Rotie Cellars 2013 “Northern Blend” Red, Walla Walla
Eventually, Walla Walla is going to crush Napa Valley. It’s not just climate change; it’s the culture of the place. Rotie Cellars is a case in point. I’ve never seen winemaker/owner Sean …
Wine Reviews
Contino 2014 Rioja Reserva
ContinoContino is the first and remains one of the greatest single-vineyard Rioja producers in the marketplace. Based on 19th Century French château’s ideals, Contino has been CVNE’s premier label since 1973. …
Soléna Estate 2015 “Grande Cuvee” Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Laurent MontalieuLaurent Montalieu continues to make great wines. Despite selling Soléna Estate to Jackson Family Wine Estates in 2013, Laurent has remained on board as winemaker (For a bit of history …
L’Ecole No 41 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
Walla Walla is one of the great unheralded wine regions in America. I’ve always believed that’s largely due to the name. Walla Walla, Washington doesn’t have the elegant flow of Napa, California. L’Ecole …
Yves Cheron 2015 “Les Dentelles” Cotes du Rhone
Domaine Yves Cheron Domaine Yves Cheron is located in Gigondas, where most of their Grenache vineyards are located. While this may not be a region you are familiar with, Gigondas is …
Michele Chiarlo 2015 “Le Orme” Barbera d’Asti
There isn’t enough Barbera in the world. There used to be a bit too much, but that was back in the bad old days of 1985. Thirty years on, the wine …
Castello di Gabbiano 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva
The Gabbiano Castle has been a focal point in Tuscany since the 12th century. Being between the rival towns of Sienna and Florence, it was more often about war, not wine. …
Wine Reviews
Soléna Estate “Grande Cuvee” Pinot Noir, Willamette ValleyThis is a must-have bottle of Pinot Noir. On the nose, classic bramble and wild strawberry with just a hint of jasmine. The palate …
Carden 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Bomb Winery?This wine exists (It’s amazing. It drinks well above its current price). Its winemaker, Tony Rynders, the former winemaker at Domaine Serene, existsI just don’t think the winery exists.At one …
North by Northwest 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Oregon Goes To WashingtonThe first time I heard of an Oregon winery making wine with Washington State fruit sounded a little odd. Why would an Oregon winery buy grapes from so …
Andre Delorme Blanc de Blancs Brut Reserve, Burgundy
Shopping for wine in Pennsylvania can be tough. It’s not just the sluggish bureaucracy. It’s not just the on-average-higher prices. It not just the communist-era fluorescent lighting. It’s the fact that …
Isabella 2016 Bobal, Ribera del Jucar
This is a small wine region that most wine maps forget to include (I’m talking to you, Wine Folly). That’s not unexpected, actually, as hundreds of tiny and obscure wine regions …
Matetic 2014 Corralillo Syrah, San Antonio Valley, Chile
Art vs Artists I’ve never really cared much about an artist’s life. If their work inspires me, I don’t need to be weighted down with their ideas on religion or politics. …
Shannon Ridge “Vigilance” 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Red Hills
Shannon Ridge is becoming a favorite in Pennsylvania. Its wines have shown up in so many Chairman Selection offerings, that it’s becoming an annual tradition to review a bottle or two …
Wine Reviews
Wine ReviewsAll wines are available at the PA Wine & Spirits Stores. To find bottles near you, we suggest using our Wine Finder App: https://www.vinology.com/winefinder/.Mark Herold 2014″ Collid” Red, CaliforniaDespite drinking like …
Mark Herold 2014 “Collide” Red, California
Mark HeroldMark’s new tasting room just opened in Napa –just down from the Oxbow Public Market– a scant three months before I reviewed his wines. I loved the room –super fun …