Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

Volker Eisele, Napa Valley (California) 2009
Marguerite Thomas
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October 28, 2014
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The wine, blended from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, shows beautiful sweet ripe fruitiness is well balanced by a good tannic structure and...
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Famille Perrin, Chateauneuf-du-Pape (Rhône Valley, France) 2010
Marguerite Thomas
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October 28, 2014
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With earthiness and spice, along with hints of dried fruit and wild fennel, this deep red wine has an appealing rusticity.  It is also...
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Chehalem Winery, Willamette Valley (Oregon) Pinot Noir 2012
Wayne Belding
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October 28, 2014
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The Stoller Vineyard has long been a source of fine Chehalem Pinot Noirs.  The 2012 harvest yielded perfectly ripe fruit character and a rich...
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Quinta do Noval, Douro (Portugal) Touriga Nacional 2011
Michael Apstein
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October 28, 2014
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Touriga Nacional, the most prized grape for Port, is also the most prized grape for Portugal’s dry red wines. Quinta do Noval’s bottling of...
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Quinta do Noval, Vinho Regional Duriense (Portugal) 2009
Michael Apstein
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October 28, 2014
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Quinta do Noval, one of the world’s greatest Port producers, has been making dry wines from their home in the Douro Valley for about...
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Cloudburst, Margaret River (Western Australia) Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Michael Apstein
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October 28, 2014
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Will Berliner, owner/winemaker at Cloudburst says he cares “about clarity and purity.”  He found both in his 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, an extraordinary wine.  In...
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Dry Creek Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley (Sonoma County, California) 2010
Marguerite Thomas
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October 28, 2014
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This is what my tasting notes say about The Mariner:  “Sweet. Silky. Smooth. Savory. Had it with lasagna. Great match.”  Brief but succinct, right? ...
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Louis M. Martini, Sonoma Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Wayne Belding
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October 21, 2014
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For decades, the Monte Rosso vineyard has provided some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon fruit in California.  The old vines and low yields allow...
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Mas d’En Gil, Priorat (Spain) 2008
Michael Apstein
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October 28, 2014
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The 2008 vintage in Priorat was cooler than usual, producing slightly less concentration, more vibrant wines.  Mas d’En Gil’s style leans toward less massive...
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Bodegas Príncipe de Viana, Navarra (Spain) Garnacha 2012
Michael Apstein
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October 28, 2014
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My mantra is producer, producer, producer.  But when I am unfamiliar with a producer, I look at the importer, especially those who specialize in...
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Cloudburst, Margaret River (Western Australia) Malbec 2012
Michael Apstein
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October 28, 2014
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Will Berliner, who has already shown his talent with his sensational Cabernet and Chardonnay, has added an equally impressive Malbec to his line up. ...
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Robert Hall, Paso Robles (California) Merlot 2012
Robert Whitley
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October 28, 2014
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My experience with Merlot from Paso is that it is usually solid, sometimes even very good, but seldom great. I suspect it’s simply too...
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