sea, harvesting its native grape montepulciano to produce easy drinking varietals of fruitful yet spicy wine @.truly bargain prices Often sold in magnum form + priced in the range of $12, Montepulciano d' Abbruzzo has long been considered the perfect wine selection when hosting a casual party or a l...

David Kohl highlights the historic Chinon region of France's Loire Valley, flourishing since The 16th Century & now registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Clos de L' echo is one of the most special red wine selections produced in Chinon, deriving its charming name from the literal echoes that resound throughout the vineyard as reflected off the walls of the town's medieval stone castle. B...

David Kohl highlights Domaine Michelas St. Jemms, a family run winegrower in the Crozes Hermitage region of The Northern Rhone Valley, currently producing value-centric yet sumptuous 100% Syrah offerings. Their powerful "Fleur de Syrahne" selection over-delivers : Rich in mineral structure with roasted fruits supporting its deep color, @ 91 Point score from Jeb Dunnuck + a retail price under $25.....

Bordeaux's Grand Cru Classe estate Chateau Ausone is considered the premier vineyard in the St. Emilion appellation. Its compact land area @ 7 hectares allows production of only 1000 cases of wine per harvest, thus requiring a highly allocated distribution program. In fact, David Kohl recalls vintages where he was allocated only 1 single bottle of Chateau Ausone ! He now shares his tasting notes o...

Bordeaux's Chateau La Gaffeliere lies within walking distance from the charming medieval village of St. Emilion, and has been owned by the noble family of Malet-Roquefort for over 300 years. Its historic significance is enhanced by the discovery of 2nd Century ancient Roman ruins on the property. Following a state of the art renovation of its production facility, and amidst consistent reviews from...

The search for great everyday drinking wine at a reasonable cost often leads to The Rhone Valley's abundant offerings. Characterized by spice tones & dark fruits, Rhone selections fall within an affordale pricing range that belies their big + bold structure, enhanced by rich Syrah & Grenache. True value provided here. #rhonevalley #rhonewine #affordablewine #bigwine #cotesdurhone

Cahors wine growing region is the jewel of France's Sud Ouest appellation and is historically renowned as The Birthplace of Malbec. During the missionary era, Malbec was later introduced to Argentina. Chateau Pech Sirech is one of the finest vineyards within the territory, situated at Cahors' highest elevation, and has been designated as 100% organic by AB Council (Agriculture Biologique) in Franc...

Presenting the Bordeaux Superieur appellation, where vineyards must limit production volume & age their wines in oak. Chateau Jalousie Beaulieu is a great discovery within this winegrowing region, offering 100% merlot varietals scoring 90 points as "powerfully rich" from Wine Enthusiast. With a retail price under $20, Chateau Jalousie Beaulieu delivers a top value. #chateaujalousiebeaulieu #bo...

Chateau Pibran in Bordeaux's Pauillac region hosts an almost unbelievable combination of benefits for wine consumers. Although not itself classified as a Grand Cru vineyard, Chateau Pibran counts among its terroir neighbors the elite wine estates of Chateau Lafite & Chateau Mouton Rothschild. Elegant + sumptuous, Chateau Pibran even shares the same winemaking team as Chateau Pichon Baron, prod...

David Kohl recalls his recent visit to the Bordeaux Grand Cru vineyard Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, where he met with charismatic ownership team Daniel & Florence Cathiard to taste 2019 & 2022 vintages. As well, note that 'Le Petit' it's 2nd Wine, is also a highly acclaimed varietal. As an amusing aside, it has been widely reported that during this past week, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte host...

Asian-born energy tycoon Peter Kwok has truly embraced France's winemaking culture, now owning 7 Bordeaux vineyards with Chateau Bellefont Belcier in St. Emilion as his Grand Cru crown jewel. Last week, superstar wine writer Jeb Dunnuck included Chateau Bellefont Belcier on his list of "Top 100 Most Exciting Wines of 2023". The news is wonderful but not surprising, since this estate's wines have r...

David Kohl fondly recalls his recent visit to Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou, a high profile Grand Cru Classe vineyard in the St Julien appellation of Bordeaux, currently celebrating its 300 Year Anniversary. Most notably, Bruno Borie the charming & energetic 3rd generation owner provided an awe inspiring tour of the neo-classical estate, along with a tasting of the 2022 vintage which by all accoun...

Long a darling of wine collectors, Chateau Mouton Rothschild was elevated to Grand Cru 1st Growth status only 50 years ago in 1973 and many believe this unprecedented upgrade was a tribute to vineyard owner & industry icon Baron Philippe Rothschild. David Kohl treasured his awe inspiring visit to Chateau Mouton Rothschild during Bordeaux en primeur week, to taste the powerful + dense 2022 vint...