Wine Review Weekly
January 21, 2008
Guest writer Patrick Comiskey, in a Los Angeles Times column, looks for and finds many fine values in Pinot Noir. Companion articles on Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel are found in the San Francisco Chronicle this week, with guest writer Tim Teichgraeber offering an in-depth view of the area and its producers, while the tasting panel rates many Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel wines. And on the other coast, Eric Asimov savors many well-aged Barolo wines and offers his thoughts on them in the New York Times. John Gillespie
Baltimore Sun: Wine writer Michael Dresser picks Paso Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2005.
Cleveland Plain Dealer: Staff writer Donald Rosenberg picks Tangent Ecclestone Central Coast White Wine 2006.
Washington Times: Wine columnist Paul Lukacs selects Buena Vista Carneros Merlot 2004.
Los Angeles Times: Wine writer Irene Virbila picks Franck Balthazar Coronas 2005.
San Diego Union Tribune: Wine columnist Robert Whitley gives a high rating to Sonoma Cutrer Les Pierres Chardonnay 2004.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Wine columnist Richard Kinssies selects Gascon Malbec 2006.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Wine columnist Bob Hosmon picks St. Clement Carneros Chardonnay 2006.
Dallas Morning News: Wine columnist Rebecca Murphy picks Agricola Querciabella Maremma Toscana IGT 2005.
New York Times: Wine columnist Eric Asimov on well-aged Barolo wines. Favorite is Giacomo Conterno Monfortino Riserva 1971. Nice comments also for importer Polaner Selections.
Wall Street Journal: Wine columnists Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher on Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wines. Best in tasting is Villa Reale 'Vigne Nuove' 2005, while Cantina Miglianico Castellana 2006 is cited as a value.
Bloomberg News Service: Wine columnist Elin McCoy on two movies based on the Judgement of Paris wine tasting of 1976.
New York Sun: Wine columnist Peter Hellman on the wine offerings of Adour, the new restaurant in New York of Alain Ducasse. Nice mentions for Sigalas Assyrtiko 2006, Navarro Vineyards Edelzwicker 2006, and others.
USA Today: Wine columnist Jerry Shriver recommends McWilliam's Hanwood Estate Shiraz 2006.
San Francisco Chronicle: The Chronicle tasting panel reviews Zinfandel wines from Dry Creek Valley. Top rated are Mazzocco Vineyards Smith Orchard Reserve 2005, and Peterson West Vineyard Tradizionale 2004.
San Francisco Chronicle: Guest writer Tim Teichgraeber on Zinfandel wines from Dry Creek Valley. Comments from winemakers Ted Seghesio, Mike Dashe, Bill Knuttel of Dry Creek Vineyard, Dave Rafanelli, and other notables.
Sacramento Bee: Wine columnist Mike Dunne on the results of the San Francisco Chr onicle Wine Competition. Tasting notes on sweepstakes winners Savannah Chanelle Vineyards Sonoma Coast Armagh Vineyard Pinot Noir 2005, Rodney Strong Vineyards Russian River Valley 'Jane's Vineyard' Reserve Pinot Noir 2005, and Merryvale Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay 2005. Other winners also listed.
San Jose Mercury News: Wine columnist Laurie Daniel on the pros and cons of screw cap closures. Nice mentions for Bonny Doon and Tablas Creek.
Los Angeles Times: Guest writer Patrick Comiskey on good values in Pinot Noir. Nice comments for A to Z Wineworks, De Loach, and MacMurray Ranch. On another page, tasting notes on wines from those mentioned in the article, plus a dozen others, including value wines from Stephen Ross, Saintsbury, Ponzi, La Crema, L'Automne, Cambria, Calera, and Acacia.
San Diego Union Tribune: Wine columnist Robert Whitley on highlights from tastings in 2007. Nice comments for Chardonnay wines from Nickel & Nickel, Patz & Hall, Dutton Goldfield, and Morgan. Pinot Noir from Hitching Post also get a nod, as do the Fat Bastard wines from France.
Washington Post: Wine writers Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg on the growing popularity of Chianti. Producer mentions include Cecchi, Fattoria Selvapiana, Felsina, Fontodi, Gabbiano, Le Filigare, Querciabella, Frescobaldi, Aziano, Ruffino, and Nozzole. On another page, tasting notes on the two favorites - Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico 2003, and Tenuta di Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva 2004.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Wine writer Gil Kulers has nice comments for Siduri Wines, especially for the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2005.
Dallas Morning News: Staff writer Louise Owens on vintner Agustin Huneeus. Praise for Veramonte Casablanca Valley Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2007, and Quintessa Rutherford 2004.
Rocky Mountain News: Wine columnist Jennifer Rosen on 'minerality' in wine. Recommended this week are Bodega Huguet de Can Feixes Blanc Seleccio 2006, Goisot Bourgogne Aligote 2005, FX Pichler Riesling Steinertal Smaragd 2005, Grosset Riesling Polish Hill 2005, Red Guitar Navarra Old Vine Tempranillo Garnacha 2005, Vega Sindoa 'El Chaparral' Garnacha Old Vines 2006, Coudert Fleurie Clos de al Roilette 2005, and Paul Pernot Beaune 'Clos au Dessus de Marconnets' Villages 2005.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Wine writer Bob Hosmon on Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris wines. Favored are Argyle Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2006, Argyle Spirithouse Pinot Noir 2005, Lynmar Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2006, Lynmar Quail Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2004, and King Estate Vin Glace 2006.
Miami Herald: Wine columnist Fred Tasker on the Petite Sirah competition at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Best of class is Mount Aukum Winery Fair Play Reserve Petite Sirah 2005. Other winners also listed.
Minneapolis Star-Tribune: Wine columnist Bill Ward on wineries and charitable giving. Case in point is Three Alarm Cellars.
Chicago Tribune: Wine reporter Bill Daley answers readers' questions.
The Oregonian: Wine columnist Matt Kramer on limited-production wines. Cases in point are Chehalem Mountain Vineyard Riesling 2006, and Marchesi di Gresy Nebbiolo 'Martinenga' 2006.
Baltimore Sun: Wine writer Michael Dresser picks Paso Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2005.
Cleveland Plain Dealer: Staff writer Donald Rosenberg picks Tangent Ecclestone Central Coast White Wine 2006.
Washington Times: Wine columnist Paul Lukacs selects Buena Vista Carneros Merlot 2004.
Los Angeles Times: Wine writer Irene Virbila picks Franck Balthazar Coronas 2005.
San Diego Union Tribune: Wine columnist Robert Whitley gives a high rating to Sonoma Cutrer Les Pierres Chardonnay 2004.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Wine columnist Richard Kinssies selects Gascon Malbec 2006.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Wine columnist Bob Hosmon picks St. Clement Carneros Chardonnay 2006.
Dallas Morning News: Wine columnist Rebecca Murphy picks Agricola Querciabella Maremma Toscana IGT 2005.
New York Times: Wine columnist Eric Asimov on well-aged Barolo wines. Favorite is Giacomo Conterno Monfortino Riserva 1971. Nice comments also for importer Polaner Selections.
Wall Street Journal: Wine columnists Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher on Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wines. Best in tasting is Villa Reale 'Vigne Nuove' 2005, while Cantina Miglianico Castellana 2006 is cited as a value.
Bloomberg News Service: Wine columnist Elin McCoy on two movies based on the Judgement of Paris wine tasting of 1976.
New York Sun: Wine columnist Peter Hellman on the wine offerings of Adour, the new restaurant in New York of Alain Ducasse. Nice mentions for Sigalas Assyrtiko 2006, Navarro Vineyards Edelzwicker 2006, and others.
USA Today: Wine columnist Jerry Shriver recommends McWilliam's Hanwood Estate Shiraz 2006.
San Francisco Chronicle: The Chronicle tasting panel reviews Zinfandel wines from Dry Creek Valley. Top rated are Mazzocco Vineyards Smith Orchard Reserve 2005, and Peterson West Vineyard Tradizionale 2004.
San Francisco Chronicle: Guest writer Tim Teichgraeber on Zinfandel wines from Dry Creek Valley. Comments from winemakers Ted Seghesio, Mike Dashe, Bill Knuttel of Dry Creek Vineyard, Dave Rafanelli, and other notables.
Sacramento Bee: Wine columnist Mike Dunne on the results of the San Francisco Chr onicle Wine Competition. Tasting notes on sweepstakes winners Savannah Chanelle Vineyards Sonoma Coast Armagh Vineyard Pinot Noir 2005, Rodney Strong Vineyards Russian River Valley 'Jane's Vineyard' Reserve Pinot Noir 2005, and Merryvale Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay 2005. Other winners also listed.
San Jose Mercury News: Wine columnist Laurie Daniel on the pros and cons of screw cap closures. Nice mentions for Bonny Doon and Tablas Creek.
Los Angeles Times: Guest writer Patrick Comiskey on good values in Pinot Noir. Nice comments for A to Z Wineworks, De Loach, and MacMurray Ranch. On another page, tasting notes on wines from those mentioned in the article, plus a dozen others, including value wines from Stephen Ross, Saintsbury, Ponzi, La Crema, L'Automne, Cambria, Calera, and Acacia.
San Diego Union Tribune: Wine columnist Robert Whitley on highlights from tastings in 2007. Nice comments for Chardonnay wines from Nickel & Nickel, Patz & Hall, Dutton Goldfield, and Morgan. Pinot Noir from Hitching Post also get a nod, as do the Fat Bastard wines from France.
Washington Post: Wine writers Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg on the growing popularity of Chianti. Producer mentions include Cecchi, Fattoria Selvapiana, Felsina, Fontodi, Gabbiano, Le Filigare, Querciabella, Frescobaldi, Aziano, Ruffino, and Nozzole. On another page, tasting notes on the two favorites - Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico 2003, and Tenuta di Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva 2004.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Wine writer Gil Kulers has nice comments for Siduri Wines, especially for the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2005.
Dallas Morning News: Staff writer Louise Owens on vintner Agustin Huneeus. Praise for Veramonte Casablanca Valley Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2007, and Quintessa Rutherford 2004.
Rocky Mountain News: Wine columnist Jennifer Rosen on 'minerality' in wine. Recommended this week are Bodega Huguet de Can Feixes Blanc Seleccio 2006, Goisot Bourgogne Aligote 2005, FX Pichler Riesling Steinertal Smaragd 2005, Grosset Riesling Polish Hill 2005, Red Guitar Navarra Old Vine Tempranillo Garnacha 2005, Vega Sindoa 'El Chaparral' Garnacha Old Vines 2006, Coudert Fleurie Clos de al Roilette 2005, and Paul Pernot Beaune 'Clos au Dessus de Marconnets' Villages 2005.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Wine writer Bob Hosmon on Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris wines. Favored are Argyle Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2006, Argyle Spirithouse Pinot Noir 2005, Lynmar Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2006, Lynmar Quail Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2004, and King Estate Vin Glace 2006.
Miami Herald: Wine columnist Fred Tasker on the Petite Sirah competition at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Best of class is Mount Aukum Winery Fair Play Reserve Petite Sirah 2005. Other winners also listed.
Minneapolis Star-Tribune: Wine columnist Bill Ward on wineries and charitable giving. Case in point is Three Alarm Cellars.
Chicago Tribune: Wine reporter Bill Daley answers readers' questions.
The Oregonian: Wine columnist Matt Kramer on limited-production wines. Cases in point are Chehalem Mountain Vineyard Riesling 2006, and Marchesi di Gresy Nebbiolo 'Martinenga' 2006.
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