Reference

Country: South Africa / Unfined and Unfiltered Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch Winery: Stark-Condé / A solid Cab at an attractive price. There’s a lot going on in this structured and well-balanced wine. Aromas of black currant and licorice dominate the nose alongside secondary glimmers of black pepper and crushed violets, all framed with a sweet […]

Country: South Africa / Reserve Variety: Merlot Simonsberg-Stellenbosch Winery: Remhoogte / Cedar plank-grilled meat and herbal accents jazz up the heady black fruit core of this wine. Rich and dark, flavors of black berry, plum flesh, cigar box, licorice and pepper dance in the mouth and stay through the solid finish. Fine but firm tannins […]

Country: US / SLH Estate Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Hahn / Santa Lucia Highlands A beautiful wine, rich, dry and crisp, offering waves of satisfying flavor. Raspberries, cherries, red licorice and cola flood the mouth, accented with sweet, smoky new French oak, and wrapped into firm, dusty tannins. Drink it over the next four […]

Country: US / Dry Variety: Gewürztraminer Oregon Winery: Foris / Rogue Valley Labeled dry and tasting very much so, this clean, floral-scented Gewürztraminer has a pleasingly dusty aspect; rose petals with a thin veneer of incense. Long and complex.

Country: US / Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon California Winery: Decoy / Napa Valley Hard to explain why this Cabernet is so good at such an affordable price, but there you are. It’s dry, smooth and complex in blackberry, black currant, mineral and oak flavors that are a joy to drink now with your best beef dish. […]

Country: France / Prestige Variety: Malbec Southwest France Winery: Château Saint-Sernin / Cahors Perfumed, minty wine, very solidly structured, while also showing delicious red berry fruits. The tannins have a distinct mineral character, chewy although well integrated with the fruit.

Country: France / Ode d’Aydie Variety: Tannat Southwest France Winery: Château d’Aydie / Madiran An elegant expression of Tannat, with plum skin spice and a delicious juiciness showing well. The acidity, the wood and a smoky flavor add complexity. Age this balanced wine for another 2–3 years.

Country: France / Variety: Bordeaux-style Red Blend Bordeaux Winery: Château Haut-Bailly / Pessac-Léognan A dense wine, very much in the line of powerful wines from Haut-Bailly. Flavors of bitter chocolate, sweet berry fruits and richness are dominant, the acidity a fine balancing act to give a burst of freshness.

Country: US / The Sum Variety: Red Blend California Winery: 75 Wine Co. / Napa Valley Rich and dramatic, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petite Sirah offers smooth, unctuous flavors of cherries, black raspberries, chocolate and pepper. It’s a seductively appealing wine, with thick, refined tannins and a dry finish. Should gain in […]

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: 1789 Wines / Chehalem Mountains A new effort from winemaker Isabelle Dutartre, who also oversees winemaking at De Ponte Cellars. This first release from her own 1789 label brings the stamp of Chehalem Mountains terroir into crisp focus. The fruit is wild and brambly, the acids sharp, […]

Country: US / Bradford Mountain Vineyard Variety: Zinfandel California Winery: Peterson / Dry Creek Valley This is an enormously fruity Zinfandel that offers a flood of flavor, making it instantly likeable. Dry, full-bodied and tannic, it’s powerful in briary blackberries, cherries, currants, cola, anise, pepper and cinnamon, with an edge of sweet, smoky oak and […]

Country: US / Timbercrest Farms Variety: Zinfandel California Winery: Papapietro Perry / Dry Creek Valley Zin doesn’t get bigger or riper than this. Floods the mouth with flamboyant blackberries, cherries, currants, cola, black pepper, anise and sandalwood. It’s tannic and dry, but so fruity it’s almost sweet. High alcohol aids in the impression of sweetness. […]