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Dallas finally dipped into the 80s, so naturally I'm back on Italian reds. Tonight: 2016 Villa di Capezzana Carmignano DOCG with bucatini in tomato meatball sauce. Carmignano is one of the few Tuscan appellations where Cabernet is part of the law. Sangiovese leads, and the Cabernet adds structure without flattening that Tuscan acidity. Ten years from vintage, it still cuts through a rich tomato sauce.

Patience is a tasting note. Fontodi sits just outside Panzano in Chianti Classico, in a natural bowl the locals call the Conca d'Oro, the golden shell. The Flaccianello della Pieve once came from a single south-facing vineyard owned by the church (a pieve, hence the name). Today it's assembled from the estate's best Sangiovese parcels. The 2010 is a personal favorite. Straight from the bottle it was tight and guarded. After an hour in the decanter it opened up with blackcurrant and plum, then crushed violet, licorice, mint, smoke and tar. Bright acidity kept all that concentration in balance. 100% Sangiovese, and worth every minute.

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Wine o’clock! An Hermitage Blanc inspired Marsanne from Vangone Estate in Napa Valley.

This château quit the most prestigious classification in Saint-Émilion, but quality has never been higher. Château Angelus recently hosted a master class in Dallas, where CEO Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal walked us through six of their incredible wines. The de Boüard family has steered this estate for eight generations, drawing its name from the nearby church bells that ring the Angelus prayer. While Angelus earned the top Premier Grand Cru Classé A status in 2012, they famously walked away from the classification system in 2022. A substantial dose of Cabernet Franc gives these bottles a notable, vibrant energy and lift. What stood out from the lineup: •2014 Angelus: Genuinely delightful and drinking beautifully right now. It has a mix of dark fruit anchored by an intriguing red fruit note that kept bringing me back for another sip. •2020 Angelus: The absolute star of the tasting. It is already incredibly approachable and expressive. You get intense concentration balanced by pure elegance, and it is built to last for decades. •2015 & 2019 Carillon d'Angelus: Tasting these two vintages of the second wine side by side was fascinating because the blend composition shifts so dramatically between them. •2023 Tempo d'Angelus: A newer, vibrant addition sourced from Castillon plots that is specifically made to be popped and enjoyed immediately. •2023 Blanc du Milieu: My first time experiencing their white wine. This Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc blend from a prized plot hits you with bright citrus and stone fruit, offering a creamy yet mineral finish.

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First Friday pour - Krug Grande Cuvée, 164th edition. A blend of 127 wines from 11 vintages, the oldest of which is 1990. Base vintage is 2008.

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Some Mondays are better than others! Château Latour came to Dallas, and President Frédéric Engerer joined us for a special lunch hosted by MISA. We began with Jacquesson Cuvée 749. Then came the rare treat of comparing six vintages of Les Forts de Latour, followed by five vintages of the Grand Vin. Two of the pours were prerelease previews. On the Grand Vins, the 2017 was expressive and quite approachable. As I've mentioned before, the 2016 is a legend in the making. The 2014 drinks well now with a good meal, though the tannins are still prominent. The 2018 and 2019 gave us an early read on where those very promising vintages are headed. 2018, in particular, seems like it will be another standout.  Thank you to MISA for hosting and to the Latour team for a memorable event!

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