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. …
classic
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 …
Belguardo 2009 Serrata, Tuscany
Up until twenty years ago, the Tuscan coast was more well know for Etruscan ghosts than wine. What’re a few decades compared to a few millennia? In what is known as …
Vina Eguia 2007 Reserva Rioja
A review of a brilliant and inexpensive bottle of Rioja. Aroma of tobacco and rose petals, with a bit of damp earth and clove. On the palate, the fresh fruit comes across in high definition; in particular, fresh cherry and red raspberry.
Bridesmaid 2009 White, Napa Valley
Far too many white wines from Napa Valley don’t have the same level of sex appeal that the reds. That is not the problem here. A classic Bordeaux blend of Sauvignon …
Fattoria di Magliano 2009 “Heba” Morellino di Scansano
The Tuscan coast is a hotbed for winemaking, especially for Cabernet Sauvignon. In Scansano, however, the focus is the Sangiovese grape, locally known as Morellino. Warmer than inland regions like Chianti, …
Argyle 2007 Riesling, Willamette
A Riesling review from Epikur Magazine. The Argyle Riesling is a fun bottle of wine with just enough juicy white fruit to balance out the racy elements. A bit of ozone and salinity come into play in the midpalate. The floral and mineral components are mostly in the long and pleasant. finish. .A very nice bottle of wine, especially for the summertime.
Giuseppe Cortese 2007 Nebbiolo, Langhe
The Cortese winery is located in the coveted Rabaja region of Barbaresco and produces magnificent bottles from their vineyard. This bottle is the hidden gem of the vineyard: it is sourced …
Viognier Review: Angoves 2009 Nine Vines from Australia
A Viognier review from Epikur Magazine. Hands down, this is the bargain sipper of the moment. Angoves is one of the oldest wineries in Australia, dating back to 1892, and is still family owned. The “Nine Vines” label is their value line.
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, …
Cave de Rasteau 2007 Ortas Prestige
Rasteau is one of the fine winemaking villages in France’s southern Rhone Valley, along with such notable nearby towns as Chateauneuf du Pape and Gigondas. This particular bottle is a field …
Napoleon in Philly
Wines of Napoleon Featured in PhiladelphiaIf you were the ruler of the known universe, what would you drink? The Wine School of Philadelphia will answer that question. A two-hour tour de …
Terranoble 2009 Carmenere Gran Reserva
Most folks who came to my table at a recent wine tasting event hadn’t heard of Carmenere, and the majority of them opted for something more familiar. One guy, on the …
Gloria Ferrer 2002 Royal Cuvee
The Ferrer family is best known for their other winery, the Spanish bubbly producer Freixenet. However, this Sonoma County winery, named after the family’s matriarch, almost always exceeds the quality of …