Wine Reviews and News for Passionate Wine Lovers

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. ...

2006 Morgan Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands) Just had this wine while sitting on a bail of hay at a private jazz concert with Peter White on Catalina island. I think the full moon added to ...

2004 Murphy-Goode Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley (USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley) Dark purple. Nose musty with currant, plum, vegetal  and strong stainless steel.  Palate is black fruits, mostly blackberry but the intense vegetable flavors like bell pepper and then chocolate ...

2006 Buena Vista Pinot Noir Carneros (USA, California, Sonoma County, Carneros) Ruby red color. A little diapery and musty smell on the nose with some minerals. Ripe cherry flavors with some light spice and earthy veggie notes. Little dark on the ...

2006 Solaire Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Central Coast)Better than I expected for a 20 dollar Mondavi wine.  Other than a few vintages of Opus One I am not a huge Mondavi fan. I feel that overall he is ...

2005 Bravante Vineyards Trio (USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain) Nose is more on the veggies side with green pepper and spices.  Also some black olives and a little floral.  The nose is a little flat and not much fruit.  The palate ...

2004 Fire Block Shiraz Old Vine (Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley) Good dark color and a nice dirty nose.  However it stops there.  This wine was a best seller at Total Wine so I thought I would bring it ...

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 Montebelli Monteregio di Massa Maritima Fabula Riserva Vigneto dello Zampinaio (Italy, Tuscany, Monteregio di Massa Maritima) The color on this wine was a bright ruby red, medium. The nose is veggies with green pepper prominent, a little cherry and cinnamon.  The ...

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 ...

2004 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso Vineyard (USA, California, Sonoma County) Home run.  Very nice wine with character, complexity and boldness.  Deep violet color.  Huge fruit on the nose with black currant and  licorice.  Nice blackberry, bark and vanilla on ...

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 ...

2005 San Luigi Chianti (Italy, Tuscany, Chianti) Color was purple hinting on the brownish side.  The nose was very floral with lilacs, roses and with hints of red fruit.  Very nice smell to this wine and initially felt serene. The palate was ...

2006 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, Washington) Loads of butter, cherry and vanilla on the nose as well as some dark berries. Nice start and could not wait to jump into the tasting. The color was a real deep violet. The palate ...

2006 Greg Norman Estates Cabernet-Merlot (Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast) Blackberry and very soft on the nose.  You can tell the tannins are present in the smell. The palate is velvety and balanced.  Softer on the start though.  Not a bang.  Has ...