Columns — Merlot

Vertical tastings of Petrus, Lafleur and Le Pin have convinced me that these are wines that leave an incredible impression through their architectural expression and varietal clarity. They are terroir wines pushed to the absolute limit, and I very much wanted to see how they perform within a single outstanding Pomerol vintage, and in comparison with other top examples from this tiny appellation.

Epic lineups call for epic nights. 🍷 From grower Champagne and legendary Loire natural juice to back-to-back Right Bank Bordeaux royalty, this was pure magic in a glass. Here is the breakdown of what went down.

Le Pin may be one of Bordeaux’s youngest blue‑chip wines, but its story – from improvised barrel fermentations to Robert Parker‑driven cult status – has already become modern legend. A vertical tasting only confirmed that this tiny Pomerol remains a meticulous, no‑compromise benchmark with no truly “bad” vintages, only badly stored bottles.

A deep dive into the unexpected excellence of Japanese winemaking, beginning in Hokkaido. This sommelier report features tasting notes from the insider-favorite French Panda wine bar in Sapporo, highlighting unique expressions of Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Zweigelt from cutting-edge producers like Kamisato Vineyard, Domaine Mont, Takahiko Soga, and Domaine Bless.