Wednesday, March 25, 2009

New Wine Reviews March 25th, 2009

Find the hottest newly reviewed wines on WineZap!


These are some of the highly regarded wine critics we listen to each week - Check out the latest wine reviews below and use WineZap to buy these great wines yourself.




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2005 La Vieille Cure Bordeaux Blend - $27.99 (reg.price $35.99)


Robert Parker, 93 Points: "La Vieille Cure’s amazing 2005 is even better than their terrific 2003 and 2000. The 2005 boasts an inky/ruby color as well as a gorgeously sweet perfume of charcoal, black cherries, black currants, and spring flowers as well as an underlying mineral component. Superb concentration, full-bodied power, wonderful symmetry, purity, and texture, and a multidimensional mouthfeel are all found in this fabulous sleeper of the vintage."





WineSpectator Insider


March 25th, 2009


2006 Louis Jadot Volnay Clos De La Barre: 92 Pts starting at $47.95


"A suave, silky red, exuding black cherry, mineral and floral aromas and flavors. Everything is well-proportioned, in a stylish way, with hints of cassis and violet on the long aftertaste."


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2006 Bouchard Volnay Caillerets Ancienne Cuvée Carnot: 92 Pts starting at $55.99


"Pure and focused, with raspberry, floral and mineral flavors buoyed by a vibrant structure. Elegant and graceful, with intensity and excellent length."


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2006 Roumier Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras: 92 Pts starting at $109.99


"A softness around the edges in this cherry- and berry-infused red offsets the firm structure that emerges later. Floral and spice notes add interest, and this lingers nicely."


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Robert Parker


March 25th, 2009


2007 Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay: 92 Pts starting at $24.99


"Excellent nutty, honeyed, buttery notes of orange marmalade, brioche, and spice. Full-bodied, rich, and pure, it reminds me of a Burgundian premier cru from Chassagne-Montrachet or Meursault"


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SF Chronicle - The Chronicle Recommends: 2006 Rosso di Montalcino


Sunday, March 22nd, 2009 by Lynne Char Bennett


2006 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Rosso di Montalcino starting at $24.99


"Dried cherry and plum are lightly wrapped in sweet oak. A wisp of tar and dark roast coffee provide depth; good structure with an acidic edge on the long finish."


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2006 Pinino Rosso di Montalcino starting at $11.99


"Sweet cherry, juicy and fresh in an atypical, very modern, New World style. Light, simple and quaffable, this wine is more like a light Barbera and will complement pork and lighter dishes."


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2006 Talenti Rosso di Montalcino starting at $24.99


"Riccardo Talenti's wine has partially dried cherry, herb, dusty spice and a bit of black pepper aromas and flavors. A nicely ripened, structured and well-behaved Sangiovese with just enough fruit to balance its acidity and tannic grip."


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2006 Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino starting at $17.57


"This estate, owned by the Franceschi family, is one of Montalcino's historic wineries. Winemaker Fabrizio Bindocci's Rosso bottling is a good combination of bright fruit moderated by cedar and faint molasses. The lighter-weight palate shows more dusty dried tart cherry; moderate grip on the finish. Balanced, with good acidity; needs a bit of air to open up."


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LA Times - Wine of the Week


By Jay L. Clendenin


2006 Bibi Graetz Grilli del Testamatta starting at $26.99


"Bib Graetz's big bomber is Testamatta, a superb pure Sangiovese wine. Grilli del Testamatta is its little brother, made with the grapes that didn't make it into Testamatta, which means mostly those from younger vines. A blend of 80% Sangiovese and 10% each Canaiolo and Colorino, the 2006 Grilli is a lovely, juicy wine, bursting with soft, ripe cherry flavors, velvety and flat-out delicious."


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Wednesday, March 11, 2009




Find the hottest newly reviewed wines on WineZap!


These are some of the highly regarded wine critics we listen to each week - Check out the latest wine reviews below and use WineZap to buy these great wines yourself.




Advertisement- sponsored by JJ Buckley Fine Wines



2003 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Merlot / Cabernet Proprietary Blend - $3.99 (reg.price $9.99)


John Perry, JJ Buckley: "Dark maroon core out to slightly lighter rim. Aromatic and sweet nose of blackberry, raspberry and black cherry and a subtle bit of spice and mint. Soft and supple, this medium-bodied red features ripe, dark fruit flavors that are enhanced by coffee and chocolate notes. Fine tannins and texture lead to a pleasant finish. Enjoy with a variety of dishes including beef, duck, hamburgers, lamb, or veal."





WineSpectator Insider


March 11th, 2009


2006 Schrader Beckstoffer To Kalon T6 Cabernet Sauvignon: 99 Pts starting at $230.00


"A masterpiece. Capturing currant and blackberry fruit at the zenith of ripeness, this is smooth, plush and layered, with a mix of mocha, black cherry, currant and wild berry all flowing together in a steady stream. Firms up nicely on the finish, yet the flavors keep rushing through."


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2006 Pride Cabernet Sauvignon: 90 Pts starting at $64.95


"Smooth and fleshy, with rich currant, earth, anise and plum notes. Full-bodied, deep and persistent, with ripe, supple tannins."


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2006 Coho Headwaters Blend: 95 Pts starting at $29.99


"Ultrarich, complex and concentrated, with ripe currant, black cherry and blackberry fruit that’s notably elegant and polished for a wine this size. Ends with ripe, mouthcoating tannins. Long on finesse. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot."


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2001 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino Barolo Riserva: 95 Pts starting at $359.95


"Sweet plum and sultana aromas, with hints of citrus fruit on the nose. Full-bodied, with soft and sweet tannins. Cedar, cappuccino and sweet fruit. Long and gorgeous. Sexy and pretty. Hard not to drink now."


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2006 Continuum Proprietary Blend: 95 Pts starting at $139.99


"Rich dark chocolate, mocha and espresso here, along with a wealth of ripe, currant-laced Cabernet fruit. Focused, tight, elegant
and stylish, with a persistent finish that keeps unfolding to reveal hidden nuances. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot."


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SF Chronicle - California Viognier


Sunday, March 8th, 2009 by Lynne Char Bennett


2007 Bridlewood Estate Winery Reserve Central Coast Viognier starting at $14.39


"Located in Santa Barbara County, Bridlewood specializes in Rhone grape varieties. Winemaker David Hopkins' Viognier has sweet melon, ripe pear, stone fruit and Orangesicle with wet gravel notes. The moderately rich, citrusy palate shows a bit of rusticity and alcoholic heat that would do well with creamy pasta with chicken. Includes 3 percent Roussanne, 3 percent Chardonnay and 1 percent Marsanne."


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2007 McManis Family Vineyards California Viognier starting at $9.95


"McManis founded their winery in 1990 just south of Lodi in the River Junction appellation, which is the cooler juncture of the San Joaquin and Stanislaus rivers. Winemakers Jeff Runquist and Mike Robustelli make this unblended Viognier, which has aromas of peach and orange blossom and almost a candied note. The palate has a nice acid bump on entry then segues to sweet pear and peach. Clean, quaffable and a good value."


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2007 Miner Family Vineyards Simpson Vineyard California Viognier starting at $14.99


"Winemaker Gary Brookman used fruit from John Simpson's vineyard in Madera, located in the Central Valley near Fresno, for this wine. In its 10th vintage, it has always has been 100 percent Viognier. Rich pear, citrus and floral aromas with hints of Galia melon lead to a full-flavored palate and slight oily mouthfeel, as befits Viognier."


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2007 Rosenblum Cellars Kathy's Cuvee California Viognier starting at $12.99


"Rosenblum's winery was purchased by Diageo last year, it still specializes in Zinfandel and Rhone varietals. A lightly spiced nose of tangelo, Orange Julius, soft peach and floral body powder lead to bright, refreshing flavors; crisp pear, vanilla and white peach with a clean finish."


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LA Times - Wine of the Week


By Richard Derk


2006 Spicerack Syrah 'Punchdown' starting at $17.99


"What a little beauty of a Syrah from Jonathan and Susan Pey of Spicerack Vineyards. Their "Punchdown" Syrah comes from two cool-climate sites on the Sonoma Coast. Rich and spicy with scents of cassis, black pepper and wild herbs, this is an elegant, moderately priced Syrah, a great buy for the price and a California Syrah that plays well with food."


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