Bodegas Montecillo 2011 Reserva Rioja
A 19th Century winery still manages to put out some serious juice, year in and year out. If you need an everyday bottle of Rioja, this will fit the bill. Aromas …
2011
Poggio Stella 2011 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Labels like this confuse most wine consumers. Let’s break it down. Vino Nobile = another term for the grape Sangiovese. The same grape that’s in Chianti Montepulciano = a town in …
Bersano 2011 “Generala” Barbera d’ Asti Superiore Nizza (Piedmont)
Bersano If you were purchasing Barolo in the ’80s, Bersano was a brand you’d seek out. Located in Nizza, the winery offered up classic Piedmontese wines. Their 1982 Barolo Riserva was …
Glenelly 2011 “The Glass Collection” Syrah, Stellenbosch
An elegant bottle that shows why South Africa is an essential wine region for Syrah. Restrained red fruit is kept in balance with liquid mineral, smoked game, and wildflowers. On the …
Consejo de la Alta 2011 Cata de Consejero, Rioja
Bodegas Consejo de la Alta is located in a tiny town the Ebro river. It’s a place that could be described as between: it’s between the two major Riojan cities of …
Manos Negras 2011 “Stone Soil Select” Malbec Reserve, Patagonia
Wineries in Argentina are like the rock band The Yardbirds: the side projects are becoming more famous than the original band. Ever heard of the Yardbirds? No? Ever hear of Eric Clapton, …
Rotie Cellars 2011 “Southern Blend” Red, Walla Walla (WA)
Impolite, brash, and barely keeping it together. The hot mess that is Rotie Cellars is the greatest thing in wine that I have seen in a while. We all know the …
Lagar de Bezana 2011 “Aluvion” Gran Reserva, Rapel Valley (Chile)
A beautiful wine with dense smoke and incense aromas. It’s lushly textured with deep soft tannins and flavors that pool into creme de cassis and ocean air. The finish is long with saturated …
Castelli del Grevepesa 2011 “Clemente VII” Chianti Classico
This Tuscan co-op winery is making a habit of featuring its wines in the Chairman’s Selection. I am not complaining. The 2010 Chianti was amazing, and their Super Tuscan was a great buy, too. If …
Tenor 2011 “2:2” Red, Columbia Valley (Washington State)
This bottle is a strong argument for why Columbia Valley should replace Napa on steak house wine lists. This Bordeaux blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot) has the massive oak-and-smooth hugeness …
Merryvale 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa
2011 in Napa Valley was a difficult vintage. It was the year when using too much oak in the aging process turned the wine anemic and unpleasant. Many big-name Napa wineries turned …
Masi 2011 “Campofiorin” Rosso del Veronese
This 2011 bottling is a fantastic example of a Ripasso style wine from Northeast Italy. Lavender and fresh fennel on the nose with a whiff of burnt vanilla. Dense tannins prop …
Chateau Gramond 2011 Haut Medoc
There are famous towns in the Haut Medoc: Margaux, Saint-Julien, and Pauillac. And then there is Listrac. This town isn’t famous, but it is producing high-quality wine. The last few vintages …
Cascina Chicco 2011 Barolo Rocche di Castelletto
A note about this wine: there is much more of it on the Main Line than in Philly. For reasons unknown, this is often the case. It’s a shame since there …
Twelftree Wines 2011 Grenache/Mataro
This is a side project for Michael Twelftree, Australia’s Two Hands Winery owner, and a fantastic find in the PLCB system. The wine is sourced from two old vineyards in Barossa: …
Maculan 2011 “Palazzotto” Cabernet Sauvignon
If Napa Cab is your cup of tea, this isn’t your cup of tea. This is Cabernet Sauvignon for Pinot Noir lovers. 2011 is especially delightful, thanks to a warmer than …