Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

Talbott Vineyards, Santa Lucia Highlands (California) Pinot Noir 2012
Rich Cook
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December 30, 2014
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Named for Robb Talbott’s oldest daughter, this is a beautiful wine that doesn’t shy away from a fascinating touch of tomato leaf over rich...
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Faust, Napa Valley (California) 2012
Robert Whitley
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December 30, 2014
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 Hard to call a $50 wine a value purchase, but by Napa Valley standards this Faust Cabernet Sauvignon qualifies. Rich, dense and layered, it...
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Calera, Mt. Harlan (California) Pinot Noir 2011
Robert Whitley
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December 30, 2014
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 Perhaps the most Burgundian of the current Calera releases, the Selleck Vineyard exhibits excellent ripeness, with earthy forest-floor aromas and lovely strawberry and raspberry...
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Black Kite, Sonoma Coast (California) Pinot Noir 2012
Robert Whitley
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December 30, 2014
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 Pinot specialist Black Kite in recent vintages has reached beyond its stellar Anderson County vineyard for new grape sources. This Sonoma Coast pinot remains...
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Nickel & Nickel, Napa Valley (California) Merlot 2012
Robert Whitley
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December 30, 2014
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 There are but a handful of great merlot producers in the Napa Valley (cabernet sauvignon being the money grape) and Nickel & Nickel is...
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Ken Wright, Eola Amity Hills (Willamette Valley, Oregon) Pinot Noir 2012
Wayne Belding
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December 23, 2014
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The Canary Hill Vineyard lies at a relatively high elevation on the southern end of the Eola-Amity Hills.  Made from a blend of Pommard...
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Yangarra Estate, McLaren Vale (Australia) Grenache 2012
Rich Cook
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December 23, 2014
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This black cherry bomb comes to us from a dry farmed vineyard of what the Aussies call "bush vines" — we say “head pruned”...
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Peter Lehmann, Barossa Valley (Australia) Shiraz 2013
Robert Whitley
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December 23, 2014
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Australian wines first made inroads in the United States more than a decade ago with a bevy of red wines that undercut California on...
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Stoller Family Estate, Dundee Hills (Oregon) Pinot Noir 2012
Rich Cook
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December 23, 2014
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A solid, easy to like Pinot that plays above its price range.  It’s got a great mix of black cherry, cinnamon, clove, strawberry, rhubarb,...
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Clayhouse Estate, Paso Robles (California) Petite Sirah 2012
Rich Cook
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December 23, 2014
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Normally a big, burly beast, Petite Sirah can bring elegance to your table when harvested at a lower ripeness level.  Coming in at 13.9%...
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Nickel & Nickel, Oakville (Napa Valley, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Rich Cook
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December 23, 2014
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Collector alert…  Wow.  Wow!  WOW!  Here’s a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that needs no accompanying varieties to add any complexity to it.  There’s amazing depth,...
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Merry Edwards, Sonoma Coast (California) Pinot Noir 2012
Rich Cook
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December 23, 2014
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Pinot Noir has a great friend in Merry Edwards.  Year after year, she is able to deliver amazing depth and complexity from different vineyards,...
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