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Wine Review: Aurora’s Red Kohill Winery Ramona 2008
Despite winning this minor head-to-head competition with the French in April, Ramona wines are seldom on anyone’s “must drink before I die” list. But there are exciting and very unique wines being...
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Emiliana Vineyards Coyam Colchagua Valley 2009
There are winemakers who think they have no responsibility except to make a good wine. I suppose if you are a winemaker that is your first responsibility. But it is becoming increasingly evident that...
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Niner Wine Estates Twisted Spur 2009 Paso Robles
There is nothing wrong with a one-trick pony if it does the trick really well. This friendly, refreshing blend of Syrah, Cab Franc, Petite Sirah, and Carmenere is all about the oak and the results...
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Budget Wine: Smoking Loon Red Loonatic Red Wine Blend California NV
Red Blends are the new black. All the big wineries are making them, and their sales have been on the upswing for several years. Although some of the best wines in the world are blends, this new breed...
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Budget Wine: The Great American Wine Company Red Blend 2012
Made by Rosenblum Cellars, a Sonoma winery best known for their very solid, premium Zinfandels, this wine is a tribute to “American Heroes” , the veterans who are recipients of Rosenblum’s annual...
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Budget Wine: 14 Hands Hot to Trot Red Blend 2011 Columbia Valley
Some green, vegetal notes mar the nose but warm baking spices and vanilla support berry aromas and hints of candied cherries all of which provide a sufficiently pleasant aromatic prelude to the feature...
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Besieged Ravenswood Winery Old Vine Blend Sonoma County 2012
What would you expect from a wine called “Besieged”—over-the-top alcohol, tannins that grip like a masseuse with a mean streak, acid that bites like a thousand teeth? Or perhaps the reference is to a...
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Budget Wine: RR Rare Red 4 Grape Blend NV California
An innovative blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, Zinfandel and Primativo by Scotto Cellars. Juicy, juicy, juicy black cherry, slightly candied, with fresh loam and cocoa, a round, soft medium-bodied palate...
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Budget Wine: Algorithm Red Blend California NV
This is a mystery wine. There is a website with one wine and no information. It is vinted and bottled by WX Wine Company—no website, no info. The back label is full of pretentious, feel good...
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Review: Long Shadows Vintners Pirouette Columbia Valley 2012
Long Shadows is a great idea. Build a state of the art facility, source from the finest vineyards in Washington State, and hire famous winemakers to make your wine. Sounds like a can’t miss formula....
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Emiliana Vineyards Coyam Colchagua Valley 2009
There are winemakers who think they have no responsibility except to make a good wine. I suppose if you are a winemaker that is your first responsibility. But it is becoming increasingly evident that...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Niner Wine Estates Twisted Spur 2009 Paso Robles
There is nothing wrong with a one-trick pony if it does the trick really well. This friendly, refreshing blend of Syrah, Cab Franc, Petite Sirah, and Carmenere is all about the oak and the results...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Budget Wine: RR Rare Red 4 Grape Blend NV California
An innovative blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, Zinfandel and Primativo by Scotto Cellars. Juicy, juicy, juicy black cherry, slightly candied, with fresh loam and cocoa, a round, soft medium-bodied palate...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Budget Wine: Algorithm Red Blend California NV
This is a mystery wine. There is a website with one wine and no information. It is vinted and bottled by WX Wine Company—no website, no info. The back label is full of pretentious, feel good...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Review: Long Shadows Vintners Pirouette Columbia Valley 2012
Long Shadows is a great idea. Build a state of the art facility, source from the finest vineyards in Washington State, and hire famous winemakers to make your wine. Sounds like a can’t miss formula....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Budget Wine: Bogle Essential Red California 2013
Everybody’s favorite budget wine hits the sweet spot again. Bogle is known for producing varietally correct wines for around $10. A few years ago they introduced this blend of Zinfandel, Syrah,...
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Budget Wine: Bogle Vineyards Essential Red 2014
How would my favorite budget winery do when producing my least favorite wine style—budget red blends? Of course some of the best wines in the world are red blends. But what passes for red blends these...
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Wine Review: Bookcliff Vineyards Crescendo Red Blend Colorado 2013
Bookcliff Vineyards is one of the better known wineries in Colorado, in part because several of their wines won awards at the 2016 Governer’s Cup. Tasting their wines is a bit of unfinished business...
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Wine Review: Cruse Wine Co. Monkey Jacket Red Blend North Coast 2016
From Michael Cruse, the San Francisco Chronicle’s winemaker of the year in 2016 comes this mélange of Valdiguie, Tannat, and a field blend. Valdiguie is a once widely planted grape in California...
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Wine Review: Locations TX 6, Texas Red Wine NV
Wine should not be about fruit alone. Some winemakers go fruit crazy, often ignoring all the other aromas that can grab our attention and make us wonder how grapes can do that. So I immediately fell in...
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