Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

Joseph Drouhin, Santenay (Cote de Beaune, Burgundy, France) 2009
Robert Whitley
|
September 20, 2011
|
 Santenay is typically reliable in the good vintages, such as 2009. This village at the southern tip of the Cote de Beaune has never...
read more

Joseph Drouhin, Pommard (Cote de Beaune, Burgundy, France) 2009
Robert Whitley
|
September 20, 2011
|
 It’s not every day I would recommend a village wine from Burgundy’s Cote de Beaune at this price, but the vintage was exceptional and...
read more

Vavasour, Awatere Valley (Marlborough, New Zealand) Pinot Noir 2009
Marguerite Thomas
|
September 20, 2011
|
 This is one of those wines whose fragrance and flavors shimmer in the glass inviting you to return to it again and again.  It...
read more

Saint Clair, Marlborough (New Zealand) Pinot Noir 2009
Michael Franz
|
September 20, 2011
|
 As noted in this week’s review of the 2010 “Vicar’s Choice” Pinot from Saint Clair, it is amazing that a single winery would have...
read more

Clifford Bay, Awatere Valley (Marlborough, New Zealand) Pinot Noir 2010
Marguerite Thomas
|
September 20, 2011
|
 Finding a decent Pinot Noir for $15 is not an everyday occurrence, and this one goes way beyond “decent”.  With a heavenly fragrance, lean...
read more

Terra di Lavoro, IGT Roccamonfina (Campania, Italy) 2008
Michael Apstein
|
September 13, 2011
|
 This producer turns out small amounts (2,500 cases/annually) of just one wine, Terra di Lavoro, from Aglianico and Piedrosso grown in estate vineyards in...
read more

Joseph Drouhin, Chorey-les-Beaune (Cote de Beaune, Burgundy, France) 2009
Robert Whitley
|
September 20, 2011
|
 The ’09 is one of the friendliest Chorey’s I’ve tasted from Drouhin. This wine is typically among the lightest and most delicate reds in the Drouhin...
read more

Antiyal, Maipo Valley (Chile) 2009
Michael Franz
|
September 20, 2011
|
 This blend is the product of a small family-owned winery of one of Chile’s top winemaking talents, Alvaro Espinoza.  Made from 41% Carmenère, 35%...
read more

Saint Clair, Marlborough (New Zealand) Pinot Noir 2010
Michael Franz
|
September 20, 2011
|
 Really convincing Pinot Noir for $20 or less may be the toughest purchasing challenge in the world of wine.  Bourgogne Rouge is about all...
read more

Nickel & Nickel, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Syrah 2008
Michael Franz
|
September 20, 2011
|
 Lots of Syrah was planted in California during the 1990s, largely due to a coincidence of growing interest in wines from the Rhône and...
read more

Penfolds, South Australia (Australia) Cabernet – Shiraz 2008
Michael Franz
|
September 20, 2011
|
 The Penfolds Bin Series wines typically offer excellent quality and value, and this wine is pretty clearly the flagship bottling of the series.  Long...
read more

Chappellet, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Robert Whitley
|
September 13, 2011
|
 Pritchard Hill is a place. It’s just off the Silverado Hill in the Napa Valley and all of the wineries in the Pritchard Hill...
read more