Wine Reviews


IDF1countrydescriptiondesignationpointspriceprovinceregion_1region_2taster_nametaster_twitter_handletitlevarietywinery
5736657365ChileA full package of spice, tobacco and black-fruit aromas make for an attractive opening. This feels solid and dense, with grabby tannins that muscle out elegance. Lightly stewed berry and plum aromas are backed by chocolate, cola and molasses notes on the finish. Drink through 2022.Gran Reserva9025Colchagua ValleyMichael Schachner@wineschachCalcu 2013 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua Valley)Cabernet SauvignonCalcu
5736757366SpainBroad-grained oak aromas drape heavily on this toasty, ripe Mencía from a hot vintage. Powerful yet balanced, it tastes of ripe blackberry, black coffee and burnt toast. A dark, smoky finish and rubbery tannins confirm its amplitude. Drink with strong cheeses or hearty meats.Tares P390Northern SpainBierzoMichael Schachner@wineschachDominio de Tares 2009 Tares P3 Mencía (Bierzo)MencíaDominio de Tares
5736857367SpainThis wine's earthy cherry and plum aromas come with a hint of milk chocolate. The palate is edged with rubbery tannins, its savory, lightly salted plum flavors growing jammier and more fig-like as it breathes. A textbook fruit-forward Grenache.8920Northern SpainNavarraMichael Schachner@wineschachArtadi 2014 Garnacha (Navarra)GarnachaArtadi
5736957368AustraliaThis is the first vintage for this wine, a 50-50 blend of Cabernet and Shiraz matured in French and American oak hogsheads for a year. Vanilla notes frame mixed-berry flavors, then pick up savory hints of beef and espresso on the softly dusty finish. Drink now through 2020.Illicium89South AustraliaLanghorne CreekJoe Czerwinski@JoeCzHeartland 2014 Illicium Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon (Langhorne Creek)Shiraz-Cabernet SauvignonHeartland
5737057369AustraliaThe not-so-secret blend is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Shiraz and 12% Malbec, yielding a dark plummy wine with ample palate weight and softly dusty tannins. Espresso and black olive shadings give this a savory cast, making it more an accompaniment to food than a standalone sipper. Drink now through 2019.Secrets8915South AustraliaLanghorne CreekJoe Czerwinski@JoeCzKillibinbin 2013 Secrets Red (Langhorne Creek)Red BlendKillibinbin
5737157370USRipe white peach and sharp lime peel qualities interplay on the nose of this bottling from the iconic vineyard, which is now under the quality-focused ownership of the Foley family. That lime zest comes through on the palate too, cutting through the creamy midpalate and adding a pinpoint edge to the finish.Estate Grown8930CaliforniaChaloneCentral CoastMatt Kettmann@mattkettmannChalone 2014 Estate Grown Chardonnay (Chalone)ChardonnayChalone
5737257371PortugalThe wine is rich, bringing together two great white grapes. Both give the ripe smooth texture, while the Alvarinho also brings in its crisper charms. Pear and green-plum flavors dominate this intense and concentrated wine. Drink from late 2017.DFJ Alvarinho-Chardonnay8912LisboaRoger Voss@vossrogerDFJ Vinhos 2016 DFJ Alvarinho-Chardonnay White (Lisboa)Portuguese WhiteDFJ Vinhos
5737357372USThe maraschino cherry-like aromas of this pink wine evoke a delicious Shirley Temple cocktail, with touches of lemon-lime soda and raspberry. There is solid acidity and grip to the palate, as well as red apple and wet slate flavors.8925CaliforniaHappy Canyon of Santa BarbaraCentral CoastMatt Kettmann@mattkettmannDragonette 2016 Rosé (Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara)RoséDragonette
5736157360ItalyRose, red berry and Mediterranean herb aromas come together on this luminous deeply colored rosato. Made with Nerello Mascalese, the delicious medium-bodied palate doles out Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry and a note of white pepper, all framed in fresh acidity. It goes down like spun silk.Rose di Adele Nerello Mascalese9020Sicily & SardiniaSiciliaKerin O’Keefe@kerinokeefeFeudo Montoni 2016 Rose di Adele Nerello Mascalese Rosato (Sicilia)RosatoFeudo Montoni
5737457373USThis wine spent 20 months in French oak, which has given it an appealingly smooth, lightly buttery character. It's medium rich, quite tasty, with a nutty flavor and a lime-inflected finish.8924OregonWillamette ValleyWillamette ValleyPaul Gregutt@paulgwine Goodfellow 2014 Chardonnay (Willamette Valley)ChardonnayGoodfellow
5736257361ChileEarthy berry aromas are a touch heavy and raisiny, with horse and leather notes. A full chunky palate is more dense than expansive, while this tastes of baked plum and prune. Hard tannins are drawing on a full-size finish. Drink the ripest and heaviest of Garage's 2014 Carignans through 2021.Lot #58 Portezuelo Vineyard9039Itata ValleyMichael Schachner@wineschachGarage Wine Co. 2014 Lot #58 Portezuelo Vineyard Carignan (Itata Valley)CarignanGarage Wine Co.
5737557374ItalyAromas suggesting yellow spring flower, beeswax and yellow stone fruit set the tone while the ripe medium-bodied palate offers creamy golden apple, peach and a hint of wet stone.8916Northeastern ItalyCollioKerin O’Keefe@kerinokeefeGradis'ciutta 2015 Chardonnay (Collio)ChardonnayGradis'ciutta
5737657375USA spicy, earthy personality makes this wine unique, and it has a great sense of balance. It exudes cardamom, wood smoke and black pepper aromas, and the flavors follow with black plum and clove, accented by peppery spice.Estate8928CaliforniaEl DoradoSierra FoothillsJim Gordon@gordone_cellarsHolly's Hill 2015 Estate Mourvèdre (El Dorado)MourvèdreHolly's Hill
5736357362USCabernet Sauvignon (73%) makes up the majority of this blend, with the balance Syrah (15%) and Petit Verdot. Aromas of barrel spice, baking spice, dark fruit and herb are followed by luxurious black-fruit flavors that linger on the finish. It shows a bit of heat but otherwise delivers.Zachary's Ladder9030WashingtonRed MountainColumbia ValleySean P. Sullivan@wawinereportGorman 2014 Zachary's Ladder Red (Red Mountain)Red BlendGorman
5737757376USThe Mistral blend was changed in 2013 to a more traditional GSM—63% Grenache, 32% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre, aged 18 months in neutral French oak. Firm and detailed, its accents include iron filings, licorice and sweet baking spices, hung on cranberry and plum fruit. Overall it's a tasty effort drinking well right now.Mistral8928OregonRogue ValleySouthern OregonPaul Gregutt@paulgwine Jaxon 2013 Mistral G-S-M (Rogue Valley)G-S-MJaxon
5736457363FrancePeach, earth and lemon zest unite on nose and palate. The body is concentrated and warm, the fruit is made more intense with slight residual sweetness but zesty lemon freshness frames it all with tangy brightness. The finish is clean, medium sweet but refreshing.Réserve9025AlsaceAlsaceAnne Krebiehl MW@AnneInVinoGustave Lorentz 2015 Réserve Gewurztraminer (Alsace)GewürztraminerGustave Lorentz
5736557364ChileTouches of tree bark, barrel spice and olive accent core berry and black currant aromas. A jammy widespread palate offers its fair share of tannic bite, while flavors of berry fruits, cassis and brown sugar are a bit overripe and syrupy in front of a heavy finish.Corazón del Indio9035Maule ValleyMichael Schachner@wineschachViña Marty 2011 Corazón del Indio Red (Maule Valley)Red BlendViña Marty
5737857377FranceA very rich nose suggests juicy yellow peach, orange zest and ripe mirabelle plums. The palate amplifies this on the one hand with a touch of residual sweetness; on the other it curbs and counters with freshness and a slightly bitter phenolic edge to create a balance. This is harmonious and rounded, generous and fruity with an off-dry finish.Vieilles Vignes8919AlsaceAlsaceAnne Krebiehl MW@AnneInVinoJean-Marc Bernhard 2016 Vieilles Vignes Gewurztraminer (Alsace)GewürztraminerJean-Marc Bernhard
5737957378FranceFresh pear notes and a touch of white blossom appear on the nose. The palate is rounded with fruit and a touch of flavor-boosting residual sweetness. This is easy but generous, full of ripe pear fruit.8916AlsaceAlsaceAnne Krebiehl MW@AnneInVinoKoenig 2015 Pinot Gris (Alsace)Pinot GrisKoenig
5738057379ItalyPartly fermented and aged in 500-liter French barrels, this opens with aromas of toasted oak, bread crust, acacia and sage. The rounded medium-boded palate offers mature yellow-apple skin, pineapple and a hint of butterscotch while a nutty note closes the finish.8928Northeastern ItalyIsonzo del FriuliKerin O’Keefe@kerinokeefeLis Neris 2015 Pinot Grigio (Isonzo del Friuli)Pinot GrigioLis Neris
5738157380USVery dark though not too viscous in the glass, this bottling of a rarely planted grape originally from Madiran in France shows pressed blackberry, dark chocolate and coffee touches on the nose. The palate balances blueberry and other purple fruits with mocha, black coffee and hoisin hints.8945CaliforniaAdelaida DistrictCentral CoastMatt Kettmann@mattkettmannLone Madrone 2013 Tannat (Adelaida District)TannatLone Madrone
5738257381USGood concentration and a firm mouthfeel make this full-bodied wine a fine pairing for osso buco or mushroom risotto. It has robust ripe berry, anise and dark chocolate flavors, velvety tannins that seem to coat the palate, and a lingering, rich finish.8928CaliforniaLodiCentral ValleyJim Gordon@gordone_cellarsLongevity 2013 Sangiovese (Lodi)SangioveseLongevity
5738357382USAlmost crystal clear in the glass, this bottling is loaded with passionfruit, lime candy and white flower aromas, proving quite fresh and inviting. The flavors start a tad sour, recalling squeezed lime, but then open into tropical notes like honeydew and passionfruit. A perfect party-starting apéritif, with both style and substance.8918CaliforniaSanta Barbara CountyCentral CoastMatt Kettmann@mattkettmannLucas & Lewellen 2016 Sauvignon Blanc (Santa Barbara County)Sauvignon BlancLucas & Lewellen
5738457383FranceThe nose is tender, with primary, juicy pear fruit. The palate comes in with fruity rounded ripeness, helped along by a little residual sweetness. While the palate remains slender, the flavors are rounded and fresh, driven by friendly, appetizing pear fruit.Cuvée Romanus8918AlsaceAlsaceAnne Krebiehl MW@AnneInVinoLucien Albrecht 2016 Cuvée Romanus Pinot Gris (Alsace)Pinot GrisLucien Albrecht
5738557384USBig flavors meet big tannins and full body in this dark-colored, concentrated and mouth-filling wine. Made from Syrah grapes that were foot-stomped and fermented with native yeasts, it delivers a blast of black cherry flavor that lasts from the aroma through the finish.Methode Ancienne8930CaliforniaEl DoradoSierra FoothillsJim Gordon@gordone_cellarsMiraflores 2014 Methode Ancienne Red (El Dorado)Rhône-style Red BlendMiraflores
5738657385USThis well-balanced wine has light floral, appley aromas, good acidity to drive its mouth-filling fruit flavors along, and just enough body to contribute a smooth mouthfeel. Hints of white pepper and lemon zest give it an attractive savory edge.Estate8924CaliforniaSierra FoothillsSierra FoothillsJim Gordon@gordone_cellarsNaggiar 2016 Estate Viognier (Sierra Foothills)ViognierNaggiar
5738757386ItalyThis offers aromas suggesting pressed wild flower and ripe orchard fruit. It's medium bodied, doling out ripe yellow apple, peach and a note of bitter almond. Fresh acidity brightens the creamy flavors.Demesse Vecchie8923LombardyLuganaKerin O’Keefe@kerinokeefeOlivini 2015 Demesse Vecchie (Lugana)TurbianaOlivini
5738857387USThis 100% Cabernet shows a ripeness level that few Cabs in the world are able to achieve. It's awesomely rich in blackberry, blueberry and cherry jam, cassis liqueur and mocha flavors, with new oak influences. Drink it over the next four years.El Coyote8880CaliforniaNapa ValleyNapaKuleto Estate 2009 El Coyote Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)Cabernet SauvignonKuleto Estate
5738957388ItalyThis shows nice elegance and restraint. It has earthy aromas, along with black berry and tobacco notes. The palate delivers a core of tight black berry, plum, raisin pepper and cinnamon. While this doesn't have the longest finish, it's enjoyable.8874VenetoAmarone della ValpolicellaKerin O’Keefe@kerinokeefeLa Collina dei Ciliegi 2009 Amarone della ValpolicellaRed BlendLa Collina dei Ciliegi
5739057389USAged for two years in Hungarian Tokaj barrels, this wine is fresh and appealing with notes of dark plum, spice and green herbs. The fruit flavors are sweet and succulent and backed by more tannic structure than usually seen for the variety.8838WashingtonRattlesnake HillsColumbia ValleySean P. Sullivan@wawinereportLantz 2010 Malbec (Rattlesnake Hills)MalbecLantz

* Görseller ve İçerik tekif hakkına sahip olabilir