Wine Ratings -

Frontpage Hero for Wine School of Philadelphia

Erasmo 2006 Viña La Reserva de Caliboro, Maule Valley, Chile

Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with a bit of Merlot and Cabernet Franc for added finesse. Kirsch and pencil shavings with a touch of brine and wet earth. Wet tobacco and grass on …

Cabernet Sauvignon Smackdown

The top bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon reviewed at Epikur Magazine. From Tuscany to Bordeaux to Napa Valley and South Africa: This list includes the best of the best bottles of Cab Sauv currently available, and the ones with the best quality to price ratio.

Dead Letter Office 2008 Shiraz, South Australia

A vinous cocktail of Chambord, Creme Yvette, and Morello cherries. A viscous wine with a glass-and-teeth staining hue of carmine. Sweet cherry and mocha notes rise over the huge weight of …

Bernardus 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Griva Vineyard, Sonoma County

Classical notes of grass and green pepper on the nose, along with plenty of grapefruit. Flavors of fig and apricot are followed by lemon zest and a touch of waxiness. The wine finishes with smoke and kiwi. A gentle roundness gives this a little more sex appeal than most Sauvignon Blancs.

Montinore 2009 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley

A good example of Willamette Valley Pinot Gris, and an great value. Marzipan and Granny Smith apples are followed by vibrant lemon and mineral. Light bodied and alive with a touch of white pepper.

Bremerton 2007 Verdelho, Langhorne Creek, Australia

A winning wine from Bremerton in Langhorne Creek. A great style that is not typically seen the the states. Verdelho is best known as one of the grapes of Madeira. It is also one of Australia’s niche varietals. This bottle starts off with honey and peach, moves toward grapefruit and then veers to verbena and citrus on the finish.

Shoofly 2008 Freckle White, South Australia

A delicious white wine from Australia that manages to keep its lush weight in check. A Rhone-style blend from South Australia: Marsanne , Roussanne and a dash of Viognier. Aromas of fresh pear, ginger and almond, followed by mineral and melon on the palate. Medium bodied with a zesty acidity makes this a fun and easy bottle. It also offers enough complexity to keep any wine lover interested for a bottle or two.

Elk Cove 2009 “Five Mountain Vineyard” Pinot Noir

Here is one for the Pinot geeks of the world. Located in the Chehalem Mountains AVA, Five Mountain is one of the original Willamette Valley vineyards, dating back to 1978 and planted …

CrossBarn 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

The “CrossBarn” is remarkably similar to the “Paul Hobbs,” but at half the price. It is lush and dense with richly soft tannins, it stains the glass with a deep crimson. Full bodied, it offers up rich flavors of blackberry and burnt oak that are deeply embedded into a savory impression of fresh bay laurel and roses.

Marques de Concha 2009 “Peumo Vineyard” Carmenere

Crimson and dense, this Carmenere is one of the best examples of the varietal on the market. It offers up plenty of oak-influenced flavors, including chocolate, coffee, and licorice. Toasted spices …

Andrew Will Winery 2007 Two Blondes Vineyard

Figs and cassis meld with coffee and campfire notes, along with a strong impression of Herbes de Provence. The midpalate brings in fresher red fruits, and serious oak-influenced flavors of chocolate and allspice. The finish rolls on and on, bringing more pleasure than anyone could expect from a glass of wine.

Vezer 2007 La Salette

Rising from twin pads of blackberry and oak, this is a drunken philanthropist of a wine. It holds nothing back, offering up a wealth of jam, coconut, sweet cream, and vanilla. There is nothing …

La Bastide Blanche 2010 Bandol Rosé

Rosé doesn’t get more complex than this lovely example from Provence. On the palate, the flavor goes richer, with deep strawberry and cherry flavors wrapped around a core of mineral zing and some toothsome tannins. Burnt orange peel and black tar finish off this complex and aggressive pink wine.

Wine Ratings