Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

Castello Banfi, IGP Toscana (Italy) 2010
Michael Apstein
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February 25, 2014
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Castello Banfi, one of the top producers of Brunello di Montalcino, also makes excellent wines from outside of that revered DOCG zone.  This one,...
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Patz & Hall, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County) Pinot Noir 2011
Robert Whitley
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February 25, 2014
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The Chenoweth Ranch is often among the most powerful of the Patz & Hall Pinots, but in this cool, wet vintage it leans more...
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Boscarelli, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (Tuscany, Italy) 2009
Michael Apstein
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February 18, 2014
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This single vineyard Sangiovese-based wine shows the potential and glory of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.  Its explosive dark cherry-like flavors are balanced–and indeed, enhanced–by...
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J. Davies, Diamond Mountain District (Napa Valley, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Paul Lukacs
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February 18, 2014
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A well-structured, quite sophisticated Napa Valley Cabernet, lacking the overt sweetness and excessive brawn that mars so many top-end California renditions of this variety. ...
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Kenwood Vineyards, Sonoma County (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Rich Cook
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February 18, 2014
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Kenwood strikes again with a bargain priced beauty. We’ve got black cherry, currants, bright dried herbs and a bit of Baker’s chocolate in the...
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Damilano, Barbera d’Asti (Piedmont, Italy) 2011
Paul Lukacs
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February 18, 2014
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Though light-bodied, this wine is chock full with flavor.  Or should I say flavors, as it is multilayered and invitingly complex, with both fresh...
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Frankland Estate, Frankland River Region (Western Australia) 2009
Paul Lukacs
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February 18, 2014
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A Bordeaux-styled blend of 70% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot, and 7% each of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a tightly wound wine, full...
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Monsanto, Chianti (Tuscany, Italy) 2011
Michael Apstein
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February 18, 2014
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Monsanto is one of the great producers of traditionally framed Chianti Classico.  This one, from the greater Chianti region, not the Classico subzone, is...
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Stéphane Aviron, Beaujolais Villages (Burgundy, France) 2012
Michael Apstein
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February 18, 2014
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The yields in Beaujolais in 2012, were, like everywhere else in Burgundy, down dramatically.  Stéphane estimates that the average yield in 2012 for Beaujolais...
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Villa Cerna, Chianti Classico (Tuscany, Italy) 2010
Michael Apstein
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February 18, 2014
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Andrea Cecchi and his brother represent the fourth generation of the family making wine.  They have four estates, one in Umbria, and three in...
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Planeta, Sicilia Rosso IGT (Sicily, Italy) 2012
Michael Franz
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February 18, 2014
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Most of Sicily is so far south (below the northern coast of Africa) that one might assume that the wines would be thick and...
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Château de Caladroy, Côtes du Roussillon Villages (Roussillon, France) 2010
Michael Franz
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February 18, 2014
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This terrific — and terrifically consistent — wine is not only delicious upon release, but also capable of improving with age, as was proved...
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