Three Top Spanish Wines
Bodegas Briego Tiempo Crianza, Ribera Del Duero I’ve reviewed vintages of Bodegas Briego since 2009 and have always been impressed by the quality and price points for their Crianza bottlings. This is a …
Chairman’s Selection
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 …
Quinta do Vallado 2012 “Field Blend” Douro Reserva
A top-notch product that is making a name for itself on the international stage. Winemakers Francisco Olazabal & Francisco Ferreira are putting together some of the best dry wines, as well as assembling …
3 Rings 2013 Shiraz, Barossa Valley
It’s interesting how fashion changes in the wine world. When this wine was first released, it was the belle of the ball. Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate gave the 2004 …
Tintara 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon McLaren Vale
A great value for Cabernet, thanks to the “Chairman’s Selection” program. The bottle is packed with the kind of menthol-smooth structure that makes Cab Sauv’s a great dinner wine. Classic notes …
Carpineto 2012 “Valcolomba” Merlot, Tuscany
This wine starts with dark berries and toasted almonds, with a whiff of diacetyl (that butterscotch smell so popular in chardonnay and so reviled in Heineken). There is a hint of …
Finca Flichman 2013 “Paisaje de Barrancas” Mendoza
This is a growling beast of a wine, trained from birth to dominate the dining room table and chew up any wine glass it is poured into. The nose is oak-dominant …
Maquis 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley
A lush and delightful bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the world’s top Cabernet growing regions. Aromas of licorice and sandalwood are accented by iron and fresh leather. On the …
Villa Mora 2008 Montefalco Rosso Riserva
When wine writers call the aroma of wine the bouquet, they don’t usually mean it literally. If you don’t like flowers, don’t sniff this wine. Thyme, marjoram, roses, violets, and bay …
Cesarini Sartori 2007 “Signae” Sagrantino di Montefalco
Garrigue and camphor on the nose and a finish of peppered beef jerky. In between, toasted spices and black fruit get busy, and a massive but elegant core of tannins take …
Sbragia 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Dry Creek
Sauvignon Blanc is becoming a bit too popular. I keep waiting for someone to come up with a “Housewives of Beverly Swills” bottle of Sweet Sauvignon, or possibly a White Sauvignon …
Barão de Vilar Feuerheerd’s 10-Year-Old Tawny Port
Despite being around since 1815, this port producer doesn’t really exist. That’s reason enough to pick up a bottle or two.Let me explain: Feuerheerd was founded in 1815 by Dietrich Matthias …
Shatter 2012 Grenache, Côtes Catalanes
Côtes Catalanes is an obscure wine region tucked into the mountains that separate France from Spain. Eight years ago, when I was on the editorial review team for the second edition …
Terlato 2009 Syrah “Block 9” Dry Creek Valley
Is this Syrah from Cornas or California? In most ways, this wine drinks like it hail from that awesome Northern Rhone cru. Yet, here we are in Sonoma Valley, Dry Creek …
Chateau L’Ermitage 2012 Costieres de Nimes Reserve du Selection Vieilles Vignes
Talk about a winery with history; Château l’Ermitage has been kicking around since the 12th century. Most of that was terrible plonk made by hermits. Its modern history (and when the …
Chamisal Estate 2011 Pinot Noir, Edna Valley
Way back in 1973, Chamisal was the pioneering winery in Edna Valley. Owners and varietals have come and gone, but one thing has remained constant: Pinot Noir from Edna Valley is …