Wine Reviews

An archive of all wine reviews

Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Valley (Washington) Merlot 2011
Michael Apstein
|
November 5, 2013
|
Chateau Ste Michelle has pumped up this Merlot by adding Syrah (15%) to the blend thereby creating a plumy ripe wine.  Still the black...
read more

La Rochelle, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Meunier 2012
Linda Murphy
|
November 5, 2013
|
Steven Kent Mirassou is the owner of La Rochelle, and Tom Stutz is his winemaker.  While their focus is on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay,...
read more

McNab Ridge Wine Company, Mendocino Counties (California) Pinotage 2010
Rich Cook
|
November 5, 2013
|
There’s not much Pinotage planted outside of South Africa, but it’s gaining acreage in California and New Zealand.  This example shows bright, jammy blackberry...
read more

Geyser Peak Winery, California (United States) Pinot Noir 2012
Rich Cook
|
November 5, 2013
|
2012 has been hailed as the latest “vintage of the century” in California.  I don’t know about that, but decent Pinot Noir for less...
read more

Grgich Hills Estate, Napa Valley (California) Merlot 2009
Robert Whitley
|
October 29, 2013
|
The current vintage of Grgich Merlot is a yet another example of how this remarkable winery has succeeded while going against the conventional wisdom...
read more

Joseph Drouhin, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru (Burgundy, France) 2010
Robert Whitley
|
October 29, 2013
|
When I first tasted the 2010 vintage from barrel I was impressed with the structure and elegance of the vast majority of samples. This...
read more

Renwood Winery, California (United States) Zinfandel 2011
Michael Apstein
|
October 29, 2013
|
This unusual blend of Zinfandel (86%) with a touch of white grapes (Roussanne, 2%) and a grape I’d never heard of (Souzao, 1%) had...
read more

Spellbound, California (United States) Petite Sirah 2012
Michael Apstein
|
October 29, 2013
|
There’s nothing petite about wines made from Petite Sirah.  This robust red, actually purple, wine delivers jammy fruit flavors seasoned with licorice and spicy...
read more

Cono Sur, Casablanca Valley (Chile) Pinot Noir 2011
Michael Apstein
|
October 29, 2013
|
Cono Sur’s “20 Barrels” bottling represents their best lots — a reserve bottling, essentially.  This Pinot Noir is bigger and more concentrated than their...
read more

Cono Sur, Colchagua Valley (Chile) Pinot Noir 2012
Michael Apstein
|
October 29, 2013
|
This fruit-focused Pinot Noir manages to avoid the sweetness trap so many fruit-focused wines fall into.  Subtle savory notes help balance the overt fruitiness...
read more

Liberty School, Central Coast (California) Pinot Noir 2012
Michael Apstein
|
October 29, 2013
|
Sweet cherry-like flavors dominate in this Central Coast Pinot Noir.  Lots of spice from oak aging and a whiff of savory notes compete with...
read more

Clos du Val, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Michael Apstein
|
October 29, 2013
|
Thankfully, Clos du Val retains their hallmark style of restraint and elegance with their 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon.  And they do it without sacrificing intensity...
read more