Wine Reviews You can Use

Bright cherry hue with classic Gamay aromas of cherry-berry fruit with light spices and maybe a touch of tart raspberry. Palate--Lip smacking tannic structure that's a bit over the top, with strawberry and red berry notes with lightly accented savory spicing and a quick finish that still has you trying to work up some saliva from the super-charged tannins. Jadot is one of the premier necociants of France who does a bang up job with most of whatever he ships.  This 100% Gamay production which is what Beaujolais is, at the "Villages" level is quite rude and out of balance.  Gamay is typically brighter and easier to quaff but I suspect this will be a much better food wine than not. I am pairing it with an original creation of chicken thighs with a sauce of roasted cumin seed, coriander, tomatoes, garlic and onion served over Ramen noodles with asparagus.  I'll let you know how it works.  I believe I paid less than $10 for this and if it is good as I think it will...

A lighter than usual black cherry hue for a Shiraz but that's not to say it is "light." Aromas of sweet cranberry, with cigar ash, and a nearly floral edge at the rim. Palate--a lively, lighter than expected foundation of bright berries with ready to drink structure presenting a fruit forward, popular style that drinks really nicely and will also pair well with your next BBQ on the grill of most any kind of meat. In the past, Australia has been glutted with enormous amounts of grape juice sitting around in gigantic storage units. I don't know if that's what plays into the pricing of this wine but it is a solid value at $10-15.  Now here's the "get a grip" factor--I paid $5 for this bottle at a local store. I will be buying lots more if I get the chance. So Raise a glass!

Garnet hue with aromas of sweet baked bread above the rim with loads of amazing spices wrapping a lovely package of big fruity blackberries with cigar ash, hints of milk chocolate. Palate--a really nice dark berry front palate with a modest first impression of being a touch austere but relinquishing control with nice spicy berry flavors with a solid structure that will only become more finessed in a couple years. Unlike some Zins, this one is made with a serious style yielding not only a delicious by-itself-quaff but a really nice food wine.  Sonoma produces the best Zins in my opinion with Rosenblum (may it rest in peace) being the former king producing over 25 different Zins from different parcels and levels of quality.  Sadly I think those days might be gone.  I consider myself an expert when it comes to Zinfandel for in over 40 years of wine study, I have had more Zins than possibly any 10 varietals combined. But I don'd find Rosenblum in my neck of the woods and...

Dried cherry hue with some age showing at the rim with aromas of spicy cherry, cocoa, brioche, and slight blueberry bouquet above the rim. Palate--Unduly tart, puckery tannins, tart pie cherry flavor, and a lip smacking finish with a hint of cocoa on the end. This is an odd Zin with uncharacteristic bouquet and palate as well.  If I didn't know better I would be more inclined to think this was a grenache and not a very well made one at that.  I paid $21 for this unknown to me Zin and for the price I expected a lot more out of it than what I got.  Given its age, it should be at its prime.  I was close to considering taking this back to the store but since I got it with a gift card, I figure I'll bear with it. Not a pleasant wine, not corked, and not over the hill, just awkward. The Wine Enthusiast gave this a 94 out of 100 which is insane for the wine I am drinking which makes me think this is flawed.  But honestly, with 40 years of wine experience and bei...

Inky black hue with aromas of stewed prunes, and mint Palate--Silky texture with big jammy, rich prune whip, decent structure, brioche, a hint of tar, and a rich lingering finish that just rehearses the goodness of the first quaff. 2011 was a great vintage for Oporto and Quarles Harris is a super value creation I see distributed by Trader Joes.  I paid $45 for this treat and if you know anything of vintage port you would expect this to go for twice this easily.  This will only mature over the next 15-20 years but is drinking wonderfully now.  I had three bottles of this and this is the last.  A sad day indeed.  If you happen to find some at another Trader Joes snatch a bottle--you'll be glad you did and raise a glass!