Tenuta La Marchesa 2011 “Gold Label” Gavi
Northeastern Italy wine review The wine region of Gavi has had its ups and downs. Quality hit a significant low in the nineteen-nineties with the push toward mass production. We are now …
Maculan 2010 Brentino, Veneto
A Veneto wine review A Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend from Northeastern Italy with a great deal of style. On the nose, classic notes of tobacco and graphite interplay with fresh …
Buena Vista 2006 Pinot Noir Ramal Road, Carneros
Carneros wine review Grown at the very bottom of Carneros, which also happens to be the very top of San Pablo Bay (let that be a lesson in geography for you) …
Terre da Vino 2009 “La Casa in Collina” Barbaresco
Lange wine review I am always looking for good values for Nebbiolo. The high-quality $20 bottle is a rare and wonderful thing. Typically that takes me to the larger Langhe region, …
Craiglee 2007 Shiraz, Victoria
Australian wine review The cooler climate of Victoria often delivers Shiraz with more complexity and a lighter framework than other South Australian regions. This bottle is a wonderful example of that style. …
De Martino 2010 Carmenere Legado Reserva, Maipo
Chilean wine review A vanguard in the organic wine movement, De Martino has been farming organically since 1997 and has been carbon neutral for the last season. Despite that, the winery …
Robert Hall Winery 2007 Rhone de Robles
Paso Robles Wine Review One of my favorite trends in Paso Robles is the embrace of these Rhone-style wines. I am especially pleased to see Robert Hall embracing the style. I …
Reserve des Vignerons 2010 Saumur Champigny
Loire valley wine review Minimalistic, fresh, and pretty, this Loire Valley red is a true gem. The fresh and bright red fruit is tied to accents of dried leaves and a …
Rutherglen Estates 2008 Burgoyne’s Block
Australian Wine Review Deeply hued with aromas of fresh berries and currants. Secondary scents of caramelized fat and savory herbs are amazing. Rich tannin softens in the glass but keeps …
Francois Lurton 2009 El Albar Barricas
Spanish Wine ReviewOne of the finest values in fine wines I have seen in a few years. This is a remarkable bottle for both its impressive weight and finesse from the …
Domaine Cordier 2011 St Veran “en Faux”
White Burgundy Wine Review Cordier is known as a modern winemaker in a region -Burgundy-that often than not, values tradition. One of his signatures is a lavish use of new oak, …
Etude 2010 Chardonnay Estate Carneros
A Chardonnay Review A high styled wine that is intended as a luxury bottling. It upholds its mission, just not at the high price the winery intended (we can thank Pennsylvania’s …
Mastroberardino 2011 Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Rosso
Italian Wine Review Piedrosso is one of my secret weapons. It’s an unknown wine from an obscure wine region in a largely ignored province in Italy. It’s also a delightful wine …
Smuttynose Baltic Porter
Baltic Porter Review Dark as an empty movie theater, this porter sports a nose of Raisinets and buttered popcorn. On the palate, it turns into fresh figs with walnuts and dried …
Gordon Brothers 2008 Merlot, Columbia Valley
Columbia Valley Merlot Review Back in the day, when I sold wines for a living, I was a huge fan of the Gordon Brothers. They released their first wines in the early …