Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

Mora Estate, Alexander Valley (Sonoma County, California) 2009
Rich Cook
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July 23, 2013
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Winemaker/Chef Fabiano Ramaci has brought a bit of Valpolicella to Northern California with this Amarone style blend of Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara and Negrara.  After...
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Navarro Vineyards, Mendocino (California) Syrah 2011
Rich Cook
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July 23, 2013
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Hooray for low alcohol Syrah!  Navarro has long been one of my favorite producers, turning out one stellar wine after another and keeping their...
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Bravium, Sonoma Coast (California) Pinot Noir 2011
Rich Cook
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July 23, 2013
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Volamus Vineyard is located in the Petaluma Gap area of the Sonoma Coast appellation, where cool weather prevails most of the year.  Winemaker Derek...
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Bella, Dry Creek Valley (Sonoma County) Zinfandel 2010
Robert Whitley
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July 30, 2013
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The richness and weight of Bella’s Maple Vineyards Zinfandel is impressive considering the ripeness and alcohol by volume (less than 15 percent) are modest...
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Domaine Faury, Côte Rôtie (Rhône Valley, France) 2008
July 16, 2013
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Perfumed notes of violet, cracked pepper, soy, and sweet-tart red fruits waft from the glass.  The high-toned notes continue in the palate with cranberry...
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Viberti Giovanni, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2009
Michael Franz
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July 23, 2013
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 One of the most impressive 2009 bottlings of straight Barolo DOCG with a proprietary name rather than a cru designation, this shows impressively dark...
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Cagliero, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2009
Michael Franz
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July 23, 2013
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 This is an excellent wine for near-term enjoyment, with delicate floral and spice aromas and very soft, open flavors that are framed with just...
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Roccheviberti, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2009
Michael Franz
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July 23, 2013
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 This is a very stylish wine that shows excellent intensity and persistence of flavor but only moderate weight.  Oak shows more flamboyantly in the...
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Cascina Ballarin, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2009
Michael Franz
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July 23, 2013
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 Among the most successful wines from La Morra in 2009, this shows very appealing savory aromas or cured meat and baking spices, with soft...
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Cascina Adelaide, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2009
Michael Franz
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July 23, 2013
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 This shows a distinctly modern-style, with lots of toasty, spicy oak adorning its bouquet, but there’s still enough punchy fruit to work in tandem...
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Virna Borgogno, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2009
Michael Franz
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July 23, 2013
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  One of two stunning successes from Virna Borgogno in 2009, this is a wine of impressive depth and dimension, showing explosive aromas of...
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Sebaste, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2009
Michael Franz
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July 23, 2013
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 This traditionally-styled wine is among the most aromatically expressive and exciting of the hundreds of 2009 Barolo bottlings that I tasted in May of...
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