Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

Tenuta Sassoregale, Marema Toscana (Tuscany, Italy) Sangiovese 2013
Rich Cook
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September 6, 2016
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The Maremma offers a different look at Tuscan Sangiovese, its marine influence offering a slightly cooler climate than the Chianti region.  The result here...
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Sbragia Family Vineyards, Moon Mountain District (Sonoma County, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Rich Cook
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August 30, 2016
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What do you get when you put a historic Sonoma vineyard’s Cabernet Sauvignon in the hands of a winemaker with a storied history of...
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Lamole di Lamole, Chianti Classico DOCG (Tuscany, Italy) 2011
Robert Whitley
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August 30, 2016
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A wine like this bears almost no familial relationship to Chianti made in the 1950s and 1960s. With the exception of Ruffino, few producers...
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Bodegas Septima, Mendoza (Argentina) Malbec 2014
Michael Apstein
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August 30, 2016
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Obra, the reserve wine of Bodegas Septima, is a cut above the usual Malbec both in taste and in price.   Good acidity and vibrancy...
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Catena, Mendoza (Argentina) Malbec 2013
Robert Whitley
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August 30, 2016
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Catena malbec has long been a benchmark for other Argentine wine producers and the is a solid reason for that. The Catena wines, in...
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Donnafugata, Sicilia (Sicily, Italy) Nero d’Avola 2015
Rich Cook
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August 30, 2016
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The black devil shows its fun and fruity side in this quick release bottling from Donnafugata.  Blueberry, wild blackberry and flower aromas are punchy...
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Patz & Hall, Santa Lucia Highlands (Central Coast, California) Pinot Noir 2013
Rich Cook
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August 30, 2016
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The last of the Patz & Hall 2013 Pinot Noir lineup reaches outside James Hall’s usual radius of vineyard selections, but it’s always worth...
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Vento di Mare, Terre Siciliane IGT (Sicily, Italy) Nero d’Avola 2014
Michael Apstein
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August 30, 2016
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Vento di Mare continues their streak of bargain-priced wines with this Nero d’Avola, Sicily’s iconic red grape.  Similar to its Grillo and Pinot Grigio...
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Martin Ray, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Michael Apstein
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August 30, 2016
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The big, heavy, oversized bottle makes me not want to like this wine.  But the first whiff — a combination of red fruits and...
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Château Lassègue, St. Emilion Grand Cru (Bordeaux, France) 2012
Michael Apstein
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August 30, 2016
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This, the second wine of Château Lassègue, a property in the Jackson Family portfolio, is a marvelous buy.  More polished than many second wines,...
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Poliziano, Morellino di Scansano (Tuscany, Italy) 2014
Rich Cook
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August 30, 2016
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A riper alternative from Poliziano at this price point, as opposed to their famous Rosso di Montepulciano.  A little more fruit forward, a little...
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Decoy, Sonoma County (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Rich Cook
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August 30, 2016
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Duckhorn’s "everyday wine for the well-informed" line always represents decent value.  No exception here.  Blackberry, cassis, spice, creamy tannins and a well-integrated finish deliver...
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