Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

Merry Edwards, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2008
Robert Whitley
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February 22, 2011
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If you merely took note of the score, you might expect this wine to be a powerful Olivet Lane Pinot from Merry. On the contrary, it...
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Château de Pizay, Morgon (Beaujolais, Burgundy, France) 2009
Paul Lukacs
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February 22, 2011
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 A Beaujolais that can change your mind about Beaujolais, this is an elegant, graceful wine, with layered complexity and a supple, silky texture.  It...
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Raw Power, South Australia (Australia) Shiraz 2008
Paul Lukacs
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February 22, 2011
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 The label doesn’t lie.  This is a big wine, full of exuberance and brawn, with plenty of concentration, extract, and yes, alcohol (the bottle...
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G. D. Vajra, Langhe Rosso (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Paul Lukacs
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February 22, 2011
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 It’s hard to imagine a better value in Italian wine than this delicious Langhe blend from a producer located in the heart of Barolo. ...
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Ortman Family Vineyards, San Luis Obispo County (Central Coast, California) Pinot Noir 2008
Robert Whitley
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February 22, 2011
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Ortman’s Salisbury Vineyard Pinot is a genuine crowd-pleaser. It’s a gorgeous, juicy, red-fruited wonder that is drinking beautifully right now. The tannins are supple...
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Ortman Family Vineyards, Sta. Rita Hills (Santa Barbara County) Pinot Noir 2008
Robert Whitley
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February 22, 2011
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Ortman’s Turner Vineyard Pinot exhibits plenty of ripe fruit, but would benefit from another year or two in the cellar to tame the slight...
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Dry Creek Vineyard, Sonoma County (California) Zinfandel 2008
Gerald D. Boyd
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February 15, 2011
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 Heritage is a young vine Zinfandel, taken from old vine budwood grafted into a new vineyard.  The result is a zesty Zin with a...
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Marchesi di Barolo, Dolcetto d’Alba (Piedmont, Italy) 2009
Paul Lukacs
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February 15, 2011
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 With more weight on the palate than many Dolcettos, this is a delicious medium-bodied wine.  It offers a floral bouquet, with cherry-flavored fruit on...
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Bella, Alexander Valley (Sonoma County, California) Zinfandel 2008
Tina Caputo
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February 15, 2011
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 I’m not a big fan of over-the-top Zins, and this one is deliciously rich without crossing the line.  It’s soft and medium bodied, with...
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Bella, Alexander Valley (Sonoma County, California) Petite Sirah 2008
Tina Caputo
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February 15, 2011
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 The wine has a deep, rich color, along with a nice plummy aroma.  It’s concentrated and ripe, with flavors of black fruit, plum and...
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Neo, Ribera del Duero (Castilla y León, Spain) 2008
Michael Franz
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February 15, 2011
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 I believe that I’ve tasted every vintage of this wine that’s ever been made, and though I’ve thought that all of them were good,...
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Damilano, Barbera d’Asti (Piedmont, Italy) 2009
Paul Lukacs
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February 8, 2011
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 Good Piedmontese Barbera offers full flavor but a light to medium body, making it very versatile at the supper table.  (No wonder it tends...
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