Herencia Altes 2016 Garnacha Peluda, Terra Alta
Peluda is a crazy variant of Grenache. The translation is “Hairy Grenache” and that is quite apt: the leaves are a bit hairy on the underside, which is kinda gross when …
Fine Wine and Good Spirits
Lua Cheia em Vinhas Velhas 2019 Douro
The rough translation of this brand is “Full Moon over Old Vines,” which is pretty apt for their wines. They aren’t a winery but a project of entrepreneur Manuel Dias and …
Wine Reviews
Columbia Crest “Walter Clore Private Reserve” Red Columbia Valley This is a monster Merlot with a margin of Cabernet Sauvignon in the mix. Smoked chocolate and Dwayne Johnson-level muscularity. The …
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 …
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 …
Luigi Bosca 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza
A remarkable value for Cabernet Sauvignon. When buying wines from Mendoza, it’s best to know where in the region the wine is from. After all, Mendoza is HUGE. This bottle comes …
Landmark Vineyards 2012 “Overlook” Chardonnay
This bottle sports the generic appellation of “California,” but it’s mostly sourced from two vineyards in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley (the rest of central California). It is fermented in older oak …
2011 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
2011 was a crazy year for Napa Cabs. California is in the grip of a massive drought, but that wasn’t the case in 2011. At least in Napa Valley, where rain pummelled …
French & Spanish Wine Reviews
Spanish Wine Reviews Anecoop Casa L’Angel Old Vines, Valencia (SP) This bottle smells like a pirate ship: aromas of ocean air, old wood, and gun smoke. It’s another story for the …
Wine Ratings
Clos du Val Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley (Cali) For 40 years, this vineyard in the valley has been bottling top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon and their mature craftsmanship shows. The same winemaking finesse shows …
Wine Reviews
Victor Vineyards Roadside Red Fun little Zinfandel-based bottle from the town of Victor in California’s Central Valley. Red fruit, port-y raisins, licorice, and milk chocolate notes. My current “house red” for everyday drinking. Callabriga …