Dead Letter Office 2008 Shiraz, South Australia
A vinous cocktail of Chambord, Creme Yvette, and Morello cherries. A viscous wine with a glass-and-teeth staining hue of carmine. Sweet cherry and mocha notes rise over the huge weight of …
2008
The Big Money Wine Myth
Is Expensive Wine a Waste of Money?Several studies have been released recently that call into question a basic premise of wine buying. Most wine drinkers assume that the more expensive a …
Bremerton 2007 Verdelho, Langhorne Creek, Australia
A winning wine from Bremerton in Langhorne Creek. A great style that is not typically seen the the states. Verdelho is best known as one of the grapes of Madeira. It is also one of Australia’s niche varietals. This bottle starts off with honey and peach, moves toward grapefruit and then veers to verbena and citrus on the finish.
Shoofly 2008 Freckle White, South Australia
A delicious white wine from Australia that manages to keep its lush weight in check. A Rhone-style blend from South Australia: Marsanne , Roussanne and a dash of Viognier. Aromas of fresh pear, ginger and almond, followed by mineral and melon on the palate. Medium bodied with a zesty acidity makes this a fun and easy bottle. It also offers enough complexity to keep any wine lover interested for a bottle or two.
CrossBarn 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon
The “CrossBarn” is remarkably similar to the “Paul Hobbs,” but at half the price. It is lush and dense with richly soft tannins, it stains the glass with a deep crimson. Full bodied, it offers up rich flavors of blackberry and burnt oak that are deeply embedded into a savory impression of fresh bay laurel and roses.
Andrew Will Winery 2007 Two Blondes Vineyard
Figs and cassis meld with coffee and campfire notes, along with a strong impression of Herbes de Provence. The midpalate brings in fresher red fruits, and serious oak-influenced flavors of chocolate and allspice. The finish rolls on and on, bringing more pleasure than anyone could expect from a glass of wine.
Vezer 2007 La Salette
Rising from twin pads of blackberry and oak, this is a drunken philanthropist of a wine. It holds nothing back, offering up a wealth of jam, coconut, sweet cream, and vanilla. There is nothing …
La Ca’ Nova 2007 “Bric Mentina” Barbaresco
A brilliantly crafted Barbaresco. Bric Mentina is an estate bottling from this excellent producer and pushes me to be a bit more poetic than I can usually muster. This Barbaresco has …
Castello Banfi 2007 Excelsus, Montalcino
While it may be sacrilege to grow Merlot in the very heart of Tuscany, this wine may be worth damnation. A deft but decadent Merlot-Cabernet blend spans a framework of lush …
Jersey Wins!
Keith Wallace (the founder of the Wine School) hosted an event for National Public Radio. It was a blind tasting pitting his top picks from New Jersey with comparable wines from …
Tenuta di Castiglioni 2008 Cabernet, Tuscany
A bordeaux blend that leads with classic Cabernet notes of cigar box and mint. Gritty tannins and fleshy fruit round out this fine bottling. An excellent price for this wine.
Feudi di San Gregorio 2007 Companaro
This is one of those wines that come with a caveat: drink this now! It’s already hitting its peak, so don’t keep it around for more than a few months. However, …
Wine Reviews
The top six wines for $15 were highlighted as tonight’s First Friday at the Wine School. A great list for the weekend binge purchases.
Pillar Box 2007 Red, Australia
Compared to Yellow Tail, this is the height of sophistication. Of course, that’s like saying Jessica Simpson is classier than Pam Anderson. This wine is pure silly fun, but it’s the …
Sicilian Wine Reviews
A few of our favorite wines from our trips to Sicily.Gambino ViniThe Gambino winery sits in the shadows of Mount Etna near Linguaglossa, its terraced vineyards sloping toward the ring of …
Domaine Henry Fessy 2007 Morgon
Take everything you ever thought about Beaujolais and put it aside. This Beaujolais Cru is a standout, with structure, fruit, and terroir to burn. $13.99, and a blockbuster for the price.