The cabernet franc sings with red cherry, raspberry, spice and flowers. The merlot adds black cherry, blackberries and heft. Aromas of all of the above bounce out of the glass like they have an Alex Van Halen drumbeat behind them.

Together, you get the complexity of John Coltrane solo with the affability of John Denver. Hey! Maybe those two have been jamming in the musical afterlife, and the byproduct of whatever crazy folk/country/jazz tunes their writing manifests in physical form and pours from bottles worth buying by the case.

Of course, it’s obvious! Take the name “Atelier.” If you make an anagram of “Coltrane” and “Denver,” then mix in their first names … um… carry the 2….

Or maybe it’s easier than that. An atelier is, according to my friend who actually reads now and again, means “a workshop or studio, especially one used by an artist or designer.”

Or musicians, maybe?

Or, maybe I need to slow down my intake of Beckman’s wine.

Cheers,
TSW

* - Chimp Wine is a WoW designation signifying a no-brainer, must-buy wine (as in, "You'd have to be a chimp not to buy this wine.").

WoW
…really excited about wine

There aren’t very many wines that I’d run off and buy by the case. OK, that’s a lie. There are plenty. It’s just that most of those are wines that would require selling a car to afford.

This is one of those wines where I was clearing space for the truck to back up after one sip.

Better still, it’s a wine where I could entertain getting a case. Yeah, I’d be out a hefty $120, but I’d be into amazing wine for a good long while. At least through the weekend.

But seriously, most wines bought in multiples are so that you can watch it age and evolve. This one you’ll want in bulk so that you can drink it any damn time you want. It’s that good.