The 2019 Pinot Noir VGR has a medium ruby-purple color and powerful aromas of cranberries, blueberries and tangerine with accents of woodsmoke, tea leaves and dark spices. The medium-bodied palate is pure and defined with bright... Read More
A blend of 60% Grenache, 16% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and smaller amounts of Clairette Rose, Counoise, Terre Noir and Vaccarèse, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Alchimie is a strong effort. Black cherries, black olives... Read More
From a first growth site in the Yakima Valley, the 2017 Syrah Boushey was raised all in neutral oak and has already been bottled. This ruby/purple-hued effort gives up a juicy, almost carbonic bouquet of red and blue fruits, lavender,... Read More
A deep and really complex Echezeaux with a ton of forest berries, very polished tannins and wonderful sweetness that grows at the back of the palate. Very long and complex finish with a lot of herbal and mineral complexity. Very... Read More
The attractive red-beet and milk-chocolate nose leads you into a full-bodied, tannic wine that’s built for long aging. Plenty of ripe plum on the very bold, almost massive palate. Expands nicely as it aerates, but you need... Read More
This is an excellent introduction to the dry whites of Alsace, being simultaneously juicy, creamy and zesty with stacks of stone fruit and citrusy freshness, but with moderate acidity at the lingering finish. 70% auxerrois and... Read More
Intensely fragrant, this stunner has enticing scents of crushed mint, rose a hint of pine forest and a potpourri of spice. Made with organically farmed grapes, it's linear, with knife-like precision that frames pomegranate,... Read More
Vivacious and expressive, with sleek raspberry and cherry flavors laced with rose petal, orange peel and hints of forest floor as this sails on the long, supple finish.
Hints of stewed herbs to the nicely baked cherries, strawberries and some hibiscus and dark spices. Fruity, medium-bodied on the palate with fine-grained tannins and a fresh, medium-long finish. Drink now.
This bright red bursts with flavor, with fragrant marjoram, violet and milled white pepper accenting crisp cherry and ripe boysenberry fruit. Features fine tannins that are a sleek frame for the expressive profile, with a spicy... Read More
Light in body but high on acid, this white Pinot Noir opens with a savory fennel sausage aroma that is quite compelling. Additional aromas include red raspberries and ripe cantaloupe. A tart, crisp texture backs flavors of white... Read More
The 2019 EABA (end all be all) is a blend of 61% Syrah, 24% Mourvèdre, 13% Grenache and 2% Viognier and was made with 65% whole clusters. Fruit comes from several vineyards in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties,... Read More
The 2019 Grenache is blended with 11% Mourvèdre, 6% Syrah and 4% Graciano and was made using 65% whole clusters. Fruit comes from the Slide Hill Vineyard in Edna Valley, and the Alta Mesa Vineyard, Larner Vineyard and Harrison-Clarke... Read More
This is a very beautiful red with currant and berry character. Very fine and polished tannins, too. The impact is just so polished and focused. Linear and exciting. A barrel sample but should be great.
This is the best vintage of Ao Yun to date and also the highest-scoring Chinese wine I have ever reviewed. It, therefore, requires a more detailed account to understand why. The 2019 Ao Yun is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon,... Read More
Boasts abundant zesty, energetic, and bramble-laced mulberry, plum, and açaí berry flavors, while hints of melted licorice, chaparral, and apple wood fill in through the finish. Broad, rich, and defined, with a flurry... Read More
This is a rich and satisfying expression of Pinot Noir by Adam Lee. Candied black-cherry and buttery cinnamon roll aromas lead the nose into a tighter palate, where ripe red-cherry and pomegranate flavors are spiced by cracked... Read More
Such demure depth and focus on the nose, showing high-grade cedar wood with brooding yet fresh blackberries, cassis and cigar, as well as hints of dark olives and red chili pepper. Beautiful cabernet character here. This is a... Read More
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Ynez Valley) captures all the intensity of Cabernet from this part of Santa Barbara County in a cooler vintage that yielded wines built more on savory intensity rather than volume. Elegant and... Read More
The 2022 Zinfandel Old Vine is an absolute delight. Fresh, floral and fruity, the Old Vine is a terrific wine to drink now and over the next handful of years, while the fruit remains vibrant. Dollops of Carignan, Petite Sirah,... Read More
The 2020 Syrah Hudson Vineyard T Block is a dense, brooding wine. Black fruit, spice, gravel, menthol and dried herbs add to an impression of gravitas. There is plenty of depth, obviously, but the 2020 is not especially refined... Read More
Rich but decadent berry fruit with earthy and mossy undertones and hints of clove, fine musk and dried orange. A medium-to full-bodied Brunello, showing chewy tannins and savoriness on the palate. Structured, but nevertheless... Read More
A ripe, fresh and pretty nose layers notes of black cherry, raspberry, violet and a discreet whiff of earth. The rich, vibrant and delicious middle weight flavors possess a velvety texture that extends to the lingering finale... Read More
An ultra-fresh and again quite cool and airy nose combines notes of just turned earth, wild red berries and a hint of forest floor character. There is a beguiling sense of underlying tension to the delineated and punchy medium... Read More
The Bodega Contador was founded in 1995 when Benjamin Romeo, winemaker and grower, acquired a centuries old cave beneath the Castle of San Vicente de la Sonsierra (Rioja). In 1996 he made the first vintage of his “La Cueva... Read More