Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

St. Supery, Rutherford (Napa Valley, California) Merlot 2009
Michael Franz
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March 13, 2012
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 This exceptional Merlot shows a softness appropriate to the grape variety but also a level of concentration and flavor impact that is remarkable and...
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Rodney Strong, Alexander Valley (Sonoma County, California) 2008
Michael Franz
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March 13, 2012
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 Most wines bearing self-congratulating names don’t manage to live up to them, but this one does exactly that.  Full of generous flavors but not...
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David Bruce Winery, Santa Maria Valley (Santa Barbara County, California) Pinot Noir 2009
Michael Franz
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March 13, 2012
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 This admirably delicate, lacy Pinot shows lots of persistent flavor despite its relatively light color and body.  Notes of sweet strawberry and fresh red...
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Per Cazo Cellars, Paso Robles (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Michael Franz
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March 13, 2012
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 This powerful, persistent wine shows its Paso Robles origin in its sheer ripeness, which lends just a hint of raisining and a suggestion of...
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Wild Horse, Paso Robles (California) Braufrankisch 2009
Tina Caputo
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March 13, 2012
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 You don’t hear much about Braufrankisch in the U.S. — it’s a European black grape that’s mainly grown in Austria.  The grape is also...
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Narmada Winery, Virginia (United States) Cabernet Franc 2009
Tina Caputo
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March 13, 2012
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 Anyone who doubts that good red wines can come from the eastern U.S. should check out the Cab Franc from Virginia.  This fine example...
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McManis Family Vineyards, California (United States) Merlot 2010
Tina Caputo
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March 13, 2012
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 Here’s an easy-drinking Merlot with aromas of soft vanilla and toasty oak. It has a smooth texture, with berries and spice on the palate,...
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McManis Family Vineyards, California (United States) Pinot Noir 2010
Tina Caputo
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March 13, 2012
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 With an aroma of bright red fruits, including cherries and raspberries, this simple-but-satisfying Pinot has a light-to-medium body and red berry flavors. A very...
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Beckman Vineyards, Santa Ynez Valley (Santa Barbara County, California) Grenache 2009
Tina Caputo
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March 13, 2012
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 This juicy Grenache has black and blue fruit aromas and flavors to match, with notes of ripe blackberries and black cherries.  The wine is...
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Dashe Cellars, Dry Creek Valley (Sonoma County, California) Grenache 2010
Tina Caputo
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March 13, 2012
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 This wine has aromas of juicy cherries and spice.  It’s rich and lush in the mouth, with ripe berry flavors, a silky texture and...
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Greywacke, Marlborough (New Zealand) Pinot Noir 2010
Gerald D. Boyd
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March 13, 2012
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 In Marlborough’s Southern Valleys there is a noted vineyard area known as Brancott, where Kevin Judd sourced the grapes for this juicy Pinot Noir. ...
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Château de Paraza, Minervois (Languedoc, France) 2009
Paul Lukacs
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March 6, 2012
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 A great picnic, burger, or pizza wine, this red hails from the western Languedoc in southern France, and offers delicious rustic charm.  A blend...
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