Wine Reviews You can Use

Gorgeous burgundy (color) hue with aromas of gentle savory spices a hint of cocoa and a fruity center. Palate--A lip smackingingly juicy beam of red berries with an acidity that will raise your eyebrows and a tannic presence that is a bit surprising.  It finishes quickly.   At 5 years old, this is holding its youthfulness well and should drink well for another 2-4 years but why wait when you can raise a glass now.  I paid a mere $7 for this marked down from $20 and I will buy more if I have the chance! To demystify the whole Beaujolais wine region it is basically set up like this.  The wines are all made of the Gamay grape and labeled either Beaujolais, Beaujolais Villages, or Beaujolais Cru. These tend to correlate to quality and price with "Beaujolais" being the entry point and going up from there.  Of the Beaujolais Cru there are eight which can wear that distinction.   They are: Saint Amour, Chénas, Moulin-a-Vent, Fleurie, Chiroub...

Dark cranberry hue with aromas that are greeeeen, and the faint aroma of "cork taint." But what's worse, is it may not be cork taint but the wine as it was made. Beneath the green unripeness is a remnant of dark berries and after a few minutes a nice wafting of eucalyptus. Palate--*Not quite ripe dark berry flavors, savory spice, a somewhat watery texture that is less than tantalizing, and a finish that may be the best part of this wine. I have had a good bunch of Chilean Cabernet's and am a big fan.  This is my first one from tis producer from the Alto Cachapoal region of Chile. *I am going to let this breathe and see if it helps any.  I paid $10 for this marked down from $13. *It did improve some but it's still a pass...

Nice deep black cherry hue with aromas of charred wood, rustic, brambly blackberry fruit with an under layer of dark cherry and cigar ash at the end. Palate-- Bright sweet red berry (but this wine is NOT sweet) fruity and spice laden mid-palate, easy o drink, with a dark berry and prune finish. I haven't had many Zins from Monterey and this one is pleasant and a bit more rustic than some styles that plays well with the savory spicing.  At $12 I'd do it again so raise a glass! *The label says Paso Robles and they make one from Lodi as well.  I couldn't find a label from Monterey so ignore the AVA on the label.

[note--vintage on label is incorrect.] Lightly golden hue with aromas of vanilla, sweet fruity oil (classic Riesling BTW) perfumey, tropical fruit compote with cremé bruleé and a large dose of honey. Palate--A veritable dive into juiced lemons, limes, guava, and clover honey on a somewhat watery feeling texture.  There is an acid weakness which detracts from an otherwise glorious, fruit filled melange. Now--wine geek stuff: How to read a German Wine Label--It is really quite informative and tells you a great deal about the wine.  St. Ludwin is the name of the winery or estate where he wine was made. Bernkastle is the region (much like our AVA's in this country) where the grapes were grown located on the Mosel River.  It is perhaps the most highly recognized and best region of German wine. Kurfürstlay is the actual vineyard from which the grapes were harvested. The name of the grape is Riesling and Kabinett is the "pradikat" or "title" of the particular win...

A watery ruby hue with aromas of vegetal, spiced tart red berries.  Palate-- bright red berry with some savory spicing and mouth watering acidity. In spite of my not wanting to like this, it is actually quite flavorful even if simple. This was a gift from a friend.  I am having it with pizza tonight and it will be a tasty addition.  I see it running at the $15 price point and I would pass on this for sure.  It is a tasty wine but it is not a good example of Merlot.

Beautifully rich black garnet hue with lovely aromas of black licorice, a hint of mint, sweet ripe black berries above the rim with cigar box and tar. Palate--Rich plush texture with intense jammy dark berry fruit, a cocoa beam down the mid palate, tar, milk chocolate and lip smacking tannins. This is wonderful Merlot so rich and complex and I would expect nothing less out of one of the historically, iconic folks in Napa.  The Wine Enthusiast gave this wine 90 points.  they were really stingy!  Think 92-93. When the sorry movie Sideways came out Merlot became a byword. I was bewildered as Merlot is one of the great varietals of the world.  I mean the legendary Chateau Petrus is routinely one of the most expensive wines in the world and it is--you guessed it--100% Merlot. I never really got the movie. Anyway, I don't remember what I paid for it but I know it was under $20 and this is a super value and a super wine that will only improve for the next decade so...

Intensely dark black cherry hue with aromas of floral, savory spices in the glass, with sweet dried fruit at the sides. Palate--Mouth watering acidity, a solid beam of dried pie cherries and red fruit. A hint of cocoa in the middle with a short finish os savory spices. This is a really nice Valpolicella and at $9 it is a great value and good paring with Italian, tomato based foods and sauces brimming with oregano, Bayleaf and garlic.  Raise a glass.