Spirit of Wine

• **+ $$ Thunder Cuvee Napa Valley Red, 2004, Napa, CA - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Napa Valley Red Wine at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Thunder Cuvee Napa Valley Red, 2004, is an offering from Terroir of Napa Valley and promoted directly by retailer Gary Vaynerchuk of WineLibrary. It is a negociant blend of a blend of 48% merlot, 34% sangiovese, 15% [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 7:09pm EST
  

• ***+ $$$ William Hill Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005, Napa, CA - Wine Review and Rating

  Find William Hill Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: William Hill Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005, is fermented with a small percentage of its berries left whole. It is 100% cabernet sauvignon, from vineyards on the Silverado Bench Estate, just east of [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 6:38pm EST
  

• *** $$ The Chook Shiraz Viognier, 2008, South Australia - Wine Review and Rating

  Find The Chook Shiraz Viognier at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: The Chook Shiraz Viognier blend, 2008, is a combination of 94% shiraz (red wine) and 6% viognier (white wine), both from South Australia vineyards. Made by winemaker Ben Riggs, and produced by Woop Woop Wines, this is [...]
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  Posted: December 01, 2009, 6:25pm EST
  

• *** $ Verdi Spumante, Italy - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Verdi Spumante at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Don't be confused... this is Verdi Spumante, NOT Verdi ASTI Spumante. "Asti" Spumante would imply a couple of things - first, that it was made from grapes, and second, that those grapes came from the Asti D.O.C.G. region of' [...]
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  Posted: November 29, 2009, 8:36pm EST
  

• *** $$ Martini & Rossi Asti (Spumante / Dolce), Asti, Italy - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Martini & Rossi Asti at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Martini & Rossi Asti (Spumante / Dolce) is a sweet sparkling wine from the Asti D.O.C.G. area of Italy, built of moscato bianco grapes. It is a widely enjoyed wine, one so familiar that I am almost [...]
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  Posted: November 29, 2009, 8:16pm EST
  

• **+ $$ The Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz, South Eastern Australia - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: The Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz is from South Eastern Australia, made by well-known winemaker Ben Riggs, and produced by also-well-known Woop Woop Wines. It's a bit of a lesser-known treat in the Western countries, but more well-recognized [...]
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  Posted: November 29, 2009, 7:59pm EST
  

• **** $$ Piping Shrike Shiraz, 2006, Barossa Valley, Australia - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Piping Shrike Shiraz at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Piping Shrike is a full-throttle shiraz produced by Charles Cimicky & Son Winemakers of South Australia, from grapes grown exclusively in Barossa Valley, Australia. It was aged in old American hogsheads and smaller French barrels.
  
  In the [...]
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  Posted: November 29, 2009, 7:03pm EST
  

• ***+ $$ Bodega Norton Reserva Malbec, 2006, Mendoza, Argentina - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Norton Reserva Malbec at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Bodega Norton Reserva Malbec hails from the Mendoza region of Argentina, definitely an area known and recognized for its world-class malbec production. Bodega Norton is a venerable estate winery, founded in 1895. All grapes for the Norton Reserva [...]
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  Posted: November 28, 2009, 8:02pm EST
  

• ***+ $$ Calvet-Thunevin Constance Cuvee, 2005, Vin de Pays Des Cotes Catalanes, Languedoc, France - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Calvet-Thunevin Constance Cuvee at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Calvet-Thunevin Cuvee Constance red wine is called a "Vin de Pays Des Cotes Catalanes", something entirely new in my book. It is a portion of the Languedoc Roussillon region of France. I was drawn to Cuvee Constance [...]
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  Posted: November 28, 2009, 6:54pm EST
  

• Zagat Wine Club, 4Seasons Wine, WSJ Wine Club, Sunday Times (UK) Wine Club - all from Laithwaites Wines

  A large number of diverse wine clubs have appeared in recent months and years, all - it turns out - under the direction and sponsorship of Tony Laithwaite of Laithwaites Wine in the UK.
  
  These include such names as Zagat Wine Club, 4Seasons Wine, WSJ Wine, Sunday Times [...]
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  Posted: November 28, 2009, 4:52pm EST
  

• Champagne and Sparkling Wine Ratings and Reviews

  
  This work-in-progress represents champagnes (and, to be accurate, sparkling wines from other regions) that I have tried and rated, starting in 2008. Individual varietals are listed below with ratings and price codes (see key at right). Each one is linked to more detailed review. The posting will be updated [...]
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  Posted: November 27, 2009, 3:35pm EST
  

• *** $ Loios Vinho Branco (White Wine), J. Portugal Ramos, 2008, Alentejano (Alentejo), Portugal - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Loios Wine at WineZap.
  
  By way of background:
  
  In the glass: Clear with a creamy, yellow cast.
  
  On the nose: Following a swirl, you notice a brilliant aroma of cut grass and stainless steel, just a touch of sugar and [...]
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  Posted: November 27, 2009, 3:17pm EST
  

• ** $ Loios Vinho Tinto (Red Wine), J. Portugal Ramos, 2008, Alentejano (Alentejo), Portugal - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Loios Wine at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Loios Vinho Tinto (Red Wine) is a bargain-priced red from the Alentejano (Alentejo) region of southern Portugal, known for its large production of cork as well as red and white wine grapes. The term "Loios" comes from the sect [...]
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  Posted: November 27, 2009, 2:56pm EST
  

• *** $ Nando Asti (Spumante), Piedmont, Italy - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Nando Asti at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Like a Moscato d'Asti, Asti Spumante is a sparkling wine made from moscato bianco grapes in the area around Asti in northwestern Italy. Although the winemaking process differs a bit from that of Moscato d'Asti, you'll find many of' [...]
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  Posted: November 26, 2009, 10:36pm EST
  

• **** $$$ Waterstone Cabernet Sauvignon, 2001, Napa, CA - Wine Review and Rating

  Original Review Nov, 2006: This is the Waterstone Cabernet Sauvignon vintage with grapes reputedly declassified from Harlan. Let's see what we have here...
  
  Visually, deep brick red, moving to an opaque, black center. On the nose, inky oak draws you in, with the classical deep [...]
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  Posted: November 26, 2009, 10:35pm EST
  

• **** $$ Braida Moscato d'Asti "Vigna Senza Nome", 2008, Piedmont, Italy - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Braida Moscato d'Asti at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Consistent with most versions of Moscato d'Asti, this Braida "Vigna Senza Nome" comes in at a modest 5.5% alcohol. Different from the Asti Spumante's I've seen though, it is bottled in a regular wine bottle. When you pull' [...]
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  Posted: November 26, 2009, 10:10pm EST
  

• ***+ $$ Terra Noble Pinot Noir Reserva, 2008, Casablanca Valley, Chile - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Casablanca Valley Pinot Noir at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Terra Noble Pinot Noir Reserva is from the Chile region of Casablanca Valley. It is a rare example of a value-priced pinot noir with relatively high ratings (90 points from Jay Miller of Wine Advocate). Spirit of [...]
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  Posted: November 25, 2009, 5:28pm EST
  

• **** $ Visionario Bianco Delle Venezie, 2008, Italy - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Bianco Delle Venezie at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Visionario is a white wine blend from a range of grapes acquired from throughout Friuli and Collio, Italy, called a "Venezie IGT". It hails from the northeast tip of Italy. Finished unoaked, Visionario arrives with 13% alcohol.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: November 25, 2009, 4:00pm EST
  

• *** $ Line 39 Sauvignon Blanc, 2008, Lake County, CA - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Line 39 Sauvignon Blanc at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Line 39 is a second, modestly-priced line of wines from Cecchetti Wine Company, also maker of the wide-selling, bargain-priced Redtree line. Line 39 offers wines from Lake County AVA, a wine region in California north of Napa [...]
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  Posted: November 25, 2009, 3:38pm EST
  

• **+ $ Line 39 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006, Lake County, CA - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Line 39 Cabernet Sauvignon at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Line 39 is a second, modestly-priced line of wines from Cecchetti Wine Company, also maker of the wide-selling, bargain-priced Redtree line. Line 39 offers wines from Lake County AVA, a wine region in California north of Napa [...]
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  Posted: November 25, 2009, 3:18pm EST
  

• **** $ Columbia Crest Two Vines Merlot Cabernet, 2006, Washington State - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Two Vines Merlot Cabernet at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Two Vines is the value-based label from Columbia Crest, wines made from grapes of the Washington State area. The Merlot-Cabernet blend for 2006 consists of 75% merlot, 20% cabernet franc and 5% cabernet sauvignon. The Columbia [...]
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  Posted: November 24, 2009, 10:54pm EST
  

• *** $ d'Arenberg The Stump Jump Shiraz, 2008, McLaren Vale, Australia - Wine Review and Rating

  Find The Stump Jump at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: "Stump jump" is the name of a plow which was used in SOuth Australia to clear land and make its way over the gnarly Eucalyptus tree roots. Chester Osborn, a fourth generation family winemaker in the McLaren Vale [...]
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  Posted: November 22, 2009, 6:39pm EST
  

• ***+ $ Tortoise Creek Shiraz, 2007, Languedoc, Vin de Pay d'Oc, France

  Find Tortoise Creek Shiraz at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Tortoise Creek Shiraz is built from grapes acquired from a number of vineyards near the village of St. Chinian in the southwest area of France, called Languedoc. It is finished at 13.5% alcohol.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: November 22, 2009, 2:26pm EST
  

• **+ $ Covey Run Riesling, 2007, Columbia Valley, WA - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Covey Run Riesling at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Covey Run Riesling is from the Columbia Valley area of Washington State, and is finished at 11.5% alcohol - a modest level fairly typical of off-dry rieslings.
  
  In the glass: Covey Run Riesling [...]
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  Posted: November 21, 2009, 7:57pm EST
  

• ***+ $$ SlipStream Shiraz / Grenache, 2005, McLaren Vale, Australia - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Slipstream Shiraz/Grenache at WineZap.
  
  Original Review, December, 2007:
  
  
  The Slipstream shiraz/grenache blend comes from the well-regarded McLaren Vale region of south Australia. This is a negociant label, meaning the grapes have been collected from unnamed vineyards, not attached to a single [...]
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  Posted: November 21, 2009, 6:39pm EST
  

• *** $ Stonewall Sauvignon Blanc, 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Marlborough sauvignon blanc at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Stonewall Sauvignon Blanc is from the Wairu River area of Marlborough, New Zealand, finished at 13% alcohol, without any oak aging. New Zealand, of course, is known for its crop of sauvignon blancs, traditionally flinty clean, grassy and [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 7:10pm EST
  

• *** $$ Kana Katie Mae White Rhone Blend, 2004, Yakima Valley, WA - Wine Review and Rating

  This tasting was conducted at Eno, a wine and cheese and chocolate tasting restaurant that is based in about half-a-dozen locations across North America. The concept is fairly unique: you build your own pairings of wine, cheese and/or chocolate tastings from a wide assortment. In the case of wines, [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 6:46pm EST
  

• **** $ Le Petit Pauvre Chardonnay, 2007, Monterey, CA - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Monterey Chardonnay at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Le Petit Pauvre Chardonnay is built from grapes collected from a number of Monterey County, CA, vineyards, south of San Francisco. It was finished with French oak to a pretty hefty level of 13.9% alcohol. Winemaker Bill Knuttel has [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 5:59pm EST
  

• ** $ Santa Ana Chardonnay Viognier Cuyo, 2008, Argentina - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Argentina Chardonnay Cuyo at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Hailing from the western Argentina region of Cuyo, this is a blend of 70% chardonnay and 30% viognier. Finished in oak, Santa Ana shows a potent 13.5% alcohol.
  
  
  
  It was acquired [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 5:52pm EST
  

• Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2009 - Top 10 listing and availability

  Wine Spectator has posted its Top 100 Wines of 2009. Here are the top 10 wines with links to availability on WineZap:
  
  1 - Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley Reserve 2005, 95 points, $27
  
  2 - Numanthia-Termes Toro Termes 2005, 96 points, $27
  
  3 [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 5:26pm EST
  

• Zagat Wine Club (zagatwine) individual wine reviews

  To find our independent reviews on individual wines that make up the introductory Zagat Wine Club package, (zagatwine) click on this search.
  
  
  Check out Wine Deals at Amazon. [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 1:42pm EST
  

• **+ $$ Alain Jaume & Fils Reserve Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone, 2007, France - Wine Review and Rating

  This tasting was conducted at Eno, a wine and cheese and chocolate tasting restaurant that is based in about half-a-dozen locations across North America. The concept is fairly unique: you build your own pairings of wine, cheese and/or chocolate tastings from a wide assortment. In the case of wines, [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 6:55pm EST
  

• *** $ Villa Farnia di Farnese Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, 2008, Italy - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Montepulciano d'Abruzzo at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Villa Farnia di Farnese is made of the montepulciano grape from the southeastern Italy region of Abruzzo. Winemaker Filippo Baccalaro finished this at a modest 13% alcohol. It was acquired as part of the introductory Zagat Wine Club selection.' [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 5:44pm EST
  

• ***+ $$$ Twisted Oak Red, 2005, Calavaras County, CA - Wine Review and Rating

  This tasting was conducted at Eno, a wine and cheese and chocolate tasting restaurant that is based in about half-a-dozen locations across North America. The concept is fairly unique: you build your own pairings of wine, cheese and/or chocolate tastings from a wide assortment. In the case of wines, [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 7:03pm EST
  

• ** $ Eguren Tempranillo, 2007, Castilla, Spain - Wine Review and Rating

  This tasting was conducted at Eno, a wine and cheese and chocolate tasting restaurant that is based in about half-a-dozen locations across North America. The concept is fairly unique: you build your own pairings of wine, cheese and/or chocolate tastings from a wide assortment. In the case of wines, [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 7:48pm EST
  

• **+ $$ Joan d'Anguera Planella, 2007, Montsant, Spain - Wine Review and Rating

  This tasting was conducted at Eno, a wine and cheese and chocolate tasting restaurant that is based in about half-a-dozen locations across North America. The concept is fairly unique: you build your own pairings of wine, cheese and/or chocolate tastings from a wide assortment. In the case of wines, [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 7:07pm EST
  

• *+ $ Millennium Mencia-Garnacha, 2008, Galicia, Spain - Wine Review and Rating

  This tasting was conducted at Eno, a wine and cheese and chocolate tasting restaurant that is based in about half-a-dozen locations across North America. The concept is fairly unique: you build your own pairings of wine, cheese and/or chocolate tastings from a wide assortment. In the case of wines, [...]
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  Posted: November 15, 2009, 6:59pm EST
  

• **+ $ Domaine Puig-Parahy Georges Cotes du Roussillon, 2007, France - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Puig-Parahy Georges at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: This is a new experience for me... a Cotes du Roussillon from France. In this case, Domaine Puig-Parahy Georges is a combination of carignan, grenache and syrah, finished at 13.5% alcohol. The winemaker Georges Puig says this is the [...]
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  Posted: November 15, 2009, 3:04pm EST
  

• *** $ Chateau La Rose Tour Blanche, 2007, Bordeaux, France - Wine Review and Rating - Zagat Wine Club Selection

  Find Chateau La Rose Tour Blanche at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: CAUTION: This is NOT a rose wine (despite the word "Rose" in its name); and it is NOT a white wine (despite the word "Blanche" in its name). In fact, it is a red Bordeaux blend [...]
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  Posted: November 15, 2009, 1:55pm EST
  

• **+ $ Vina Tarpaca Gran Tarapaca Pinot Noir Reservado, 2008, Casablanca Valley, Chile - Wine Review and Rating - Zagat Wine Club Offering

  Find Casablanca Valley Pinot Noir at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Gran Tarapaca Pinot Noir Reservado from the Casablanca Valley area of Chile was acquired as part of the introductory Zagat Wine Club selection. It also seems to be a regular component of other wine club offerings, including [...]
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  Posted: November 15, 2009, 12:43pm EST
  

• ***+ $ Forbes Creek VIntage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007, Lake County, CA - Wine Review and Rating - Zagat Wine Club Selection

  Find Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: This Forbes Creek Cabernet Sauvignon from the Lake County region of California is part of an introductory Zagat Wine Club selection. It also seems to be a regular component in recent 4Seasons Wine Club offerings. "ZagatWine" is [...]
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  Posted: November 14, 2009, 4:48pm EST
  

• ***+ $$ Felline Primitivo di Manduria, 2006, Italy - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Felline Primitivo di Manduria at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: From Manduria in the Apulia area of Italy, this Felline represents the 10th year of production of this label, and comes in at a fairly potent 14% alcohol.
  
  In the glass: Brilliant [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 5:59pm EST
  

• **+ $ Jean-Luc Colombo Les Abeilles Cotes du Rhone Blanc, 2008, Cornas, France - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Les Abeilles at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Jean-Luc Colombo Les Abeilles Cotes du Rhone Blanc, 2008, is from the Cornas-based winemaker and negociant, Jean-Luc Colombo. He is known for producing traditional French grapes with a bit more "new world" flair.
  
  The [...]
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  Posted: November 07, 2009, 6:20pm EST
  

• Jorray's Theorem: How to find great value wines without tasting them first

  In a previous article, I discussed the strategy that we use at Spirit of Wine to identify great wine values. In this article, I want to give you a technique to find great wine values in wines you've never even tried before!!
  
  Sounds like hocus-pocus, right? Not' [...]
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  Posted: November 07, 2009, 4:48pm EST
  

• *** $ Casa Castillo Monastrell, 2007, Jumilla, Spain - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Casa Castillo Monastrell at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Casa Castillo Monastrell, from the Jumilla area of southern Spain, is a pure varietal of the monastrell grape - also called mourvedre - which is finished at a solid 14% alcohol.
  
  
  In [...]
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  Posted: November 07, 2009, 1:56pm EST
  

• ***+ $ Ave Malbec Premium, 2007, Mendoza, Argentina - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Ave Malbec at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Ave Malbec hails from the well-regarded area of Mendoza, Argentina, popularly-speaking the malbec capital of the world. It has been developed by Alberto Antonini in an Italian tradition at the Perdriel Estate. The 2007 vintage is finished at 14.2% [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 6:29pm EST
  

• *** $ Walnut Crest Merlot, 2008, Valle Rapel, Chile - Wine Review and Rating

  Find Walnut Crest Merlot at WineZap.
  
  By way of background: Walnut Crest Merlot is part of the value-priced Walnut Crest line of wines from the producer Vinedos Emiliana of Chile. The grapes are from the Emiliana Vineyards in the Valle Rapel region.
  
  In [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 6:54pm EST
  

• *** $ Jean-Luc Colombo Les Abeilles Cotes du Rhone, 2007, Cornas, Rhone, France - Wine Review and Rating

  By way of background: Jean-Luc Colombo Les Abeilles Cotes du Rhone, 2007, is from the increasingly-well-known Cornas-based winemaker and negociant, Jean-Luc Colombo. He is known for producing traditional French grapes with a bit more "new world" flair. "Les Abeilles" - meaning "bees" in French - is a blend of souther [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 6:31pm EST
  

• **** $ 2004 Finnegan's Lake "Fin" Cabernet Sauvignon, CA - Wine Review and Rating

  
  Original Review April 2007:
  This California-sourced cabernet is produced by Sherbrooke Cellars. Sherbrooke Cellars itself is an importer and distributor based in Scarsdale, New York.
  
  Sherbrooke Cellars represents over 20 estates. These span locations from Italy, France, Argentina, New Zealand tothe United States.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 6:08pm EST
  

• Your Best Value Wines for Thanksgiving

  
  When thinking about the wines you'd like to choose for Thanksgiving dinner, there are a few conflicting thoughts. First, unlike the simplicity of pairing a clean white wine with fish dinner, or a muscular red with steak, you're often dealing with turkey as a focus. [...]
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  Posted: November 01, 2009, 6:45pm EST