Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

Alysian, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2008
Linda Murphy
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March 29, 2011
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 From another portion of Hambrecht’s Floodgate Vineyard comes this youthful, exotic wine.  It’s the most flamboyant of the Alysian Pinot Noirs (flamboyant being relative...
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Castelvero, Piemonte (Piedmont, Italy) Barbera 2009
Michael Franz
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March 29, 2011
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 The world-wide shift toward riper, richer wines has manifested itself in Barbera as much–if not more than–any Italian red wine.  Twenty years ago, most...
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Bellamarsilia, Morellino di Scansano (Tuscany, Italy) 2009
Paul Lukacs
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March 22, 2011
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 A blend of Sangiovese (85%), Cilegiolo (10%), and Alicante (5%), this is an impressive Tuscan “rosso,” with both dried and fresh red fruit flavors...
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Beckmen Vineyards, Santa Ynez Valley (Santa Barbara County, California) 2009
Tina Caputo
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March 22, 2011
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 This Grenache-based blend also contains Syrah, Mourvèdre and Counoise. It has a wonderful perfumed aroma of cranberries and pomegranates that invites you to take...
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Beckmen Vineyards, Santa Ynez Valley (Santa Barbara County, California) Grenache 2009
Tina Caputo
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March 22, 2011
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 With aromas of spice and red fruits, this juicy wine is bright and lively on the palate, with juicy red fruit flavors and a...
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Sebastiani, Sonoma County (California) Merlot 2009
Paul Lukacs
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March 22, 2011
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 Sebastiani’s Sonoma County series is evidencing very high (and to be honest, unexpected) quality these days, and this Merlot only continues what has to...
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Over the Edge, Martinborough (New Zealand) Pinot Noir 2009
Paul Lukacs
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March 22, 2011
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 Top New Zealand Pinot Noirs offer the same lush textures and fruit-forward flavors that characterize California and Oregon renditions, but often without the annoying...
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Marziano Abbona, Barbera d’Alba (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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March 22, 2011
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 Since it is possible to buy good Barbera for as little as $12, I suspect that many consumers are reticent when asked to pony...
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Marziano Abbona, Dogliani (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
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March 22, 2011
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 Dogliani is an appellation that was created to showcase Dolcetto, which was long enshadowed in Piedmont not only by Nebbiolo but also by Barbera. ...
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Louis Martini, Sonoma County (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Tina Caputo
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March 15, 2011
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 This is an easy-to-drink Cabernet with aromas of black fruit and raspberries. It has flavors of ripe blackberry and fresh herbs, along with bright...
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Bella Sera, Sicilia IGT (Sicily, Italy) Merlot 2009
Michael Franz
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March 15, 2011
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 Having taken a whack at a Gallo product this week (see the review of MacMurray Ranch Pinot, below), I’m pleased to be able to...
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Artezin, Mendocino County (California) Zinfandel 2009
Paul Lukacs
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March 15, 2011
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 This is not a Zinfandel for fans of the currently pervasive big, bruising style.  Instead, it harkens back to a couple of decades ago,...
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