Wine Reviews

Search Wine Reviews Archive

Alysian, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2008
Linda Murphy
|
March 29, 2011
|
 From another portion of Hambrecht’s Floodgate Vineyard comes this youthful, exotic wine.  It’s the most flamboyant of the Alysian Pinot Noirs (flamboyant being relative...
read more

Castelvero, Piemonte (Piedmont, Italy) Barbera 2009
Michael Franz
|
March 29, 2011
|
 The world-wide shift toward riper, richer wines has manifested itself in Barbera as much–if not more than–any Italian red wine.  Twenty years ago, most...
read more

Bellamarsilia, Morellino di Scansano (Tuscany, Italy) 2009
Paul Lukacs
|
March 22, 2011
|
 A blend of Sangiovese (85%), Cilegiolo (10%), and Alicante (5%), this is an impressive Tuscan “rosso,” with both dried and fresh red fruit flavors...
read more

Beckmen Vineyards, Santa Ynez Valley (Santa Barbara County, California) 2009
Tina Caputo
|
March 22, 2011
|
 This Grenache-based blend also contains Syrah, Mourvèdre and Counoise. It has a wonderful perfumed aroma of cranberries and pomegranates that invites you to take...
read more

Beckmen Vineyards, Santa Ynez Valley (Santa Barbara County, California) Grenache 2009
Tina Caputo
|
March 22, 2011
|
 With aromas of spice and red fruits, this juicy wine is bright and lively on the palate, with juicy red fruit flavors and a...
read more

Sebastiani, Sonoma County (California) Merlot 2009
Paul Lukacs
|
March 22, 2011
|
 Sebastiani’s Sonoma County series is evidencing very high (and to be honest, unexpected) quality these days, and this Merlot only continues what has to...
read more

Over the Edge, Martinborough (New Zealand) Pinot Noir 2009
Paul Lukacs
|
March 22, 2011
|
 Top New Zealand Pinot Noirs offer the same lush textures and fruit-forward flavors that characterize California and Oregon renditions, but often without the annoying...
read more

Marziano Abbona, Barbera d’Alba (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
|
March 22, 2011
|
 Since it is possible to buy good Barbera for as little as $12, I suspect that many consumers are reticent when asked to pony...
read more

Marziano Abbona, Dogliani (Piedmont, Italy) 2008
Michael Franz
|
March 22, 2011
|
 Dogliani is an appellation that was created to showcase Dolcetto, which was long enshadowed in Piedmont not only by Nebbiolo but also by Barbera. ...
read more

Louis Martini, Sonoma County (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Tina Caputo
|
March 15, 2011
|
 This is an easy-to-drink Cabernet with aromas of black fruit and raspberries. It has flavors of ripe blackberry and fresh herbs, along with bright...
read more

Bella Sera, Sicilia IGT (Sicily, Italy) Merlot 2009
Michael Franz
|
March 15, 2011
|
 Having taken a whack at a Gallo product this week (see the review of MacMurray Ranch Pinot, below), I’m pleased to be able to...
read more

Artezin, Mendocino County (California) Zinfandel 2009
Paul Lukacs
|
March 15, 2011
|
 This is not a Zinfandel for fans of the currently pervasive big, bruising style.  Instead, it harkens back to a couple of decades ago,...
read more