Category: Wine Reviews
2002 Keller Estate “La Cruz Vineyard” Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
I’ve written before about Keller Estate, so I won’t repeat myself with praises. I’ve been enjoying this wine along with
The Best Lesser Known Wines of Burgundy (recent releases)
A friend of mine had dinner with a serious European wine collector who passed on his list of the best
1999 Wirilda Creek Vine Pruners Blend, McLaren Vale Australia
Ooh ooh. A new discovery. I love finding out about small production wines from little known wineries, especially when they’re
1999 Fattoria del Cerro, Vino Nobile de Montepulciano, Riserva, Italy
Fattoria del Cerro’s small store is reached by climbing up the winding cobblestone main street of Montepulciano, the town which
2000 Havens Syrah, Napa Valley
Havens is famous for their Merlot, which was my introduction to their wine. When I came across their Syrah the
2001 Newton “Special Cuvee” Chardonnay
Occasionally (more than occasionally) I find a Napa wine that I know nothing about. Never heard of it, never seen
2000 Rudd Estate Jericho Canyon Meritage
I’m in love with a vineyard. Yes, I know it’s irrational, but it’s true. There seem to be only two
2002 Thomas Fogarty Gewurztraminer
Thomas Fogarty is one of the few good california wineries between San Francisco and Montery Bay. Nestled at the top
2000 Les Coteaux De Pouzols, Minervois-Aude, France
Dark loamy earth. The smell of your backyard just after it rains. Combine a little fruit with that, a touch
2002 Castle Rock Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
I really enjoy blind tastings — it’s amazing how much a known name can really prejudice anyone’s reading of a
2000 Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Oregon and southern Washington are the same latitude as Bordeax and parts of Burgundy. Many think that this allows these
2002 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
I was first introduced to Paul Hobbs through his Cabernet, and have been a fan ever since. His wines are
2003 Beaujolais Cuvee JB Domaine Du Vissoux
I feel like this wine put me squarely back in the 1980’s — a young boy sitting at a table
2000 Ferrari-Carano “Eldorado Noir” Black Muscat, Sonoma
I’ve mentioned before that I’m not a fan of dessert wines. I find the majority of them far too sweet
2001 Silverado Vineyards Cabernet, Napa Valley
I’m usually suspicious of wineries that have massive, Tuscan inspired architectural tasting rooms perched on the brink of prime real
1999 Haut Beausejour St. Estephe, Bordeaux, France
Further evidence that name and terrior are not everything, and you have to be careful when buying Bordeaux, lest you
2002 The Prisoner, Red Table Wine, Orin Swift Cellars, Napa
I have a thing for funky wine labels, and I enjoy various winemakers attempts to break out of the boring
2001 Pahlmeyer “Jayson” Chardonnay
If Chardonnays lifted weights, this one would be able to bench press way over its body weight. It’s a massive,
2002 Pascal Jolivet Sancerre, Loire, France
There’s nothing like Sancerre (known anywhere else it grows as Sauvignon Blanc) to go with oysters and other shellfish. I
