Author Archives: mike

Zerbina Wines: New Italian Selections

Posted on January 14, 2023 by mike

Zerbina Wines is a Texas-based negociant  of wines  from Italy and other wine producing countries.   Their wines from Italy are sourced from vineyards in the Veneto, Tuscany, and other regions.  The wines reviewed here are produced in collaboration with winemaker … Continue reading →

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2021 Clarice Pinot Noirs from the Santa Lucia Highlands

Posted on November 27, 2022 by mike

Adam Lee’s Clarice bottlings are ripe and lush expressions of Pinot Noir.   They reveal purity of dark red berry fruit with savory and spicy notes and firm tannic grip.  The 2021 vintage is perhaps riper and earthier than last year … Continue reading →

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Crimson Lane Vineyards: An Exciting New Quality-Oriented Winery in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains

Posted on September 5, 2022 by mike

Businessman Tom Herrity is doing everything right with his new vineyard and winery in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  We recently visited him to see the progress he’s making and to taste his first vintage, made by winemaker and brother-in-law, Dominick … Continue reading →

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IWR’s Visit to Greece

Posted on April 27, 2022 by mike

IWR recently returned from a two-week trip of winery visits and tastings in Northern Greece, the Peloponnese and Crete.  We also conducted a comprehensive tasting of the wines of Central Greece, including Epirus, Thessaly and the Ionian Islands.  In this … Continue reading →

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Barden Wines: Sourcing Sta Rita Hills’ Finest Vineyards

Posted on March 27, 2022 by mike

Winemaker Doug Margerum has developed this label for his super premium wines sourced from the finest vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Barden white wines are barrel fermented, aged mainly in new French oak, go through battonage in 225 … Continue reading →

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Flora Springs of Napa Valley: New Releases of Soliloquy and Trilogy

Posted on March 9, 2022 by mike

Flora Spring is a family-owned and operated winery in Napa Valley producing superior quality, handcrafted wines.   The two wines reviewed here are their flagship white wine Soliloquy and red blend Trilogy.  In our review of the previous vintages of these … Continue reading →

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Vriniotis: Modern Greek Wines from the Aegean

Posted on December 5, 2021 by mike

Vriniotis is a modern family winery located in Evia (Euboea), which is among the Aegean Islands  in Central Greece.   It was established in the village of Gialtra in 2007 by 51-year old Konstantinos (Kostas) Vriniotis , although  the family’s association … Continue reading →

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Wine Art Estate: Creative Winemaking in Macedonia, Greece

Posted on October 25, 2021 by mike

Wine Art Estate is a boutique winery established  in 1993 in Drama by Yannis Papadopulous and Yannis Kalaizidis.  Drama is located in a landlocked area bordering Bulgaria in the northern half of east Macedonia (see map below).  While neglected as … Continue reading →

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   Wrath Vineyards of Monterey:  2019 Releases

Posted on September 1, 2021 by mike

Wrath is a small artisanal winery located along the foothills of the Santa Lucia Highlands in the Monterey AVA.  It crafts  high quality premium Pinot Noir Chardonnay, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc from its own 72-acre San Saba Estate Vineyard and … Continue reading →

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Clarice 2019 Pinot Noirs from the Santa Lucia Highlands

Posted on July 3, 2021 by mike

Adam Lee continues on a roll with his Clarice wines.  The 2019 vintage produced somewhat riper and earthier wines than previously, but all three are first-rate and tasting great.  As in our review of the 2018 vintage, we found it … Continue reading →

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