Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz 2013
As its name suggests, the Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz is a baritone rumble of smoky blackberries, earthy firmament, black peppercorn and baking spices. The attack is juicy, but well-structured in firm, tightly-wound tannins. Really nice and one I’ll want to reach for again, especially when grilling. Sample Torbreck 8.9 Point
M. Chapoutier Luberon La Ciboise 2014
Another great value from, Monsieur Chapoutier, one of the most prolific producers in France—and yet, he maintains quality across his dizzying portfolio of wines including projects in Portugal and Australia. The Luberon La Ciboise 2014 emits lively and fresh primary aroamas of blackberries, blueberries and crushed raspberries. Here Syrah and Grenache play nicely together, without […]
M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Bernardine 2010
A delicious Châteauneuf from magnum, drinking beautifully at this stage in its eveloution. The 2010 M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Bernardine has both finesse and focus. The grenache really shines through with aromas of macerated strawberry and Bing cherries, a touch of underbrush and spice. It’s a touch lighter and more restrained than I might have […]
Gaja Barbaresco 2012
Sampled at a trade tasting, the distributor told me that in the 2012 vintage the winery did not bottle their single-vineyard Barbaresco wines, rather this is a blend of all three sites. It’s elegant as Gaja wines are wont to be, with caressing notes of tart pie cherries, red forest berries, lilting spice and feminine […]
Two Hands Lily’s Garden Shiraz 2014
I’ve been longing to try the Two Hands wines, so you can imagine my joy in coming across this Lily’s Garden Shiraz 2014. The nose explodes with juicy blueberries and ripe boysenberries followed by a lovely lingering top note of violets, anise and eucalyptus. My scrawled notes read, “a pleasure bomb” which differs from a […]
Murrieta’s Well The Spur 2013
vAnother label from Wente, Murrieta’s Well Winery The Spur 2013 is an estate-grown blend of 40% Petite Sirah, 26% Cabernet, 10% Petit Verdot, 8% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 8% Malbec. Sporting an opaque purple-hued dress, the aromatics are soft and expansive, with layers of plums, ripe boysenberries, black cherries, spice and cedar leading into […]
Domaine du Gour de Chaulé Gigondas Cuvée Tradition 2011
The Gour de Chaule Cuvée Tradition 2011 has that fabulous, oh so classic Gigondas profile. It runs the complexity gamut—a delicious romp through musky feralness interlacing macerated strawberries and black cherries, earthiness and stunning violet-tinged floriality. This is all that Grenache can be; vivid, wild and expressive. In this case, a medium-bodied, intense wine that […]
Herdade Do Esporão Monte Velho Tinto 2014
An open-knit blend of 40% Aragonez, 35% Trincadeira, 20% Touriga Nacional, and 5% Syrah, this extraordinarily budget-friendly Portuguese red from Monte Velho offers pungent aromas of tart red berries, cranberries, earth and a sort of feral edge usher in a wine with brightness…red berries carry through until they crescendo, revealing an understory of fine tannins, […]
San Simeon Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
A well-crafted Cabernet from Paso Robles—a region that has yet to explode in popularity, thus, there are interesting values to be had. San Simeon is a brand owned by San Antonio Winery, which still maintains an urban tasting room in Los Angeles. The winery has been in operation since 1917. Sumptuous aromas and flavors of […]
Brooks Winery | Storyteller Wine Pinot Noir 2014
From Portland’s iconic Storyteller Wine Company, this 2014 Storyteller Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir, the fourth and final label to emerge from an intensive two day blending session at Brooks winery last fall. Michael Alberty’s blend is imbued with the fragrance of pure, ripe strawberries, so much so, that it reminds me of making strawberry jam. […]