Gordon Brothers 2008 Merlot, Columbia Valley
Columbia Valley Merlot Review Back in the day, when I sold wines for a living, I was a huge fan of the Gordon Brothers. They released their first wines in the early …
2008
Shea Wine Cellars 2008 Estate Chardonnay
Oregon Wine Review Anyone who doesn’t like chardonnay on principle should feel compelled to drink this wine. A study in elegance and sex appeal, this Shea is an excellent example of …
Philadelphia City Paper: Gary Vaynerchuk at the Wine School
Wine guru Gary Vaynerchuk will be at the Wine School of Philadelphia today, June 12, to promote his new book — Gary Vaynerchuk’s 101 Wines: Guaranteed to Inspire, Delight and Bring Thunder to Your World (Rodale Books, $19.95). Vaynerchuk– or Gary V, as his followers, the “Vayniacs,” call him — is the director of operations for Springfield, N.J.’s Wine Library, but he’s best-known for his high-energy video podcast on tv.winelibrary.com, where he moves away from stuffy wine practices by using terms like “sniffy sniff” and asking whether a bottle “brings the thunder” when he reviews them. The Internet celebrity has appeared on Ellen and Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and he’s been featured in print in places like The Wall Street Journal, GQ and Time.
Merryvale 2008 “Starmont” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
A rock-solid Napa Cab at a rock-solid price. The nose of pencil shavings, vanilla, and toast promises great things to come, and it does deliver. The gritty tannic structure is balanced …
Pillar Box 2008 Red
For a wine so damn cheap, a lot of rock star winemakers have been attached to this project. For the geeks, that means Aussie powerhouses Kim Jackson and Chris Ringland, for starters. For the rest …
Peachy Canyon 2008 Westside Zinfandel, Paso Robles
Paso Robles is a huge AVA, with over a half-million acres of vines. Huge wineries like J. Lohr, Treana, and Meridian dominate the region. However, in the cooler hills on the westside of …
Castello di Fonterutoli “Ser Lapo” 2008 Chianti Classico Reserva
The Mazzei family has a very long history in Chianti and has considerably expanded their winemaking operations over the past few years, including forays into Sicily and the Tuscan coast. However, …
Zuccardi 2008 “Q Series” Tempranillo, Mendoza
It smells like a little coffee house on fire, but without the hipsters. Yes, that’s a good thing. This bottle is all about the oak. Full-bodied, the wine sports a round, …
Bodegas Dios Ares 2008 Crianza Rioja
One the nose, cardamon, and lavender play with a nub of burnt vanilla, following a sweet hit of black fruit. The palate is exactly what a Crianza should be: balanced but exuberant. There are …
Alexander Valley Vineyards 2008 “Redemption” Zinfandel
If you drink Zin for its delightful complexity, you aren’t thinking straight. Zinfandel –despite its pink alter ego– is a major badass. This bottle is in keeping with such a reputation. …
Saxon Brown 2008 Pinot Noir Durell Hayfield
Review Beautiful and luxurious in the glass. Aromas of red cherry and espresso bolt out with nary a swirl. Soon after, there is an exquisite moment of flavor when dark and bright cherry …
Zenato 2008 Ripassa Classico, Veneto
Zenato is a large-scale operation near Lake Garda in northern Italy. Despite their size, the company has consistently put out excellent –if occasionally anodyne—wines in Valpolicella.Vintage after vintage, the Zenato Amarone …
Gerard Bertrand 2008 Grand Terroir Tautavel
The village Tautavel is lovely and largely unknown to the outside world. It is perched in a high valley that links the French wine regions of Roussillon and Corbières. Before now, …
Gerard Bertrand 2008 Grand Terroir Tautavel
The village Tautavel is lovely and largely unknown to the outside world. It is perched in a high valley that links the French wine regions of Roussillon and Corbières. Before now, …
Dry Creek Vineyards 2008 “Foggy Oaks” Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
Despite packing the double-whammy of barrel fermentation AND barrel aging, this wine still retains wonderful fruit flavors, particularly fresh pineapple, and lemon curd. Flavors reminiscent of Grannie’s apple pie come into …
Chateau Pavillon Bel Air 2008 Lalande de Pomerol
As wine regions go, Lalande de Pomerol is typically a mixed bag. It’s not actually Pomerol, but one of the many satellite regions on the right bank of Bordeaux. This is …