Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

Château de Beaucastel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Rhône Valley, France) 2012
Wayne Belding
|
May 17, 2016
|
Southern Rhône red wines assault the senses with an enticing array of fruit, floral, earth, herb and spice elements.  Château de Beaucastel is an...
read more

Black Kite, Santa Lucia Highlands (California) Pinot Noir 2013
Rich Cook
|
January 12, 2016
|
Another stellar effort from Jeff Gaffner, this time from Santa Lucia Highlands, and he really lets the terroir sing in this bottling.  Deep black...
read more

Byron, Santa Maria Valley (Santa Barbara County, California) Pinot Noir 2013
Robert Whitley
|
May 17, 2016
|
 This darkly fruited, earthy pinot from the renowned Sierra Madre Vineyard exhibits richness and flavor without having to flex its muscles. On the palate...
read more

MacRostie Winery, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2014
Michael Apstein
|
May 17, 2016
|
This straightforward Pinot Noir is bright and full of cherry-like fruit.  A hint of savory herbal notes adds complexity.  Mild tannins allow for immediate...
read more

ROAR Wines, Santa Lucia Highlands (Monterey County, California) Pinot Noir 2014
Rich Cook
|
May 17, 2016
|
Thankfully the Franscioni family doesn’t sell all of the fruit from this vineyard to other Pinot Noir producers, and this version of Garys’ is...
read more

Famille Perrin, Rasteau (Rhône Valley, France) Grenache and Syrah 2013
Marguerite Thomas
|
May 17, 2016
|
From a complicated vintage (cold winter, blah spring, skimpy crop but of unexpectedly good quality) this extremely appealing wine is surprisingly lush and dense,...
read more

Jordan, Alexander Valley (Sonoma County, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Rich Cook
|
May 17, 2016
|
My favorite Alexander Valley producer strikes again with this elegant bottling.  It’s quite bright, with blackberry and black cherry flooding your senses and joined...
read more

Chamisal, Edna Valley (Central Coast, California) Pinot Noir 2013
Rich Cook
|
May 17, 2016
|
Chamisal typically makes a bold, opulent style of Pinot Noir, and this wine continues in that tradition, with flavors of black cherry, raspberry and...
read more

Nielsen, Santa Barbara County (California) Pinot Noir 2014
Robert Whitley
|
May 17, 2016
|
 Nielson is another in the growing field of pinot producers crafting a respectable pinot noir that is both tasty and easily affordable. The second...
read more

Kendall-Jackson, Sonoma County (California) Merlot 2013
Robert Whitley
|
May 17, 2016
|
 At this price the K-J 2013 is one of the best values in California merlot. With a good bit of heft and richness, this...
read more

Joseph Drouhin, Fleurie AOC (Beaujolais, France) 2014
Rich Cook
|
May 17, 2016
|
Aromas of white pepper, flowers and crushed rock mix with cherry and raspberry fruit in this expressive Beaujolais.  The palate delivers on that promise,...
read more

Joseph Drouhin, Brouilly AOC (Beaujolais, France) 2014
Rich Cook
|
May 17, 2016
|
Part of a new set of Beaujolais wines for Drouhin, this comes from a partnership formed in 2014 with Hospices de Belleville, and it’s...
read more