Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

V. Sattui Winery, Napa valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Michael Franz
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April 2, 2013
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I wish that I didn’t have to travel from my home in DC to California to taste V. Sattui wines. What is behind the...
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Eberle Winery, Paso Robles (California) Syrah 2011
Michael Franz
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April 2, 2013
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How can so many people claim to be disappointed in Syrah when there’s an example like this wine from Eberle Winery that never, ever...
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Chateau Puy-Blanquet, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru (Bordeaux) 2009
Robert Whitley
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April 2, 2013
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The vintage, while very good, has shut down in many cases and not showing the ripeness and flesh that characterized the wines in barrel...
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Lafond Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills (California) Syrah/Grenache 2009
Michael Franz
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April 2, 2013
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Ripe and soft, yet filled with fresh acidity that adds lift and energy to the wine, this is a remarkable example of what can...
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Naggiar Vineyards, Sierra Foothills (California) 2009
Michael Franz
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April 2, 2013
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This wine is quite boldly oaked, yet the fruit is absolutely up to the challenge posed by the wood, and the finished product is...
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Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Valley (Washington) 2009
Michael Franz
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April 2, 2013
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Chateau Ste. Michelle is–trust me–among the handful of wine producers in the United States that is esteemed most highly by those who taste and...
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Beaulieu Vineyard, Napa Valley (California) 2009
Michael Franz
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April 2, 2013
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I confess that I have somehow managed to lose touch with what is going on at Beaulieu Vineyard lately. But am I ever starting...
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Fields Family Wines, Lodi (California) Tempranillo 2010
Michael Franz
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April 2, 2013
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This is one of the most compelling examples of this great grape that I’ve ever tasted from the USA, showing dark cherry fruit with...
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Benziger Family Winery, Sonoma County (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Michael Franz
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March 26, 2013
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A very strong, strikingly complex wine, this Cabernet shows the level of concentration, intensity and structure typically associated with $50 wines, and yet, as...
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Jorian Hill, Santa Ynez Valley (Santa Barbara County) 2009
Robert Whitley
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April 2, 2013
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The Chateauneuf-du-Pape style Rhone blend is something of a lost cause in domestic winemaking. There are a few truly exceptional examples, but the majority...
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Twisted Sister (Calcareous Vineyard), Paso Robles (California) 2010
Michael Franz
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March 26, 2013
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A blend of 69% Syrah, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Zinfandel, this is a bit puzzling at first glance because it seems to be...
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Calcareous Vineyard, Paso Robles (California) Syrah 2009
Michael Franz
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March 26, 2013
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A remarkable wine that I know from past experience that continues to become more remarkable still with additional time in bottle, this is a...
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