Reviews from Michael Schachner.
Michael Schachner is a New York-based journalist specializing in wine, food and travel. His articles appear regularly in Wine…
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- 95
- $90
Lapostolle 2008 Clos Apalta Red Blend (Colchagua Valley)
Clos Apalta, depending on your point of view, is arguably Chile’s best wine. And this vintage is outstanding! Earth, minty spice, ripe berry, minerality and smoky aromas cover the bases. It’s superbly structured, with a fine texture and depth. Tastes lush and complex, with blackberry, crème de cassis, fine herbs and tobacco. Finishes classy. Drink now through 2016. — M.S. (2/1/2012) — 95 -
- 94
- $243
Teso La Monja 2009 Alabaster Tinta de Toro (Toro)
If you like heavyweight Tempranillo, this is a textbook rendition. It’s deep and dark, with earth, leather and oak in addition to monster black fruit on the nose. Feels lush, powerful and layered, with bursting blackberry, spice, mocha and vanilla flavors. Quite black and spicy on the finish. Drink from 2012 through 2016. — M.S. (2/1/2012) — 94 -
- 94
- $62
CVNE 1999 Imperial Gran Reserva Tempranillo (Rioja)
Textbook Rioja gran reserva in every way. It’s light and smoky smelling, with brown sugar, fine cologne and cedary aromas. Generous but well-cut in the mouth, with fig, mushroom, raspberry and spiced plum flavors. Fresh on the finish, with light herb flavors and good weight. Drink now through 2018. — M.S. (2/1/2012) — 94 -
- 92
- $75
Apaltagua 2008 Grial Carmenère (Colchagua Valley)
There’s high energy emitting from this jacked-up varietal. Fig, cocoa, moss, cola and blackened fruit aromas introduce a ripped palate of high-volume cherry, plum, berry, chocolate and hard spice flavors. Hard and aggressive before airing; 608 cases made; drink now through 2015. — M.S. (2/1/2012) — 92 -
- 92
- $29
Cims de Porrera 2007 Solanes Red Blend (Priorat)
Oaky on first take, then earthy and weighty, with black fruit aromas and minerally notes. Feels tight initially, but with air it softens and soon come flavors of thyme, herbal berry and chocolate. Crisp and nicely balanced, with a solid finish. Almost what you’d call a value Priorat. — M.S. (2/1/2012) — 92 -
- 92
- $70
Lapostolle 2008 Borobo Red Blend (Rapel Valley-Casablanca Valley)
This unique five-grape blend is deep and succulent, with pastry, berry jam and cassis aromas. It’s thick but carries enough acidity to be balanced just right. Tastes of baked blackberry, chocolate, mocha and licorice. Rich and sticky on the finish, but not gooey or cloying. Drink now through 2013; Carmenère with Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah and Petit Verdot. — M.S. (2/1/2012) — 92 -
- 92
- $69
Teso La Monja 2009 Victorino Tinta de Toro (Toro)
Lively, piercing and powerful on the bouquet, which is solid as stone and delivers loads of black fruit and integrated oak. Feels full, round and deep, with full-out black fruit flavors strengthened by espresso, mocha and molasses. Toasty and deep on the finish, with tobacco and spice accents. Drink from 2012 through 2015. — M.S. (2/1/2012) — 92 -
- 92
- $204
Finca Allende 2008 Aurus Tempranillo Blend (Rioja)
Despite not very good harvest conditions, Aurus is still generous in 2008. Smells lush and dense, with boysenberry, creamy oak, rubber and charred aromas. Layered and tannic feeling, with blackberry, chocolate and dark spice flavors. Toasty and like digging into a fudge cake on the finish, with a deep feel and clarity. Drink now through 2018. — M.S. (2/1/2012) — 92 -
- 91
- $38
Bodegas Faustino 1999 Faustino I Gran Reserva Tempranillo (Rioja)
This aged wine hits most of the right keys. It’s sexy and racy on the bouquet, with tobacco, orange peel, rooty cherry and tree bark aromas. It’s a bit sharp and lean in the mouth at this point, with flavors of tomato, raisin, dry berry, cocoa and spice. Gets more acidic as it sits. Drink or hold. — M.S. (2/1/2012) — 91 -
- 91
- $82
Dinastía Vivanco 2008 Colección Vivanco 4 Varietales Red Blend (Rioja)
Inky, dark and packed with blueberry and boysenberry aromas. This is a ripe, potent Rioja with a strapping feel, concentration, rugged tannins and a mix of herbal blackberry, prune and plum flavors. Shows pencil lead and blackberry on the chunky finish. Drink now through 2016. — M.S. (2/1/2012) — 91
Showing items 1 through 10
of 14,954
Pacific Ridge Red Label
Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills
A rich, tasty Pinot, packed with black cherry pie filling, cola, orange…Read More