Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

August West, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2011
W. Blake Gray
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May 21, 2013
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 A very smooth drinking wine that leads with cranberry fruit and finishes with some savory notes. 14.3% alcohol.

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Sandler, Santa Maria Valley (California) Pinot Noir 2010
W. Blake Gray
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May 21, 2013
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The vines for this wine were planted in 1972, which makes them some of the oldest Pinot vines in California. The cherry fruit is...
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Sandler, Chalone (Central Coast, California) Pinot Noir 2011
W. Blake Gray
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May 21, 2013
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A light-bodied wine (13.7% alcohol) with unexpected strength. The tannins in this wine have a sticky feel, giving it a lingering presence in the...
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Stinson Vineyards, Virginia (United States) 2010
Paul Lukacs
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May 21, 2013
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An impressive Bordeaux-styled blend from Virginia, showing a fine integration of wood and fruit, and exhibiting a remarkably smooth texture on the palate. Not...
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Rocca Family Vineyards, Yountville (Napa Valley, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Linda Murphy
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May 14, 2013
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The label states the wine’s alcohol at 14.9%, which can sometimes be a tipoff that the potency is much higher than that. Yet, with...
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Li Veli, Salice Salentino (Puglia, Italy) Negroamaro 2010
Rebecca Murphy
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May 14, 2013
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According to the winery’s literature, the Passamante name comes from forest vegetation quite near the Negroamaro vineyard. Apparently the forest has long been a...
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Domaine Jacques Prieur, Beaune 1er Cru (Champs-Pimont, Burgundy, France) 2010
Michael Franz
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May 14, 2013
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Reds from Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune were terrific on average in 2010, and though this was also true in 2009 and 2011, my favorites...
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Quinta do Crasto, Douro (Portugal) Touriga Nacional 2010
May 14, 2013
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This wine is one of Quinta do Crasto’s “Super-Douro” wines, made to showcase the quality and complexity of traditional Douro varieties. Touriga Nacional is...
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Cobb, Sonoma Coast (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2009
W. Blake Gray
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May 14, 2013
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Ross Cobb’s wines are always beautifully balanced because he chooses very cool-climate sites. The Coastlands Vineyard is owned by his family; it’s on a...
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Domaine Faiveley, Mercurey 1er Cru (Clos des Myglands, Burgundy, France) 2010
Michael Franz
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May 14, 2013
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As I have reported recently, Faiveley has achieved an impressive turnaround in recent years, as these once hard and austere wines have become notably...
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EnRoute, Russian River Valley (California) Pinot Noir 2011
Linda Murphy
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May 7, 2013
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This label is the Pinot Noir-centric sister to Napa Valley-based Far Niente. And the wine is one of the most fascinating Pinots I’ve tasted...
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Dry Creek Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley (Sonoma County, California) 2009
Linda Murphy
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May 14, 2013
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A quite successful Meritage-style wine comprised largely of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this has a core of rich, mouth-coating cassis, cherry and plum fruit...
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