Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

Bodegas Protos, Ribera del Duero (Castilla y León, Spain) 2008
August 21, 2012
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 Protos is a co-operative that produces classic wines from both the Ribera del Duero and Rueda DO’s.  The wine displays the traditional tempranillo coloring...
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Bodega Convento San Francisco, Ribera del Duero (Castilla y León, Spain) 2008
August 21, 2012
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 This is considered a classic vintage, and the Bodega Convento San Francisco has made a classically-styled wine.  Light and fading color indicate the more...
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Paolo Scavino, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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August 21, 2012
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 This is a very serious wine showing deep, dark color and excellent concentration, both of which seem to indicate admirably low crop yields.  Although...
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Andrea Oberto, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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August 21, 2012
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 This wine was sensational in the 2007 vintage, and though the 2008 is a bit more reserved, it likewise is explosively fruity and already...
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Virna Borgogno, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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August 21, 2012
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 Every bit the equal of the superb Cannubi Boschis from this house, this wine shows many of the same savory qualities and then layers...
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Gianni Gagliardo, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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August 21, 2012
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 This is a big, dramatic wine with lots of oak that gets pushed into the background by even bigger fruit.  However, this is definitely...
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Bodegas Aalto, Ribera del Duero (Castilla y León, Spain) 2009
August 21, 2012
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 This wine pushes the limits of balance.  Yet, the wine manages to maintain an elegance for its massive size.  The black, glass-staining color gives...
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Angelo Germano, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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August 14, 2012
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 Impressively dark color is very promising, and this wine delivers the goods in many other respects as well.  The fruit is quite ripe and...
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Claudio Alario, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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August 14, 2012
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 This extremely impressive and expressive wine features a big, plush, penetrating, leathery bouquet that opens onto gorgeous fruit on the palate, with almost no...
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Poderi Luigi Einaudi, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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August 14, 2012
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 This standout wine shows Einaudi in top form, with sexy aromatic notes of toasted oak and alluring spices but very expressive fruit that effectively...
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G. D. Vajra, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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August 15, 2012
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 The hard-working, unassuming Vajra family is rapidly achieving aristocratic status for their wines regardless of the refreshing fact that none of them act like...
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Northstar, Walla Walla Valley (Washington) Merlot 2008
Rebecca Murphy
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August 14, 2012
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 Merlot is Washington’s superstar, but winemaker David ‘Merf’ Merfeld, has taken this wine to a higher level.  It’s not just about the state’s intensely...
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