Wine Reviews

Flinty and Austere

Sterling VineyardsNapa County Sauvignon Blanc2006 Clean, dry, and serious, this Sauvignon Blanc from the reputable Sterling winery strikes us as intriguing if a bit…

Into the Woods

Martin RanchThérèse Vineyards Zinfandel2006 This zin is stiff, like so many of the other Martin Ranch bottles we've had (see our reviews of the…

Fruit Kapow

AlamosTorrontés2007 This Argentinian white is loaded with fruit and flowers, from apricot and peach through jasmine and lily of the valley. It has enough…

Artful

ArtazuriNavarra Garnacha Rosé2007 This garnacha (grenache) rosé is a lively deep pink, with a nose of green apple, citrus, raspberries, and violets. It's crisp…

Southern Wrong

Southern Right Sauvignon BlancSouthern Right PinotageWalker Bay, South Africa2006 Intrigued by their provenance and the etching of a Right Whale on the label, we…

Liquid Tourmaline

Chateau KefrayaLa Rosée du Château Bekaa Valley2006 More serious than Las Rocas, this rosé has subtlety and nuance, plus a little earthy funkiness. It's…

The Rocks

Las Rocas de San AlejandroRosado San Alejandro Calatayud2007 This rosé is crisp and full of fresh berries. It's a pleasing color, rosy pink with…

Fruit + Earth = Rhone

Cuvée Sélectionnée par Kermit LynchCôtes du Rhône2006 Kermit Lynch, legendary wine importer from Berkeley, CA, has provided his own labeled Côtes du Rhône AC….

Herbs and Fruit

Genesis Hogue Cellars Washington Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Lots of herbs and piny aromas on the nose—also lots of alcohol (14.6%). The color is bright,…

Insouciant

Brancott Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2006 I always wanted to get away with describing a wine as "insouciant." It's one of those preposterous words used…

What a Color

VinaveraRosé Napa Valley2005 This wine is deep pink, the color of tourmaline or rhodolite garnet. It smells like berries and straw and tastes like…