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Wine Reviews by Keith Wallace

Great Wines Available in Philadelphia and Beyond

Over two thousand wine reviews! While most of our reviews focus on great wines under $20, we also offer reviews of luxury and collectible wines. As we are located in Philadelphia, most  wines reviewed here are available via PLCB Wine & Spirits Shops in Pennsylvania. Our main reviewer is Keith Wallace, the executive director and founder of the Wine School of Philadelphia.  

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Rotie Cellars 2011 “Southern Blend” Red, Walla Walla (WA)

Impolite, brash, and barely keeping it together. The hot mess that is Rotie Cellars is the greatest thing in wine that I have seen in awhile. We all know the…
The Full Review

Lagar de Bezana 2011 “Aluvion” Gran Reserva, Rapel Valley (Chile)

A beautiful wine with dense smoke and incense aromas. It’s lushly textured with deep soft tannins and flavors that pool into creme de cassis and ocean air. The finish is long with…
The Full Review

Castellani 2013 “San Michele” Valpolicella Classico Ripasso

Some call this style a “Baby Amarone” which is kinda like comparing a ribeye steak to a cheesesteak. Sure they come from the same place, and they both are damn…
The Full Review

Castelli del Grevepesa 2011 “Clemente VII” Chianti Classico

This Tuscan co-op winery is making a habit of featuring its wines in the Chairman’s Selection. I am not complaining. The 2010 Chianti was amazing and their super tuscan was a great buy, too.…
The Full Review

Bodega Ovidio Garcia 2009 “Esencia” Crianza, Cigales

Cigales is located between two two of my favorite Spanish wine regions: Ribera del Duero and Toro.  That is probably why this is the first Cigales wine review I have written  in 15…
The Full Review

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Wine reviews and all things vino from Keith Wallace

The Wine School Blog

This is where we feature all our favorite things.  Great wines, top sommeliers, awesome winemakers, great articles,  and charity events at the Wine School. If we really love it, or we think you should know about it, it’s going to be right here.

Selections from our Wine Cellar

A few wine reviews from our archives. 

Domaine Courtois 2012 “La Grange” Vinsobres

This is a fresh and zesty style of red with lavender and fresh cranberry on the nose.  Stone and crushed wild flowers  are playfully entwined on the palate.  The blend here is about equal shares of Syrah to Grenache. The Rhone has been the spot for value French wines for generations, and this is the type of bottle...
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Tintara 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon McLaren Vale

A great value for Cabernet, thanks to the “Chairman’s Selection” program. The bottle is packed with the kind of menthol-smooth structure that makes Cab Sauv’s a great dinner wine. Classic notes of currant and cedar are balanced out with oak notes of cardamom and sweet woodruff. There is a...
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Tenuta Le Querce “Il Viola” Aglianico del Vulture 2003

Almost black in color with deep, rich garnet tones at the edges. The nose is filled with game, crushed ripe berries, late-summer fruit and peppercorns. It’s a tannic wine, but the balance is just right, and on the palate the game and the fruit play off each other well. All that richness just screams out for...
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Trentino Alto Adige

Monteloro 2007 “Mezzo Braccio” IGT, Toscana You know the old saying,”If you can’t say something nice, say nothing”? Probably accounts for my rarely holding forth on Pinot Egregious…sorry, Pinot GRIGIO. A grape often derided as mass produced,of supermarket quality,flaccid...
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Grenache Review: Cellers Baronia del Montsant 2009 Flor de Englora Roure

A review of a top class Grenache blend. Glass staining and inky black, the Flor d’Englora Roure is full bodied and richly flavored. Aromas of toast, campfire, and coriander rise from the glass, with a thread of liquorice. Tobacco and mocha on the palate with a rich deep fruit flavors, plum and dark cherry.

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