Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Wine Reviews for Feb. 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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2003 Quinault l'Enclos Bordeaux Blend, WA89 - $24.99 (reg.price $34.99 - 25% Off!)


Wine Advocate, Aor. 2006, 89 points: "This 48+-acre vineyard is owned by Dr. Alain Raynaud, who has been one of the spiritual and qualitative leaders of the quality revolution that has taken place in Pomerol and St.-Emilion. Situated within the Libourne city limits, this vineyard possesses some of the oldest vines (50 years) of St.-Emilion. Made from a blend of 87% Merlot and the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, the light-styled 2003 is soft and forward, yet possesses this property's hallmark elegance. Exhibiting a deep ruby/purple hue along with a sweet nose of blueberries, licorice, and flowers, it is all about finesse, balance, and purity. While it does not display the concentration of the finest vintages to date, 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2004, it is ideal for drinking now and over the next 12-14 years."





WineSpectator Insider


February 18th, 2009


2005 Château de Pibarnon Bandol: 95 Pts starting at $44.99


"An intense and focused red, with concentrated mineral, plum and dark cherry that are flanked by tobacco box notes. Lithe yet powerful, with a long, elegant and finely chiseled finish of slate and white pepper. Drink now through 2015."


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2006 domaine TempierR Bandol Cabassaou: 95 Pts starting at $99.95


"Intense raspberry, red plum and kirschlike flavors are pure and powerfully structured, with loads of rich beef accents and a long finish of smoke, spice and hints of cream. Elegant despite the obvious power. Tempting now."


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NV Chambers
Muscat Rutherglen Rosewood Vineyards Rare: 95 Pts
starting at $13.29


"Sweet, viscous and deliciously balanced to let its coffee, almond, walnut and spice rack overtones wrap easily around a silky core of cherry, prune and tobacco. This has depth and intensity and actually finishes with a reasonable balance. Drink now."


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WineSpectator Advance


A sneak preview for the March 31st Issue, 2009: Here are some highlights.



2006 Landmark Syrah Sonoma Valley Steel Plow: 94 Pts starting at $23.95


"Shows loads of pepper, beef, dark berry, teriyaki, mineral and spice. Intense, distinctive, full-bodied and focused, this is so complex and well-proportioned that all the flavors work together seamlessly."


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2006 Leoville Barton: 94pts starting at $61.99


"There’s a great dark color to this, with intense aromas of cedar, wood, new leather and crushed blackberry. Fullbodied, with loads of fruit and a firm, powerful palate. Long and mouthpuckering. A muscular baby."



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2007 Stuhlmuller Chardonnay Alexander Valley: 91pts starting at $21.95


"Tangy lime and citrus notes join riper green apple and honeydew melon in this supple, full-bodied, complex and
elegant offering. The finish is long and clean."



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2007 Souverain Chardonnay Alexander Valley: 90pts starting at $10.79


"There’s a great dark color to this, with intense aromas of cedar, wood, new leather and crushed blackberry. Fullbodied, with loads of fruit and a firm, powerful palate. Long and mouthpuckering. A muscular baby."



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SF Chronicle - What's in our Glass


Sunday, February 15th, 2009


2007 Francois Chidaine Touraine Val de Loire Sauvignon starting at $9.99


"Touraine is a Loire Valley wine region surrounding the city of Tours. Its white wines include those from the appellation of Vouvray as well as the lesser-known Montlouis. That's the base of Francois Chidaine, who made this balanced and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc. Tart with green apple and citrus but still well rounded, it has plenty of the mineral qualities expected of Loire whites. Plus, much of the fruit comes from Chidaine's own biodynamically farmed vineyards."


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LA Times - Wine of the Week


By Bob Chamberlin


2007 Domaine des Escaravailles Cotes du Rhone 'Les Sablieres' starting at $11.99


"Dark ruby with glints of violet, the 2007 is pure fruit, tasting of raspberries and earth. It's delightful drinking, not too complex, with the weight of a Beaujolais. A wine to break out for any occasion, great with a burger, a hearty soup, something braised or grilled, a platter of roasted root vegetables. In warm weather, serve it ever so slightly chilled."


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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Hot New Wine Reviews, Feb. 18th, 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 Aalto Tempranillo, WA95 - $38.99 (reg.price $48.99)


Wine Advocate, Feb 2007, 95 points: "The 2005 Aalto, made from 100% Tinto Fino, is a deep purple color with an enticing nose of wood smoke, bacon, floral notes, spice box, and blackberry. This leads to a powerful, layered, intense wine already beginning to show complex flavors. Structured for 5-7 years of further evolution, this strong effort will be at its best from 2015 to 2030."



WineSpectator Insider


February 11th, 2009


2007 Merry Edwards Russian river Sauvignon Blanc: 96 Pts starting at $28.99


"A rocket beam of vibrancy, with effusive honeysuckle notes, ripe honeydew melon, citrus, pear and apricot flavors that have amazing
structure, depth and body. Ripe flavors end with a mouthwatering finish, where the mineral and spice details echo on and on. Drink now through 2012."


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2005 Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon: 93 Pts starting at $64.95


"A ripe, juicy mix of black cherry, wild berry, plum and currant, this firms up midpalate and holds its focus, revealing greater depth and complexity and ending with a nice tight, tannic backbone. Drink now through 2016."


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2006 Dumol Chardonnay Russian River Valley: 91 Pts starting at $62.99


"Smoky caramel aromas join ripe fig and melon fruit in this full-bodied, well-oaked wine, made in a style for those who enjoy a strong oak presence. Drink now through 2012."


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2005 Guigal d'Ampuis Cote Rotie: 94 Pts starting at $94.99


"Rock-solid, with a great core of dark plum and fig fruit woven with incense, Turkish coffee, melted licorice and mineral notes. The long finish lets the mouthwatering acidity carry it all nicely. There’s impressive drive and density."


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Wall Street Journal


A Burst of Spring From Every Bottle

It's easy to fast forward through winter with the clean, true taste of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

February 14th, 2009

By Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher


2008 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc starting at $12.95


"Very Good/Delicious. Best of tasting. Remarkable balance of cleanliness and intensity. Makes you smile with its mouth-popping vibrancy and sunshine-like, exuberant, lime-kiwi tastes, but it also has minerals underneath and some weight, a white-peach fleshiness that gives it presence. Classy and well-made. Repeat best-of-tasting."


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2007 Drylands Estate Sauvignon Blanc starting at $12.95


"Very Good/Delicious. Best value. Rounder and fuller than most, with some extra stature. A dash of pepper. Soulful. Reminded us of white Bordeaux in its classiness -- amazing at the price.



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2007 Isabel Sauvignon Blanc starting at $15.99


"Very Good/Delicious. Ripe, juicy grapefruit with a touch of something deeper. Warming, friendly, happy and very satisfying."



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SF Chronicle - Hearty reds $15 and less


Sunday, February 15th, 2009


2005 St. Francis Winery Red Sonoma County Red Wine starting at $9.99


"Director of winemaking Tom Mackey has been with St. Francis for more than 25 years. Mackey has made this fun, inexpensive, Merlot-based blend since 2002. This year's bottling includes Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, which gives the Merlot a boost. A nice melange of red and black fruit, cinnamon and toast with oak spice; big on entry then tapers a bit."


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2007 Tormaresca Puglia Neprica starting at $7.99


"In 1998, Piero Antinori expanded his empire to include Southern Italy, starting this project and focusing on local varietals. Tormaresca - which means tower by the sea - is named for the many towers along the Adriatic Sea. The proprietary name reflects the blend's grape varieties: Negroamaro, Primitivo and Cabernet Sauvignon - 40/30/30 percent respectively. The wine is aromatic and full-flavored with black cherry cola, juicy boysenberry; spice and a hint of black licorice; nicely textured with a lengthy finish."


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Wednesday, February 04, 2009

New Wine Reviews Feb. 4th, 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.


WineSpectator Insider


February 4th, 2009


2006 Merlot Napa Valley Blueline Vineyard: 93 Pts starting at $74.95


"Beautifully focused and elegant yet complex, showing vivid black cherry and toasty vanilla aromas, with richly layered currant, herb and spice flavors that finish with ripe but firm tannins."


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2006 Plumpjack Merlot: 91 Pts starting at $44.99


"Rich and opulent, offering lush black cherry and toasty mocha aromas, with complex, layered red currant, spice and minty espresso flavors that finish with burly but ripe tannins."


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2006 Château Angelus: 93 Pts starting at $150.50


"This has a gorgeous nose of black licorice, black cherry and sage. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a very long finish. There’s beautiful texture for the vintage. Enjoy the fruit and richness."


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2006 Cheval Blanc: 95 Pts starting at $599.99


"Displays lots of milk chocolate, cedar, berry and cappuccino aromas. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins, this is structured and layered for the vintage. Mouthpuckering. Needs time."


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2006 Ausone: 93pts starting at $210.89


"Cedar, new wood and crushed blackberry and raspberry aromas follow through to a palate of vanilla, berry and blackberry character. Balanced and modern, with lots of fruit. Lively, with bright acidity."



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2005 Dominio de Tares Baltos Mencia - $9.99


Every now and then (OK, maybe quite often), we find these little treasures that make drinking wine really fun. The 2005 Dominio de Tares 'Baltos' is one such delicious little gem that really over delivers for the modest price of just 10 bucks.


Wine Advocate, Feb 2007, 90 points: "The 2005 Baltos Mencia comes from a less steep terroir and is aged in oak for 6 months. This purple-colored effort exhibits an attractive bouquet of minerals, earth, black cherry and raspberry. This is followed by a medium-bodied wine with concentrated, ripe fruit, excellent depth, and a pure finish. Because of the old-vine, labor-intensive vineyards with low yields, wines from Bierzo can be pricey so this well-made wine is an excellent value."




SF Chronicle - Australia and New Zealand Riesling


Friday, February 2md, 2009


2005 Keller Estate La Cruz Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay starting at $19.99


"Founders Arturo and Deborah Keller established Petaluma Valley's first winery, now directed by daughter Ana Keller. This wine benefits from cooling maritime influences: the San Pablo Bay to the south and fog from the northwest. Winemaker Michael McNeill has made a rich California-style wine, which has very ripe apple, sweet pear and caramel with a bit of stoniness. Integrated and nicely balanced."


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