Maculan 2010 Brentino, Veneto
A Veneto wine review A Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend from Northeastern Italy with a great deal of style. On the nose, classic notes of tobacco and graphite interplay with fresh …
Fine Wine and Good Spirits
Buena Vista 2006 Pinot Noir Ramal Road, Carneros
Carneros wine reviewGrown at the very bottom of Carneros, which also happens to be the very top of San Pablo Bay (let that be a lesson in geography for you)I can …
Terre da Vino 2009 “La Casa in Collina” Barbaresco
Lange wine review I am always looking for good values for Nebbiolo. The high-quality $20 bottle is a rare and wonderful thing. Typically that takes me to the larger Langhe region, …
Craiglee 2007 Shiraz, Victoria
Australian wine review The cooler climate of Victoria often delivers Shiraz with more complexity and a lighter framework than other South Australian regions. This bottle is a wonderful example of that style. …
De Martino 2010 Carmenere Legado Reserva, Maipo
Chilean wine review A vanguard in the organic wine movement, De Martino has been farming organically since 1997 and has been carbon neutral for the last season. Despite that, the winery …
Robert Hall Winery 2007 Rhone de Robles
Paso Robles Wine Review One of my favorite trends in Paso Robles is the embrace of these Rhone-style wines. I am especially pleased to see Robert Hall embracing the style. I …
Reserve des Vignerons 2010 Saumur Champigny
Loire valley wine review Minimalistic, fresh, and pretty, this Loire Valley red is a true gem. The fresh and bright red fruit is tied to accents of dried leaves and a …
Rutherglen Estates 2008 Burgoyne’s Block
Australian Wine Review Deeply hued with aromas of fresh berries and currants. Secondary scents of caramelized fat and savory herbs are amazing. Rich tannin softens in the glass but keeps …
Francois Lurton 2009 El Albar Barricas
Spanish Wine Review One of the finest values in fine wines I have seen in a few years. This is a remarkable bottle for both its impressive weight and finesse from …
Domaine Cordier 2011 St Veran “en Faux”
White Burgundy Wine Review Cordier is known as a modern winemaker in a region -Burgundy-that often than not, values tradition. One of his signatures is a lavish use of new oak, …
Etude 2010 Chardonnay Estate Carneros
A Chardonnay Review A high styled wine that is intended as a luxury bottling. It upholds its mission, just not at the high price the winery intended (we can thank Pennsylvania’s …
Mastroberardino 2011 Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Rosso
Italian Wine Review Piedrosso is one of my secret weapons. It’s an unknown wine from an obscure wine region in a largely ignored province in Italy. It’s also a delightful wine …
Gordon Brothers 2008 Merlot, Columbia Valley
Columbia Valley Merlot ReviewBack in the day, when I sold wines for a living, I was a huge fan of the Gordon Brothers. They released their first wines in the early eighties …
Dominio Mano a Mano 2009 Venta La Ossa
Portuguese Wine ReviewOne of the best-kept secrets in the wine industry is the new crop of modern Portuguese red wines. This is a great example and should be sought out by …
Shea Wine Cellars 2008 Estate Chardonnay
Oregon Wine Review Anyone who doesn’t like chardonnay on principle should feel compelled to drink this wine. A study in elegance and sex appeal, this Shea is an excellent example of …
August Kesseler 2010 Spatburgunder
German Wine Review A beautiful Pinot Noir. Light, floral and feminine, with fresh red fruits. A distinct Burgundian flair, with aromas of farmland and wildflowers. Light bodied and offering a nice texture. …