Torres Mas La Plana 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon
It would be enough if this were simply an elegant, fully mature Spanish red. But the fact that it’s an elegant, fully mature Spanish red for one-third its usual price makes it truly special.
Reviews
Wine reviews and ratings first became popular after the traditional wine criticism, which was practiced centuries ago by the merchants, connoisseurs, and writers who kept records of their impressions of wines for trade and education. Initially, in the past, one of the philosophers like Pliny the Elder wrote about different types of wines and their characteristics, while the European nobles would always have their advisors that helped them choose the best ones. The current form of wine reviews came out in the 20th century.
The phenomenon of wine reviews rose in the mid-1900s when people like André Simon and Michael Broadbent were the key figures for the public’s perspective. The magazines corresponding to the genre like *Wine Spectator* or *Decanter* started offering a format to the reviews, while Robert Parker introduced a 100-point rating system which was the first of its kind in the 1980s. The impact of Parker, especially in Bordeaux and Napa Valley, was the principal cause of the change towards the fruit-forward, high-alcohol wines that critics preferred all around the world.
Wine ratings are still of great popularity among the people, but the consumer preferences are not so one-dimensional anymore. Useful websites for consumers like Vivino, CellarTracker, along with social media influencers have provided wine criticism with a new democratic platform, where amateurs can express their views next to professionals. Although the scores from critics still have a lot of power over the pricing and prestige of a certain company, the people that love listening to winos have gained more than one source able to help them with their purchases. The path of the wine reviews continues, which is the balance between the expertise and the easy access to it in the quickly transforming field.
Wine Reviews
Domaine du Coulet Cornas Terrasses du SerreA classic style, with minimal oak and blended from several slopes within Cornas. The traditional approach is quite evident on the palate. More delicate than …
Baumard 2005 Savennieres
Steely acidity and popping apple notes give way to cool chalk and ripe apricot and just a hint of a forest fire: a complex and beautiful wine that will develop over …
M. Sorrel 2005 Crozes-Hermitage Blanc
In the Rhone Valley, the reds get all the attention and the lion’s share of love. But fans of the region’s whites know that they are every bit as wonderful as …
Herman Story 2005 Grenache, Larner Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley
I love this wine–let’s just put it out there and avoid all that wine-writing propriety and distance. And the funny thing is that it’s not in the style I typically gravitate …
Agricola Punica 2005 “Montessu” Isola dei Nuraghi IGT
The southwest corner of Sardinia has provided a welcome home for the Carignano varietal, the most notable versions being in the Carignano de Sulcis DOC. The use of up to 40% …
Pio Cesare 2006 Piodilei
This is definitely a wine that needs some rebranding. ‘Piodilei’ literally translates to ‘Pio for the ladies.’ It is so named because the family’s women found this wine particularly appealing–though there’s …
Ruffino 2006 Modus
What better wine to workout with than a Super Tuscan? This one, though still young, has enough depth to give pleasure now or 5 years on…when we’ll be benching 350-lbs each.
Sicilian Wine Reviews
A recent trip to Persephone’s island allowed tasting dozens of wines made from indigenous varietals, all of which captured Sicily’s sun-drenched, arid landscape and gave evidence of the cultural and ecological …
Feudo Maccari 2005″ReNoto” Sicilia
Sicily is developing a reputation as the “California” of Italian wine, a region where ambiguous regulations allow winemakers latitude regarding production and freedom to experiment.The inclusion of non-Italian grapes to the …
Muga 2006 White Rioja
The nose of lemon and hazelnut is both rich and lively at the same time, yet that depth is presented in a wine with a surprisingly light frame. There’s a wonderful …
Terre Nera 2005 “Calderara Sottana”, Etna
The volcanic soils of the Etna DOC, like those created by the ancient activity of Campania’s Vesuvio, impart to its wines an expression of southern Italian power and flavor. The zone’s …
Cascabel 2006 Tempranillo Graciano, McLaren Vale
It’s tempting to think of Australia in fairly monolithic terms. But this bbq-ready red proves how wrong that is and how food-friendly and gulp-able unexpected varieties can be when grown and …
Italian Wine for Sommeliers
What is Italian Wine? Recently, our Advanced Sommelier students finished a seven-week Viaggio through the often bewildering but fascinating demimonde of Italian wine. Along the way, they tasted, analyzed, and discussed …
Mesa 2006 “Buio”, Carignano di Sulcis, Sardinia
Those Sardinian wines that don’t compromise cultural fidelity have a feral, not-for-everyone quality that evokes their rocky and wind-swept terroir—a sense of mystery, intrigue, the unknown – which is a translation …
Nozzole 2000 “La Forra” Chianti Classico Riserva
A style of Chianti that is growing rarer by the vintage. Leather, wet earth, and game notes are predominant on the nose, with bing cherry & smoke flavors on the palate. Light to medium in body, this is a lovely balance of earth & fruit in a food-friendly framework. The current pricing in Pennsylvania is $16 , which is less than half your average retail price of $40. The great pricing —not to mention this is a classic style of Chianti Classico that will soon be extinct due to changes in wine laws– makes this the wine buy of the week.