Everyone seems to agree that the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley is unique because of its topography, climate and soil. The question remains whether that uniqueness translates into distinctive wines that reflect the site.
To test the theory, I spent two days in the Stags Leap District comparing the same vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon made from grapes grown in the Stags Leap District to those made from grapes grown in other California locales. … Read more
($75, Boutique Wine Collection): Sancerre is a special place because Sauvignon Blanc planted here can have a unique flavor profile, unlike the taste of wines made from Sauvignon Blanc planted elsewhere. Sadly, these days as Sancerre has grown in popularity too many of its wines have lost their distinctiveness. … Read more
($27, Boutique Wine Collection): Most rosés are a by-product of the technique, saignée, used to bolster red wines. The distinctive rosés, such as this one, are the ones in which the producer sets out to make a rosé. And there is no better producer in Sancerre than Alphonse Mellot. … Read more
($23, Maison Marques and Domaines): Meerlust, a family owned winery best known for their red wines, walks the line between the flamboyance of New World wine and the austerity and minerality of Burgundy with this captivating Chardonnay, the only white wine they produce. … Read more
($27, Maison Marques and Domaines): 
While many California wineries are releasing their 2006 and 2007 Merlot, this 2005 is Meerlust’s current offering. As a family owned winery, Meerlust can avoid the bean counters’ focus on quarterly returns and hold the wine until they think its ready for release. … Read more
($18): Château Ste. Michelle makes a superior range of well-priced wines. 
This one, made from a blend of grapes grown in a variety of vineyards, is a step up from their basic Columbia Valley Chardonnay. It combines subtle minerality with tropical fruit flavors and buttery nuances. … Read more
($9, Boutique Wine Collection): This wine is part of Ken Forrester’s Petit tier, the lowest of his three tiers of wine. By that ‘lowly’ stature shouldn’t deter you from buying it. Fruity without being sweet, it is lively and fresh and has surprising length, especially given its price. … Read more
($23, Boutique Wine Collection): This is the only winery located in the Cape Point, a district south of Cape Town on a peninsula that separates the Atlantic Ocean from False Bay. But after sampling this wine, I expect to see more. … Read more
($20, Boutique Wine Collection): Forrester says his Grenache vineyard, almost 50 years old, is the only one in Stellenbosch because the remaining ones were pulled up during apartheid by the government-run wine monopoly. That seems very unfortunate, judging from this wine, which manages to combine fresh fruit with slightly spiced gamey elements into a harmonious package. … Read more
Americans have never been particularly adept at geography. Since most would fail to locate Kansas on an unlabeled map of the United States, how would they fare with finding Chambolle-Musigny? This is why the American practice of naming wines by grape name is so successful for marketing
However, winemakers everywhere–from California to France–insist that wine is ‘made in the vineyard,’ and that location matters.… Read more
($94, The Sorting Table): You have to search the bottle to know this wine is from Châteauneuf-du-Pape because that information is hidden on the back label. The front label–pure white–has just the word Pure on it. Fortunately, the contents of the bottle upstage the edgy labeling. … Read more
($16, Franciscan Estate): The Marlborough region of New Zealand is best known for Sauvignon Blanc. Based on this stellar Riesling, it should be known for that varietal as well. It has an uncommon combination of delicate fruitiness–without sweetness–and an earthy minerality. … Read more
($15, Pasternak Wine Imports): The Awatere Valley, like the Wairau Valley to its north, is a subzone of the Marlborough region on the northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island and is home to some of that country’s most distinctive Sauvignon Blanc. … Read more
($25, Atlantic Imports): Waiheke Island, located in Auckland harbor on New Zealand’s North Island, has long been known as a prime site for Bordeaux varietals. Kennedy Point Vineyard, established just in 1996, also planted Syrah and judging from this wine, it was a great choice. … Read more
($40, The Sorting Table): People either love or hate Gewurztraminer because of its overt flamboyant profile and an unpredictability regarding its level of sweetness. This is one Gewurztraminer that is hard not to love. Explosive as expected, flavors of spiced pears and lychee nuts pour forth. … Read more
($25): Certainly compared to the Robert Young Chardonnay (reviewed this week and previously), this is a full-blown–yet not ‘over the top’–Chardonnay. A buttery, toasty quality seems to magnify the ripe tropical fruit flavors. Adequate citric-like acidity holds it all together and despite the richness and power, it’s not over done. … Read more
($17, Vineyard Brands): Ellis, one of South Africa’s leading producers, makes two 
Chardonnays, one from grapes grown in Stellenbosch and this one, from Elgin, South Africa’s coolest viticultural area. The cool climate is expressed by a dazzling freshness and vigor that enhances and amplifies its underlying toasty creaminess. … Read more
($33, Martine’s Wines): The Douro River in Portugal is world famous for producing Port. It is rapidly becoming known for red table wine as well, largely due to the efforts of Dirk Niepoort and the other ‘Douro Boys,’ as this group of young winemakers is known. … Read more
($30, Bluewater Wine Company): Wines from Western Australia, including their Chardonnays, do not fit the conventional mold for Australian wines. The Chardonnays in general, like this one, are leaner–yet still flavor packed–and racier compared to their South Australian counterparts. Howard Park, one of Western Australia’s top producers, has fashioned this wine with an almost Riesling-like vibrancy that complements the green appley flavors.… Read more
($15, Franciscan Estate Selections): Although the piercing–almost electrifying-acidic signature of Marlborough speaks loudly and clearly in this wine, there is more going on. There’s a welcome depth and weight that gives it substance and texture that balances its engaging pungency. It’s a versatile wine for anything from spicy Asian fare to unadorned seafood.… Read more
“This could be the crash of the century instead of the vintage of the century,” quipped Coco Conroy of Château Brane-Cantenac, a second-growth property in Margaux, as she jokingly referred to Bordeaux’s 2008 vintage.
Like other blue chips, Bordeaux, the bluest of blue chips in the world’s wine market, is not immune to this economic downturn.… Read more
($40): Named after the granddaughter of Clos La Chance owners Bill and Brenda Murphy, this unusual blend–Grenache (40%), Syrah (20%), Carignan and Alicante Bouchet (15% each), Cinsault and Petite Syrah (5% each)–actually works to produce a wine with depth and complexity. … Read more
($11): Those who complain that California cannot produce a lovely inexpensive wine need to try this bargain priced beauty. A Bordeaux blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (72%), it has far more complexity–not just a gooey fruit bomb–and class than its price tag predicts. … Read more
Everyone refers to “old vines” reverentially. The precise definition of ‘old’ varies enormously–legitimately depending on the varietal (Zinfandel and Pinot Noir do not have the same lifespan)–and more subjectively depending on whether you are speaking to a winemaker/viticulturist or someone in the marketing department.… Read more
($30, Cape Classics): Bruwer Raats and his brother, Jasper, founded the winery only in 2001 and have already made themselves a fine reputation. They specialize in only two wines, Chenin Blanc and this Cabernet Franc, a varietal that is not planted widely in South Africa. … Read more
($30, Cape Classics): Rudi Schultz is best known as the talented winemaker at Thelema, a producer known for their stellar Cabernet Sauvignon. He also makes a small amount of wine–this excellent Syrah–under his own name. It’s a marvelous combination of both the ripe, plummy side of Syrah as well as the peppery notes that it can show. … Read more
($27, Negociants USA): Just as Marlborough on New Zealand’s South Island has a reputation for great Sauvignon Blanc, Martinborough, located on the southern tip of the North Island, is a leading locale for Pinot Noir. Palliser manages the all too often elusive combination of earthiness with both dried and fresh fruit flavors.… Read more
($157, Frederick Wildman): 
In Burgundy, it’s rare to have a consistently great vintage for reds, such as 2005, or a poor one, such as 1992. In most years, there’s lots of variability. There were even duds in 2005 and some excellent 1992 reds. … Read more
($13, Fosters Wine Estates): 
It’s ironic that New Zealand’s signature wine, Sauvignon Blanc, usually associated with the Marlborough region on the South Island, was actually introduced into the country by Matua Valley Winery on the North Island in the 1970s. Matua has subsequently purchased vineyards in Marlborough and makes a terrific Sauvignon Blanc from grapes grown there. … Read more
($15, Uniqco Inc.): Now that Allan Scott’s son, Joshua, has joined him in the business, they’ve added Family to the label. The wines continue to deliver great enjoyment. In addition to the expected zip and bite associated with Sauvignon Blanc grown in Marlborough, this wine delivers a subtle creaminess and has a mouth-filling texture. … Read more
($16, The Sorting Table): Readers of this website know that I am not a fan of rosé (except for Rosé Champagne, of course) because it’s usually a byproduct of a technique-bleeding–to strengthen a red wine. Less commonly, some producers–such as those in Tavel in southern France–actually aim to produce rosé. … Read more
After an experience at one of Barcelona’s best tapas bars (Irati, just off the Ramblas), I have a better perspective on Americans’ failure to embrace Sherry, Spain’s best-known wine. To accompany the gorgeous array of crustaceans in front of me, I ordered Manzanilla, a type of Fino Sherry particularly well suited to seafood.… Read more
($45, RO Imports): Wines like this one will help New Zealand shed its image of just producing superb Sauvignon Blanc. This dry and lively Riesling has the edgy tension between fruit and acid that keeps you coming back for another sip. … Read more
($30): I know, 30 bucks for Beaujolais is a lot of money. But, this is not your father’s grapey rendition. Louis Dressner manages to find Beaujolais producers who make distinctive wines. Those of you skeptical of the genre–that includes Michael Franz, my colleague and editor at WRO–really ought to try wines like this one. … Read more
($81, Louis Dressner Selections): This superb wine will quash any doubts that Cabernet Franc is a noble and great grape. Although there is no official classification of Saumur-Champigny vineyards, Les Poyeux, a single vineyard, is considered one of the area’s best. … Read more
($20): The aromatics accurately predict pleasure. Supple, without being soft, this ripe and succulent Merlot is a winner. It has surprising complexity for a $20 wine, showing nuances of wet earth, herbal notes, and a touch of chocolate. The impeccable balance betrays the 14.5% stated alcohol.… Read more
($40, Martine’s Wines, Inc.): Niepoort, a well-respected Port producer, is making stylish dry non fortified wines from grapes grown in Port’s home, the Douro Valley. A bigger, more muscular wine than Twisted, another of theirs from the region (previously reviewed), Redoma has a denser style and is packed with rich black fruit flavors and firm tannins. … Read more
Although I’ve said it before, it’s worth repeating: wines from Abruzzo deliver more bang for the buck than you’d expect. The region is starting to realize its enormous potential for making high-quality, well-priced wines. Part one of this two-part series was an overview of the region.… Read more
($13, Vineyard Brands): 
The rich, almost chewy, full bodied wine has a softness with supple tannins which makes it easy to drink now. Bold, but not particularly brawny, this Shiraz emphasizes straightforward plummy black fruit flavors rather than the peppery side often characteristic of that varietal. … Read more
($36): This satisfying Cabernet delivers spicy and herbal elements that balance the lush, almost sweet, black cherry-like flavors. Ripe, but not over the top, the wine is balanced structurally by mild, finely polished, tannins that keep it in check. It’s a good choice for current consumption.… Read more
($120, Louis Latour Inc.): Corton, the only grand cru vineyard for red wine in the Cote de Beaune, is large and produces wines of variable quality. Latour, the largest owner of the vineyard, makes one of the best. Corton Grancey, a proprietary–not a plot–name, is a blend of wine from Latour’s best grand cru plots within the Corton vineyard. … Read more
($45): This wine, Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Bordeaux blend, is a more concentrated and muscular version of their excellent Indian Wells Cabernet (reviewed previously). It has the same alluring combination of minerality and black fruit flavors with more power and a firmer tannic backbone, suggestive of mountain grown fruit. … Read more
($17): This wine should dissuade any doubters that the Merlot grape can produce complex, deep wines with structure. Denser and riper than Chateau Ste. Michelle’s very good regular 2005 bottling (previously reviewed), the Indian Wells Merlot has more of everything, but is less revealing at this stage. … Read more
($25): Ponzi has a well-deserved reputation for making excellent wines. This is what producers call an ‘entry level’ wine. Similar to a second label, it is made from younger vines and a selection of wines that are lighter and more forward or ready to drink. … Read more
($14, Vineyard Brands): Although this Shiraz emphasizes the plummy flavors of the grape, subtle notes of black pepper come through in the background adding welcome complexity. Adequate acidity in this ripe and forward wine keeps it from being jammy. 88 Michael Apstein Feb 24, 2009… Read more
($17): A blend of Merlot (83%), Syrah (14%) and Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is easy to recommend. The Syrah adds dark fruit character and a roasted quality, while even the seemingly trivial amount of Cabernet lends extra structure and support. Despite the presence of those two varietals, the inherent lovely leafy or herbal qualities characteristic of Merlot are apparent. … Read more
($40): It’s rare for a domestic winery to hold a wine back for 5 years–although it may become more common (unintentionally) with the current economic conditions. It’s a great opportunity for consumers to see for themselves how bottle age can transform and enhance a wine. … Read more
($20, Martine’s): Judging from this wine, Niepoort is a producer to watch. Douro, the home of Port, is also becoming an excellent site for dry–mostly red–table wines. In the past, many red table wines from the region were heavy and a little clumsy. … Read more
($75): Col Solare is a Cabernet Sauvignon based joint venture between the Tuscan producer, Antinori, and Washington State’s Chateau Ste. Michelle. The 2005, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (71%), Merlot (25%) and Cabernet Franc, is a gorgeous wine. It’s an impeccably balanced seamless mixture of ripe black fruit and minerality supported by fine tannins and a perfect kick of black cherry acidity. … Read more
($17): This well-proportioned beautifully balanced Cabernet is a fabulous buy. In addition to its succulent black fruit flavors, herbal, almost tobacco, notes delight the senses. Not overly fruity or heavy, these non-fruit flavors persist into the long finish. Supple fine tannins add to the polish and elegance of the wine.… Read more