Wine Reviews

Search Wine Reviews Archive

Explorador, Central Valley (Chile) Merlot 2009
Michael Apstein
|
October 5, 2010
|
 This wine, produced by Concha y Toro, continues their tradition of delivering more than you’d expect from the price.  Showing more than just fruit–even...
read more

Red Guitar, Navarra (Spain) Tempranillo–Garnacha 2008
Michael Franz
|
October 5, 2010
|
 As the saying goes, there’s no accounting for taste, but in my opinion the un-serious label of this wine undersells it, as the product...
read more

Shirvington, McLaren Vale (South Australia, Australia) Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Marguerite Thomas
|
October 5, 2010
|
 This particular vintage of Shirvington’s splendid Cabernet makes me think of the recently deceased Tony Curtis.  (Stay with me here).  Like the actor in...
read more

Conspire, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2008
Gerald D. Boyd
|
October 5, 2010
|
 Conspire is what Winemaker/Proprietor Amy Aiken likes to call her “Anything But Cabernet” wine.  For this bright and fruity Pinot Noir she went to...
read more

Bota Box, California (United States) Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Marguerite Thomas
|
September 28, 2010
|
 This Cabernet is proof that California is starting to produce downright palatable wines in contemporary eco-friendly bag-in-box packaging.  Most of the better ones I’ve...
read more

Figuero, Ribera del Duero (Castilla y Leon, Spain) 2008
Paul Lukacs
|
September 28, 2010
|
 The entry-level Ribera del Duero from Figuero, this youthful red comes from ten to twenty year-old Tempranillo vines, and has been aged in barrel...
read more

MacMurray Ranch, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2008
Tina Caputo
|
September 28, 2010
|
 With a pleasantly earthy aroma, this Pinot’s bouquet has notes of ripe, black fruit.  It has rich, ripe blackberry and black cherry flavors, with...
read more

Da Vinci, Chianti (Tuscany, Italy) 2008
Mary Ewing-Mulligan
|
September 14, 2010
|
 Over the years, I have been underwhelmed by the Chianti wines produced by the Cantine Leonardo da Vinci, but this new release pleasantly surprised...
read more

Bella, Dry Creek Valley (Sonoma County, California) Zinfandel 2008
W. Blake Gray
|
September 21, 2010
|
 From a vineyard planted in the early 1990s, this is a brambly, somewhat savory wine with raspberry and black currant fruit and a little...
read more

Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Hemel-En-Aarde Valley (South Africa) Pinot Noir 2008
Paul Lukacs
|
September 21, 2010
|
 Very Burgundian, meaning light-bodied but flavorful, with a supple, silky texture on the palate, this wine offers a great deal of character and personality. ...
read more

Biltmore Estate, North Carolina (United States) 2008
Tina Caputo
|
September 14, 2010
|
 What, you’ve never heard of a sparkling wine from North Carolina? This one — made with 88% North Carolina fruit — might make you...
read more

Wrath, Monterey (Monterey County, California) Pinot Noir 2008
Marguerite Thomas
|
September 14, 2010
|
 Rare is the California Pinot Noir that exploits the lean, wild side of this unique grape rather than the plump lushness typical of Pinot...
read more