Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

Ancient Peaks, Paso Robles (California) Zinfandel 2012
Rich Cook
|
August 19, 2014
|
This dry Zinfandel shows beautiful aromatic development without going into the sweet zone. Raspberry, dried red berries and spice box with a light leafy...
read more

Las Rocas de San Alejandro, Calatayud (Aragon, Spain) Garnacha 2011
Michael Apstein
|
August 19, 2014
|
Here is another good choice when you need a robust red to go with burgers, skirt steak or even lamb cooked on the grill. ...
read more

Laetitia Vineyard & Winery, Arroyo Grande Valley (California) Pinot Noir 2012
Rich Cook
|
August 19, 2014
|
This is usually the big boy of Laetitia’s three single vineyard wines.  I have yet to taste the La Colline or the Les Galets...
read more

Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Valley (Washington) Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Wayne Belding
|
August 19, 2014
|
Year in and year out, Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Cold Creek Cabernet delivers impressive depth and complexity at an amazing price for this level of...
read more

Davis Bynum, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2012
Michael Apstein
|
August 19, 2014
|
Davis Bynum was a visionary in the Russian River Valley when, in 1973, he was the first to bottle a single vineyard Pinot Noir. ...
read more

Villa Maria, Marlborough (New Zealand) Pinot Noir 2008
Michael Apstein
|
August 12, 2014
|
It’s rare to find a Pinot Noir with this complexity and refinement at this price.  With five years of age, it has developed beautifully. ...
read more

Villa Maria, Marlborough (New Zealand) Pinot Noir 2010
Michael Apstein
|
August 19, 2014
|
Villa Maria has managed to capture both the sweet fruitiness and the savory aspect of Pinot Noir in this single vineyard bottling.  Paradoxically, even...
read more

Robert Craig, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Robert Whitley
|
August 19, 2014
|
Robert Craig is easily among the most underrated producers in the Napa Valley. A good reason for that escapes me. The wines of Robert...
read more

VIE, Los Carneros (Sonoma County) Syrah 2011
Robert Whitley
|
August 19, 2014
|
If there is hope for California Syrah as a viable commodity in the wine marketplace, it is likely in the small, hand-crafted batches made...
read more

Roth Estate, Sonoma Coast (California) Pinot Noir 2012
Robert Whitley
|
August 19, 2014
|
The trend recently has been to make Pinot Noir more accessible, aka less expensive. The tricky part is making Pinot that people want to...
read more

Chapoutier, Côtes du Roussillon Villages (Languedoc, France) 2012
Michael Apstein
|
August 12, 2014
|
Chapoutier, one of the great producers of Rhone wines, has recently started producing wines in the Languedoc and we consumers are the beneficiaries.  This...
read more

Goldeneye, Anderson Valley (Mendocino County, California) Pinot Noir 2011
Robert Whitley
|
August 12, 2014
|
The beauty of Goldeneye’s grape sources in the Anderson Valley is that they deliver fruit that’s always ripe without losing the freshness, minerality and...
read more