Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

Renato Ratti, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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September 4, 2012
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 Pietro Ratti turned in a terrific performance with his Barolos in the 2008.  This bottling shows dense pigmentation and impressively deep aromas and flavors...
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Vietti, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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September 4, 2012
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 Still rather undeveloped, this brooding wine is packed with power and potential.  Dark color and impressive concentration show its seriousness, and relatively restrained oak...
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Betts & Scholl, Barossa Valley (South Australia) Grenache 2008
September 4, 2012
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 This is an open and expressive style of wine with appealing notes from the moment it is opened.  Candied and dried red fruits such...
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Marziano Abbona, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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September 4, 2012
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 This modern-style Barolo shows expressive ripe fruit and lots of smoky, spicy oak, but thankfully the balance between the two is so deftly orchestrated...
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Marcarini, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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September 4, 2012
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 Strikingly big, deep and earthy by comparison to recent vintages of this wine, this shows excellent complexity and abundant character.  Floral aromatic accents are...
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Poderi Einaudi, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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September 4, 2012
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 I love the wines from this estate, and they almost always show very well even when I’m tasting blind and any favoritism is impossible. ...
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Cascina Bruciata, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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September 4, 2012
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 This producer turns out superb Riserva wines, but this bottling demonstrates great skill with a more conventional ageing regimen as well.  The fruit is...
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Bric Cenciurio, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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September 4, 2012
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 Floral and feminine, with very expressive red fruit notes recalling cherry and raspberry, this lovely wine is actually more suggestive of Barbaresco than Barolo. ...
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Damilano, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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September 4, 2012
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 Quality has been surging at this estate in recent vintages, and this wine shows that the trend continues.  Fresh and pure, the fruit for...
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Mauro Veglio, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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September 4, 2012
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 Maruo Veglio’s wines are all supremely individuated from vineyard to vineyard, and this rendition from Castelletto is packed with powerful flavors and superb linear...
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Brezza, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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September 4, 2012
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 This is a very impressive wine, but it impresses less on the basis of sheer power than by its complexity and class.  Aromas are...
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Arista, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2010
Rebecca Murphy
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August 28, 2012
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 The McWilliams family may have only started their winery in 2002, but they clearly know their way around Pinot Noir.  This particular one of...
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