Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

Trefethen, Oak Knoll District (Napa Valley, California) Merlot 2009
Marguerite Thomas
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January 22, 2013
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One of this outstanding Merlot’s strengths is its luscious red fruits (“berry heaven” I wrote in my notes.) Although it’s a big, deep, dark...
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Tenuta Guado al Tasso, Bolgheri (Tuscany, Italy) 2010
Rebecca Murphy
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January 22, 2013
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Guado al Tasso is one of the Antinori family’s many Italian estates. It’s in Tuscany, but not in the classic Chianti country. It’s in...
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Poliziano, Montepulciano (Tuscany, Italy) 2009
Paul Lukacs
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January 22, 2013
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Light-bodied and extremely food-friendly, this is a graceful, elegant wine. Fully mature, it offers a core of dark cherry fruit enveloped by notes of...
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Bedell, North Fork of Long Island (New York) Merlot 2009
Michael Apstein
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January 22, 2013
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Good choice, Mr. President. Selected to be served at the celebration of the President’s inauguration, this Merlot shows how far the wines from Long...
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Quinta do Casal Branco, Tejo (Portugal) 2009
Michael Apstein
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January 22, 2013
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Many guests, foolishly, are hesitant to bring wine to a so-called “expert.” Well, fortunately, I have a friend who’s been learning about wine for...
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Toad Hollow, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Merlot 2009
Michael Apstein
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January 22, 2013
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This fine Merlot delivers more complexity than expected for the price. Mild suave tannins enrobe ripe sweet black cherry-like fruit. But there is a...
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Stags’ Leap Winery, Stag’s Leap District (Napa Valley, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Robert Whitley
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January 15, 2013
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This is pure Stag’s Leap District cabernet at its finest, sourced from one of the most historic and controversial estates in the region. The...
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Ronco Calino, Franciacorta (Lombardy, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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January 22, 2013
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 Lean, racy and very persistent in flavor, this is an exemplary Franciacorta made from 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir.  Light and lemony at...
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Diseño, Mendoza (Argentina) Malbec 2011
Paul Lukacs
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January 15, 2013
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Argentinean Malbec has exploded in popularity here in the US over the past few years, and perhaps unsurprisingly, overall quality has suffered. Producers eager...
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Nickel & Nickel, St. Helena (Napa Valley, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Robert Whitley
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January 15, 2013
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The beauty of the Nickel & Nickel wines is the distinctiveness they express, each representing the personality and character of a specific vineyard site....
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Cecchi, Chianti (Italy) 2009
W. Blake Gray
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January 15, 2013
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A nice pizza red, with fresh mouthfeel, exuberant fruit yet dryness, enough tannin to give it some kickback in the mouth, and some earthiness...
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Faust, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Michael Apstein
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January 15, 2013
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Born nine years ago, Faust started, basically, as the second wine of Quintessa, the Napa Valley iconic wine of Agustin Huneeus. The Quintessa property...
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