Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

Benziger Family Winery, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2008
Michael Franz
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April 5, 2011
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 Striking for its delicacy and restraint in the context of California Pinot Noir, this wine is pretty rather than powerful, with light color and...
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Hirsch Vineyards, Sonoma Coast (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2009
W. Blake Gray
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April 5, 2011
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 Good value considering the neighborhood, this wine is from a blend of vineyards on the extreme chilly western part of the Sonoma Coast.  Bright...
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Miura, Santa Lucia Highlands (Monterey County, California) Pinot Noir 2008
W. Blake Gray
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April 5, 2011
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 Master sommelier Emmanuel Kemiji is the man behind Miura, and he found a way to get intensity without weight from these grapes.  The cherry...
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Soliste, Sonoma Coast (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2009
W. Blake Gray
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April 5, 2011
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 What a great combination of fruit and savory notes: dark plum and a strong black, not-sweet note that reminded me of what you might...
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Peay, Sonoma Coast (California) Pinot Noir 2009
W. Blake Gray
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April 5, 2011
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 Winemaker Vanessa Wong said of this wine, "It has really forward fruit."  She’s a good winemaker, but she has a house palate: it’s unlikely...
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Scott Family Estate, Arroyo Seco (Monterey County, California) Pinot Noir 2008
Michael Apstein
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April 5, 2011
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 This lovely California Pinot Noir has plenty of upfront bright fresh fruit–almost candied–flavors.  But in addition, it delivers whiff of complementing leafy delicacy.  Not...
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Cakebread Cellars, Napa Valley (California) Merlot 2008
Michael Franz
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April 5, 2011
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 Those who might shy from shelling out $54 for a bottle of Merlot should feel free to steer clear of this wine, as that...
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Mount Eden Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mountains (California) Pinot Noir 2009
W. Blake Gray
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April 5, 2011
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 Winemaker Jeffrey Patterson was a minimal interventionist long before the concept was cool in California.  This wine, from dry-farmed vines in a spot where...
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Alysian, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) 2008
Linda Murphy
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March 29, 2011
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 Gary Farrell first became acquainted with Joe Rochioli’s revered Russian River Valley vineyard in 1974, when he crushed the grapes at nearby Davis Bynum...
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Colby Red, California (United States) 2009
Robert Whitley
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March 29, 2011
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 If you don’t know of Daryl Groom, you should. He was once senior red  winemaker for Australia’s Penfolds, where he made several vintages of...
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Concha y Toro, Puente Alto (Chile) Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Michael Apstein
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March 29, 2011
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 The Marques de Casa Concha bottling from Concha y Toro, one of Chile’s best producers, is so consistently good that it is one of...
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Amalaya, Calchaqui Valley (Salta, Argentina) 2009
Paul Lukacs
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March 29, 2011
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 A predominantly Malbec blend, this wine tastes leaner, less opulent, but more refined than many Argentinean reds.  That may be because it’s from Salta...
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