Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

White Oak Vineyards & Winery, Napa Valley (California) Merlot 2010
Rich Cook
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May 6, 2014
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Are people still telling you that they don’t drink Merlot?  If so, here’s a wine that will change a lot of minds about this...
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Mettler Family Vineyards, Lodi (California) Zinfandel 2011
Rich Cook
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May 6, 2014
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I am not a fan of this style of Zinfandel, but it’s got a serious following, and I understand the reasons.  This wine shows...
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Gunsight Rock, Paso Robles (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Michael Franz
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May 6, 2014
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Serious Cabernet for not-too-serious a price.  This young wine shows lots of muscle and intensity, with blackberry and black cherry fruit accented with just...
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Mirassou Winery, California (United States) Pinot Noir 2012
Michael Franz
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May 6, 2014
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Juicy and sweet and damned near irresistible, this is an affordable Pinot Noir that will please almost everyone.  Packed with dark cherry fruit but...
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Giesen, Marlborough (New Zealand) Syrah 2011
Robert Whitley
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May 6, 2014
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 Cool-climate syrah tends to be spicy, with notes of white pepper that dominate on the nose. This wine is a beautiful example of the...
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Giesen, Marlborough (New Zealand) Pinot Noir 2011
Robert Whitley
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May 6, 2014
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 The three Giesen brothers opted to not produce a basic, inexpensive pinot noir because at their entry-level price, they would have been forced to...
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Sterling, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Michael Franz
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May 6, 2014
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Calling this Cabernet “Platinum” turns out to have been a self-fulfilling prophesy, as this was awarded a Platinum medal at the 2014 San Diego...
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Daou Vineyards and Winery, Paso Robles (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Michael Franz
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May 6, 2014
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This is a big-time Cab with plenty of power and punch, and yet that’s not all that it brings to the party.  Dark color...
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Ferrari-Carano, Anderson Valley (California) Pinot Noir 2012
Marguerite Thomas
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May 6, 2014
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This skillfully made Pinot Noir beckons with a fragrance that’s elusively floral and fruity.  Relatively dark in color (for Pinot) it nevertheless remains fairly...
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Columbia Crest Winery, Horse Heaven Hills (Washington) Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Rich Cook
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April 29, 2014
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Columbia Crest has had this bottling firing on all cylinders for several vintages in a row, and once again it’s a solid value Cabernet. ...
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Agricola Punica, Isola dei Nuraghi IGT (Sardinia, Italy) 2011
Wayne Belding
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April 29, 2014
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The 2011 Montessu from Agricola Punica combines traditional style with modern winemaking.  Based on Carignan (along with some Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot), it...
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Castello Banfi, Toscana IGT (Tuscany, Italy) 2011
Michael Franz
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April 29, 2014
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This is a completely convincing Tuscan red that shows excellent depth of flavor and persistence of finish, yet it also manages to speak clearly...
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