The Merlot I loved -- and I thought that in a blind tasting, it could be easily confused with a high end Australian Shiraz as its flavors were ripe black currant, black berry, in that jammy yet dry Aussie style. Afterwards, we had an icewine tasting with Bruce Nicholson, who was responsible for the vintages during 2006 and afterwards. MORE >>

In the mouth, the taste was more mature than I thought it should be at it's young age, soft and mellow with a hint of chocolate. Sometimes when you least expect it, you open what may becomes your new favorite bottle of wine. Tonight I opened one of my remaining bottles of Finger Lakes wine purchased at my last tour in December. Alcohol: 13.0% MORE >>

Although it has been produced only in 2004, 2006, and 2007, the label legally can’t state a vintage as a vin de table , so instead they rely on the microscopic font of the lot number , 20.06 in the one I tasted last week. I detail more of the shortcomings of the appellation process in my book, Wine Politics.) MORE >>

To do so, I will have to taste, I mean drink, more wines that I never tried or wines I just never liked. That was not until I tasted and reviewed a Paso Robles Zin from Agent for Change. More intense than the last Zin I tasted and liked, but still not as bold or peppery as most I've had. It just never happened. Alcohol 14.5% MORE >>

** Disclaimer: I received these wines from Martellotto Wine s One of the benefits of writing a wine blog is the occasional UPS delivery of wine to taste and review on the blog. don't know why I have a problem with Zin's, but for some reason I never did get into the very full body, high alcohol and very peppery taste I always got, until now. MORE >>