Wine Reviews

All Things Corked & Forked

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 wine & spirits shops in Pennsylvania. Our main reviewer is Keith Wallace, the executive director and founder of the Wine School of Philadelphia. Want to locate a specific wine? Use our PLCB Wine Finder.

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Castello di Gabbiano 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva

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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. Here's a section from a 19th-century account of medieval warcraft: Fulminato da dieci cannoni,...

Hope after Tragedy: The Origin of the Wine School

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In this week's episode of Philly Who? I sat down for a deeply personal interview with Kevin Chemidlin, the podcast's host. This is unlike any other interview I've done in the past 20 years of running the wine school. It goes deep into my past, including the tragedies...

Carden 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley

American Wine Reviews, Wine Reviews

This wine exists. It's amazing. It drinks well above it's current price in the PA Wine & Spirits stores. It's winemaker exists: Tony Rynders, the former winemaker at Domaine Serene. I just don't think the winery exists. At one point, there was a Bomb Winery, which...

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Wine reviews and news from Keith Wallace and the Wine School of Philadelphia.

Verget 2005 Pouilly Fuissé

Verget's wines can sometimes be unjustifiable in the price department, especially this time of year. But this Pouilly Fuissé, from a classic vintage, is beyond easy to both love and justify at $23.99. Not cheap, but worth the outlay for a special summertime occasion.

Viña Cobos 2004 Malbec “Bramare” Marchiori Vineyard, Mendoza

Snap up as much of this as you can--at $19.99 (marked down from $49.99 in the state), it's one of the deals of the season. This rich red is kept in check by a spine of minerality that gives it both depth and lift. Lovely, and downright cheap.

Tua Rita 2012 “Perlato del Bosco” Sangiovese

Super Tuscans were born on the Italian coast, and warm Maremma is the cradle of a great many modern wines. The region is known for massive Cabernet Sauvignon, with the depth and breadth of Napa's Rutherford Cabs they so closely resemble. Perlato del Bosco hails from the region, specifically the town of Suvereto,...

Moet et Chandon Brut Imperial Rosé, Champagne

Not, it's not cheap. And no, you probably won't be slurping down a case of it on your patio. But with grilled lamb chops it's delicious, and if firing up the old bbq isn't cause for celebration, then nothing is.

Heady Topper by The Alchemist

An Imperial IPA Review Impressive aromatics of citrus, highly vinous aromatics of grapefruit, lemon rind and caramel. On the palate, the complex fruit flavors continue. Rich and dry, with mango, citrus, peaches, and pineapple all playing a part in the swirl of flavors in this extraordinary beer. A layer of malt and...

North by Northwest 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley

American Wine Reviews, Wine Reviews

The first time I heard of an Oregon winery making a wine with Washington State fruit, it sounded a little odd. Why would an Oregon winery buy grapes from so far away when they are smack in the middle of some of the best Pinot Noir vineyards in the world? It seems a...

Andre Delorme Blanc de Blancs Brut Reserve, Burgundy

French Wine Reviews, Wine Reviews

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 florescent lighting. It's the fact that the PA Wine & Spirits stores don't hire much wine talent. One of...

Eleven Wine Blogs to Follow

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The wine industry just wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for some of the fantastic blogs we had access to today. Whether it is to inform us about serious wine matters or to relate better to new-wine-lovers, there is something out there for everyone. We’ve put...

Isabella 2016 Bobal, Ribera del Jucar

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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 there are hundreds of tiny and obscure wine regions that don't make the cut. Ribera del Jucar is next to the more famous (and that's...

Matetic 2014 Corralillo Syrah, San Antonio Valley, Chile

South American Wine Reviews, Wine Reviews

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. I feel the same way about fellow artisans. If another chef or winemaker is making delicious things, I really...

Shannon Ridge “Vigilance” 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Red Hills

American Wine Reviews

Shannon Ridge is becoming a favorite in Pennsylvania. It's wines have showed up in so many Chairman Selection offerings, that it's becoming a annual tradition to review a bottle or two of their wines. This bottling is quite a pleasant surprise, exceeding their very...