Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

Harkham-Windarra, Hunter Valley (New South Wales, Australia) Shiraz 2012
April 16, 2013
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Harkham-Windarra produces only kosher wine, making it the only kosher winery in Australia. In addition, this is a natural wine with no sulfur addition...
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Dandelion Vineyards, Fleurieu Peninsula (South Australia) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
April 16, 2013
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Intense purple color indicates the youth of this wine. A bay leaf herbal note is complemented with sweet plum and cassis fruit. The ripe...
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Ten Acre, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County) Pinot Noir 2010
Robert Whitley
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April 16, 2013
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The team behind Ten Acre has a good deal of pedigree, and it shows. Winemaker Michael Zardo sharpened his chops in Monterey County with...
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Burn Cottage, Central Otago (New Zealand) Pinot Noir 2011
Michael Apstein
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April 9, 2013
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The international backgrounds of the people involved with Burn Cottage help explain why this Pinot Noir is exceptional.  Marquis Sauvage, owner, though hailing from...
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Fairview, Paarl (South Africa) Shiraz 2008
Michael Franz
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April 9, 2013
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This wine is ripe, soft, pleasantly earthy and fully mature, though hardly spent or on the downhill slide. The texture is rounded and pleasingly...
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Couly-Duthei, Chinon (Loire Valley, France) 2011
Michael Apstein
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April 9, 2013
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I don’t have enough experience with Chinon to say that Couly-Dutheil is the area’s best producer.  But I can’t think of producer whose wines...
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Ca’Viola, Barbera d’Alba (Piedmont, Italy) 2009
Michael Franz
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April 9, 2013
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More affordable than this producer’s “Bric du Luv” bottling and very nearly as good, this shows wonderful balance between ripe fruit, fresh acidity, very...
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Silverado Vineyards, Napa Valley (California) Merlot 2008
Robert Whitley
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April 16, 2013
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Silverado has always had a deft hand with merlot, embracing the grape and treating it with the respect other vintners in the neighborhood reserve...
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Cooper Mountain Vineyards, Willamette Valley (Oregon) Pinot Noir 2011
Robert Whitley
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April 16, 2013
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If it’s true that biodynamic farming is all the rage in Oregon winemaking, it’s equally true that the wines being made are the most...
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Rocca di Frassinello, Marema Toscana IGT (Tuscany, Italy) 2009
Michael Franz
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April 9, 2013
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Tasted alongside the equally impressive “Le Sughere di Frassinello” bottling from Rocca di Frassinello, both wines seem utterly different and utterly surprising based on...
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Gascón, Mendoza (Argentina) 2011
Michael Apstein
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April 9, 2013
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The name says it all.  Made from a blend of Malbec, Bonarda, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, it’s a big juicy fruit forward wine with...
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Rocca di Frassinello, Marema Toscana IGT (Tuscany, Italy) 2010
Michael Franz
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April 9, 2013
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Rocca di Frassinello is a joint venture between Paolo Panerai of Castellare in Castellina and Eric Rothschild of Lafite, and though the enterprise has...
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