| December 10th, 2008 |
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| Find the hottest newly reviewed wines on WineZap! These are some of the highly regarded wine critics we listen to every week:
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| SF Chronicle - Top 100 Wines of the Year - Cabs December Every year the Chronicle releases a list of what they consider some of the top wines of the year. Here are a few choice Cabs with a variety of price ranges. 2005 Abeja Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon "Veteran winemaker John Abbott's signature finessed Cabernet style is evident in this latest release from one of Washington's most consistently fine labels. A bit of Cabernet Franc and Merlot in the blend add complexity to a dark nose of coffee, tobacco and black olive, with plenty of dark, supple fruit to match. Generous and well structured, it's a subtle approach that walks tall enough to talk softly." 2005 Dominus Napa Valley Red Wine "Christian Moueix's project showed off this banner year with a more reserved style. Radiant Cabernet aromas of tobacco and a lifted graphite tone mix with dusty plum. The palate is still wound up and young, but brightness and potential course through this highly structured wine. The wine's still in its infancy, but it's wonderful evidence that this Napa-Bordeaux alliance very much remains on its mission and is as good as ever." 2005 La Sirena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon"As plush and refined as Heidi Peterson Barrett's Amuse Bouche wines have been lately (and as much as we want to cheer for Merlot), it's still hard to outpace her latest release of La Sirena, which showcases her talents with a pitch-perfect Cabernet vintage. Big, sweet blackberry, rolled tobacco and a bit of roasted almond start things off, with high, taut tones of currants, a chamomile hint and those bold, silken tannins that Barrett finesses to perfection." 2005 Green Lion Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon"A joint effort from longtime Napa winemaker Douglas Danielak and Australian Shiraz master Chris Ringland yielded one of the most easily enjoyable Cabernets of the year (with a label that should have been a Fillmore poster). Serious winemaking using a mix of fruit parcels yielded a solid, bright wine with uplifted cherry and deep berry fruit, and a pleasing dry-herb touch. The raciness on the palate makes it a perfect mealtime pick." |
| Wall Street Journal - 2008 Beaujolais Nouveau Nov, 29th, 2008 By Dorothy J. Gaikter and John Brecher They reviewed a number of the latest Beaujolais Nouveau Wines and here is one of the best that is also easy to find. 2008 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau "Good/Very Good. Particularly vibrant, jazzy-purple color. Quite fruity, with some earth and a hint of lavender. Duboeuf is reliable, but this year it tastes truer, earthier, not as finished, as if the wine is reveling in its roots. That's a good thing." |
Dec. 10th
Reviews by Kirk McKoy
2001 La Rioja Alta 'Viña Alberdi Selecciòn Especial'
"With its deep ruby color, hints of tobacco and cinnamon and spice, the 2001 is a full-bodied red, Tempranillo gentled by two years of aging in the barrel and more in the bottle. It's lovely with winter stews and braises, roast duck and pork. An elegant wine for the price, it's drinking beautifully now (open the bottle to let the wine breathe for a half-hour before serving). But it will also improve with a few more years of aging if you have the time