Wine Reviews and News for Passionate Wine Lovers

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 ...

2007 Masi Masianco Venezie IGT (Italy, Veneto, Venezie IGT) Carmel color.  This wine sways more to a sparkling wine feel.  Kind of like a Blanc de Nois Schramsberg.  Good tang to this wine and the fruit is present but not overwhelming.  The ...

2007 Caymus Conundrum  White  Wine (USA, California) Medium golden color. Great bouquet of  banana, mango and apricot. The palate has good fruit, very vibrant; pears, papaya, very tropical on the mouthfeel.  Feels a little sugary.  It is a soft wine on 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 ...

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 ...

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 Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville Had this 2005 Plumpjack at a steak house in Miami. Great wine with a bone in rib eye. Color was a nice deep purple. The nose was a nice balance of fruit ...

2004 Concannon Vineyard Petite Sirah Limited Release  (USA, California, Central Coast) Color was very deep red/purple.  Can't even see through it.  The nose at open had blackberry,  a little cherry and alcohol, and a very unique smell that smells like a perm ...

2004 Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California) A good friend asked me to rate this wine.  2-buck-chuck as they call it, it was very industrial.  Overall not much character.  The nose had lots of cherry and chocolate but it was hinting toward ...