Reviews

Vibrant and intense, with roasted nut and toasted spice overtones to the plush peach, lemon curd and marmalade notes. Smooth and supple, but there’s an elegant thread of acidity weaving in and out, plus a hint of rooibos tea on the finish. Drink now. 824 cases made. Source : ee65e0cb21b5d0b3a64b755bcd1df3b8

Inky and dark, this concentrated, powerful red invites with black plum and blackberry preserves, then turns savory with incense, olive and peppercorn. Lush and rich through the finish, with a graphite edge. Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2026. 5,000 cases made, 2,480 cases imported. Source : f460ef3ff88f3a5e8bb3aae173a09c98

An elegant, licorice-laced red, with a tarry underpinning to the focused flavors of baked black currant and black cherry fruit. Sculpted by sinewy tannins, this marries power with poise, revealing hints of bay leaf, olive and smoked paprika that extend on the finish. Drink now through 2030. 3,000 cases made, 1,000 cases imported. Source : 5e6c066f30c57bf264c733ee0c2becdf

Fragrant and sleek, with delicate lemon custard, spice and jasmine flower accents that glide on a textured finish. Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Drink now. 4,500 cases made. Source : dafb61857d99024fada8213234caa17b

Longtime 1WD readers might remember Uruguay as the place where I met Pincho, a (technically wild) Capybara who was quite selective about who he did and did not let pet him (apparently, Capybara’s purr when they’re happy, by the way, which I can tell from first-hand experience that having an enormous rodent purr while you’re petting it is just as …

Greece has many historic wine estates, but few are as noteworthy as the Mercouri Estate.   Located in the northwest corner of the Peloponnes,  Mercouri has been operating since the middle of 19th century and  today produces some of Greece’s finest wines from a forty acre estate following the finest farm management practices. The estate was founded in 1854 when Theodoros …

A fresh, elegant red, offering juicy blackberry and black raspberry fruit notes paired with a savory thread of cured tobacco, milled pepper and mineral, with supple tannins. Floral finish. Drink now through 2028. 250 cases made, 125 cases imported. Source : 5d7b7b6d66ba0dc3d3ecb4d881bab469

Sleek and elegant, with smooth notes of citrus, melon and Honeycrisp apple on a crisp frame, plus hints of fresh-clipped herbs and peppery white flowers that linger effortlessly. Drink now. 5,580 cases made. Source : 58c14452dc282e54afd037d0a9607bd8

A bold, strapping young wine, with vivid plum, cassis, kirsch and black licorice notes that meld steadily as they cruise through, carried by a bolt of graphite and finishing with a flourish of violet, anise and apple wood. Mouthwatering in the end. Built for the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2030 through 2045. 9,100 cases made. Source : …

An expressive red, exuding flavors of rose, cherry and raspberry. Juicy and balanced, with a fine edge of tannins lining the tar-tinged finish. Drink now through 2026. 4,600 cases made. Source : bea0ba0907e16a3937eb0dd47de3ebd5

A stylish red without being flashy, with chalky tannins fleshed out by flavors of bitter cherry and black plum, dried sage, mocha and graphite. Fresh, spiced finish. Best after 2024. 125 cases made, 25 cases imported. Source : 97c33223b9e8f0b7d4e81b2df33187c8

A spry little white, with apple blossom aromas and sleek pear and citrus flavors that fan out on the finish. Drink now. 95,000 cases made. Source : e46efc41554a7fe2f04f9464b9ce2542

I taste a bunch-o-wine (technical term for more than most people). So each week, I share some of my wine reviews (mostly from samples) and tasting notes in a “mini-review” format. They are meant to be quirky, fun, and (mostly) easily-digestible reviews of (mostly) currently available wines (click here for the skinny on how to read them), and are presented links …

Winemaker Nathan Carlson Center of Effort is a private wine estate located in the Edna Valley owned by Bill and Cheryl Swanson.  The estate vineyard consists of some 80 acres under vine. Winemaker Nathan Carlson  handcrafts outstanding Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and small quantities of other varieties. Edna Valley is among California’s coolest wine growing regions.  It has a long growing …

A round, well-knit red, with supple tannins and orange peel acidity framing soft, juicy sun-dried black cherry and raspberry fruit and accents of mocha, anise and dried mint. Drink now through 2026. 400 cases made, 54 cases imported. Source : 9acd12b31389efd597c42def0170cd6b

Fresh and straightforward, with up-front lemon, lime, white peach and floral highlights, plus zippy acidity. The palate is lined with chalky mineral. Clairette and Roussanne. Drink now. 5,800 cases made, 3,000 cases imported. Source : 34b4c63a2ec3e70db84d2f8f4edff8ce

A lively Champagne, with dark and juicy cassis and blackberry fruit set on the creamy mousse. Delivers details of chalk, mandarin orange peel and blanched almond that lace the fruit profile, and mouthwatering acidity carries the flavor range on the finish. Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. Disgorged February 2022. Drink now through 2028. Source : 9d83676c59ea68bed1a2ff7595bbb5b0

A linear, compact red marked by a mix of violet, blackberry and boysenberry aromas and flavors. Bolstered by vivid acidity, this glides to a long, intense aftertaste. Drink now through 2027. 4,200 cases made, 1,500 cases imported. Source : 25509534cac084058cae078d86fbae9d

Exuberant wild strawberry preserves and cherry coulis are bold and inviting in this elegant red, underscored by a chalky fine mineral element and an earthy, gamy note. Polished and pure on the well-integrated palate, this is open yet well-framed and vibrant. Drink now through 2026. 1,625 cases made, 325 cases imported. Source : 5ffb652768846d65b33bc705ba797715

Tense in structure, with firm currant, spice and green olive flavors that finish with slightly prickly tannins. Best after 2023. 5,100 cases made. Source : 7e16881a60cf1f511f5090a71be0351d