Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews
Michael Apstein
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March 26, 2024
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 Chénas, the smallest of the 10 Crus (named villages) of the Beaujolais region, is known for producing robust wines.  Laura Lardy is one of...
Michael Apstein
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March 26, 2024
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 Cantine Emes’ unnecessarily heavy bottle and a label proclaiming Riserva gives a good indication that this Nero d’Avola will be at the more muscular...
Michael Apstein
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March 26, 2024
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 Regaleali, owned by the Tasca d’Almerita family, one of the most famous and important producers in Sicily, rarely fails.  They certainly didn’t with this...
Michael Apstein
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March 26, 2024
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 The quality is not surprisingly given this wine is part of the Paul Hobbs collection.  What did catch me by surprise, however, was the...
Roger Morris
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March 26, 2024
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The “NOW” is the producer’s acronym for “natural organic wine,” and this one lives up to the profile of many natural-style wines.  It is...
Rich Cook
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March 26, 2024
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 Bold and bright, Dutton Estate’s “Karmen Isabella” shows the difference between the 2021 and 2022 vintages with a little more edgy character, but it’s...
Norm Roby
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March 26, 2024
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 Sourced from 5 separate vineyards in the region, this 2020 confirms my feeling that Barbera is one of the most underrated of California varieties,...
Norm Roby
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March 26, 2024
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 Bordering Saint-Émilion, Castillon enjoys the same growing conditions and sandy, gravelly soils.  But lacking the status of its neighbor, Castillon wines are less expensive...
Rebecca Murphy
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March 26, 2024
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 João Anintónio Cerdeira planted a few vines of Alvarinho grapes in 1974.  He called this tiny vineyard ’Soalheiro’, which means sunny.  In 1982 he...
Roger Morris
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March 26, 2024
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 A Bordeaux blend, it is a little leaner and a touch puckier in the finish than most Napa Valley red blends.  It is granular...
Roger Morris
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March 26, 2024
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 Winemaker Mike Tracy says he likes to construct his Sauvignons to be ready to drink on release, but that some customers have noted they...
Roger Morris
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March 26, 2024
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 A big wine and a little more fresh fruity than most Riojas, Ramón Bilbao’s "Mirto" is well-balanced and robust but not aggressive.  It has...