Wine Reviews
The top wines from our wine tasting classes. These are the bottles that excited and challenged us this year. And these aren’t just the expensive bottles, either: there are plenty here in the …
PLCB
Feudi di San Gregorio 2007 Serpico
Aglianico Wine Review Aglianico is an essential wine, creating some of the most expressive, complicated, and massive wines one can experience. I have reviewed the Serpico’s little brother the “Rubrato recently, and …
Sella and Mosca 2005 Marchese di Villa Marina
Sardinian Wine Review This bottle of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from 2005 is an excellent example of a beautifully aged red. While in it’s youth, this bottle offers massive amount of fruit and …
Lanciola 2009 Le Masse di Greve Chianti Classico
Chianti Wine Review A hedgehog playing in a pile of autumn leaves. This bottle starts off with a very specific wet fur-and-oak-leaf aroma that was both surprising and delightful. There is …
Bertani 2009 “Villa Arvedi” Amarone della Valpolicella
Amarone Wine Review Aromas of licorice and Cherry Coke on the nose with a shaving of bitter chocolate. This is a very flirtatious aroma, with a hint of cardamom and white …
Rocca delle Macie 2008 Ser Gioveto
Super Tuscan Wine Review I often describe Italian wines like this as a conversation between Italian winemakers and wine drinkers in America. We ask for a taste of the old country, …
Erasmo 2009 Red, Maule Valley
Wine Review: Erasmo 2009 Red Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and a percentage of Syrah. The Cabernet is clearly dominant here, with graphite and cedar aroma rising above the wildflower …
Feudi di San Gregorio 2010 Rubrato
Wine Review: Feudi di San Gregorio 2010 RubratoAglianico. Aglianico. Aglianico! I have a hard time keeping bottles of this wine on hand. Largely because I open it up as soon as I …
Milbrandt Vineyards 2010 Grenache, Clifton Vineyards
BackgroundSome of the best wine grapes in America are grown in the Columbia Valley of Washington State. Butch and Jerry Milbrand are two of the farmers that made it happen. They were a …
Landmark 2011 “Overlook” Chardonnay
Background At the Wine School, we don’t review wines that are produced by big corporations. We only care about unique wines made by small producers. Because of that, this is very …
Di Majo Norante 2011 Ramitello
The Background Di Majo Norante is an Italian winery located in Molise, just off the Adriatic coast. The property dated back to 1859 and was the farm and vineyard of a …
Maquis 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley
What do Chateau d’Yquem, Joseph Phelps, Leoville Las Cases, Champagne Roederer, and Dominus Estate have in common? First, they all share the same winemaking consultant, Xavier Chone. Originally hailing from Bordeaux, …
Mas Doix 2006 “Costers de Vinyes Velles” Priorat
Valentí Llagostera of Mas Doix understands the concept of terroir. I was fortunate to spend a day with him during a recent visit to Priorat with the Wine School. Valentí’s family has …
Vall Llach 2009 “Idus” Priorat
Wine Review: Vall Llach 2009 “Idus” Priorat On the nose, a giant whiff of wild fennel and fig confit. The palate is bursting with black fruit with sweet vanilla and balsamic. …
Bouchaine 2009 Pinot Noir Carneros
Who are the Bouchaines? It doesn’t really matter at this point. It was the maiden name of one of the original partners in this winery. The important question is, who are …
Ottimino 2009 Zinfandel, Rancho Bello Vineyard
Ottimino was established in 1999 by Brad Alper and William Knuttel. Their first bottling was from the Ranch Bello vineyard. This is Alper’s winery in many ways, but Knuttel is the name that makes …
