Wine Reviews and News for Passionate Wine Lovers

1996 Chateau Potelle Chardonnay VGS Mt. Veeder (USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder) Beautiful golden color hinting on bright yellow. The nose has lemon peel, melon and anisette.  The palate is a little hot and not real long.  Very jumpy for a ...

N.V. Rare Wine Company Heritage Madeira Boston Bual Special Reserve (Portugal, Madeira) Had this with dessert at Spaiggias in Chicago.  Very Interesting Maderia.  I found this to have a dynamic feel to it and a 4th dimension.  This was doing all kinds ...

2006 Rusack Anacapa (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County) At Philip Wrigley's ranch on the north side of Avalon.  It is called El Rancho Escondido.  Found out they were secretly growing grapes there and sending them to Rusack in airplanes.  ...

2004 Von Strasser Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain (USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain) Nice old world wine. The nose had blueberries and vanilla. Soft and velvety and this wine was going more toward a french Bordeaux  Deep purple on the color.  The ...

Testarossa Pinot Noir Sleepy Hollow (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands In California for a tasting. Opened an 07 Testarossa thinking it was going to be too young. Not so. You drink this right away as it was good right at opening. Nice complex ...

2007 Rudd Sauvignon Blanc (USA, California, Napa Valley) Nice color toward the golden range. Lots of pear and oak on the nose with some pineapple. Tropical, fresh and crisp.  The tannins are just right and give this oaky honey flavor just ...

2006 Frank Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley) At the Casino in Avalon for a jazz concert and having the Frank Family Cab.  I was looking forward to this wine. The nose was kind of flat and subdued.  Not much ...

2006 Schug Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast) Sipping this wine while at the Wrigley family private ranch on the back side of Catalina Island. Nice complex wine. Thin on color. Floral nose with some cinnamon and vanilla. ...

2007 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch Vineyard (USA, California, Sonoma County, Green Valley) Really nice pinot. The color was a thinner purple.  A step above the standards. Lots of berries on the start with spices and blackberry forward. The nose ...

2006 Cambria Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley) Soft and sweet nose. The nose had an interesting carmel scotch to it with blackberry.  Little perfume. Little thin on color with hints of brown.  The palate was a ...

2006 Orin Swift Papillon (USA, California, Napa Valley) This is a nice wine with very good structure.  A friend brought this bottle to a dinner in LA.  The balance, structure and quality hit me instantly.  Dark fruits and lots of blueberry ...

2007 Francis Coppola / Niebaum-Coppola Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label Claret (USA, California) Had this wine at Flemming's in Scottsdale AZ.  The color was a dark purple. The nose was nice and complex. Bold fresh and floral on the nose. The palate was ...

2006 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot (USA, California, Napa Valley) OK...  the 06 was very disappointing.  Duckhorn Merlot has been one of my favorite Merlot until the 06.  This wine got thin and industrial with little character. I put my 04 and 05 reviews ...

Do you like Screaming Eagle?  Then you will love this wine at the price.  Wine maker Heidi Barrett brings this wine to you as one of the better Napa cult wines.  I call this the little brother of Screaming Eagle.  ...

2005 The Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Allomi (USA, California, Napa Valley) Smooth wine. Deep red-purple color. Out of the bottle the nose was a little tight and hot. Immediately got chocolate and cinnamon with some fresh peppers. Palate was similar, with lots ...