Somewhat floral aroma with toasted yeast, pears, and honey. Medium toasty body, opening and showing more fruit in the glass. Crisp, citric finish. A California sparkler that has taken on the depth and rounded flavors characteristic of vintage champagne, so-read more-
This svelte sparkler from the North Fork is 100% Pinot Noir, with a bready nose, hints of baking peaches, and golden delicious apples. It has very delicate bubbles and lots of minerality—seashells all over the palate. This is a zippy-read more-
Slightly vegetal green hints are clear tell-tales of wine from Chile, but they do not overwhelm the nose. It also has loads of menthol, black fruit, and a touch of coconut. Blackberries, menthol, tobacco and green pepper are bound by-read more-
Clear, deep, brick red color. Vegetal, earth, dark fruit, cassis, spice, pepper, developed aromas. Dry, medium tannin, medium acidity, red fruit, smooth. WHO: Bodegas Viña Magaña WHAT: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo WHERE: Navarra, Spain WHEN: 2004 HOW MUCH: $20
There is a solid chalky streak along a touch of brine up front, under a mild butterscotch flavor. The butterscotch gives way to lemon on the midpalate. The finish falls off quickly, but at this price point that is not-read more-
A total of 240,000 bottles were produced from a harvest that stretched from September 30 to October 18. The nose is earthy and is already showing some cigar aromas—this wine is starting to mature. Quite a smooth texture on the-read more-
What a difference a couple of years can make. When I originally bought a bottle of the 2004 La Coudraye by Yannick Amirault, an acclaimed vigneron from the Loire Valley, this natural-yeast fermented cabernet franc was a pretty tightly wound-read more-
Wonderful nose with coffee, cherries, oak. Cherries, chocolate, blackberries and tar on the palate. Long dry finish, with fruit, plum skins, and toasted coconut. Extraordinary. I would put this up against any $75 big name Australian Shiraz and have another-read more-