Epikur Magazine

Tenuta La Marchesa 2011 “Gold Label” Gavi

Keith Wallace — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:50:49 +0000

Northeastern Italy wine review The wine region of Gavi has had its ups and downs. Quality hit a significant low in the nineteen-nineties with the push toward mass-production. We are now seeing a new high, after a decades-long push to rehabilitate the region’s reputation. Fresh and appealing, the wine pops with white flavors: peaches and flowers, to [...]

Epikur Magazine

Maculan 2010 Brentino, Veneto

Keith Wallace — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:01:16 +0000

A Veneto wine review A Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend from Northeastern Italy with a great deal of style. On the nose, classic notes of tobacco and graphite interplay with fresh plum. The texture is velvet and medium bodied with soft and integrated tannins. Vanilla and toasted cinnamon start to open up on the mid-palate with a touch of sweetness. On [...]

Epikur Magazine

Buena Vista 2006 Pinot Noir Ramal Road, Carneros

Keith Wallace — Sun, 12 May 2013 17:13:18 +0000

Carneros wine review Grown at the very bottom of Carneros, which also happens to be the very top of San Pablo Bay (let that be a lesson in geography for you) I can imagine some Hollywood exec driving around LA in a silver Bentley Continental. He’s in the back seat, drinking this wine from the bottle. [...]

Epikur Magazine

Terre da Vino 2009 “La Casa in Collina” Barbaresco

Keith Wallace — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:18:27 +0000

Lange wine review I am always looking for good values for Nebbiolo. The high quality $20 bottle is a rare and wonderful thing. Typically that takes me to the larger Langhe region, plus Gattinara and Roero. The well-known regions of Barolo and Barbareso are rarely under $3o, and when they do dip below that price point [...]

Epikur Magazine

Craiglee 2007 Shiraz, Victoria

Keith Wallace — Tue, 07 May 2013 22:43:59 +0000

Australian wine review The cooler climate of Victoria often delivers Shiraz with more complexity and a lighter framework than other South Australian regions. This bottle is a wonderful example of that style. Its dark violet stains the glass purple, and it’s aromas offer up charcoal smoke and white pepper along with dark blueberry and cherry. On [...]

Epikur Magazine

De Martino 2010 Carmenere Legado Reserva, Maipo

Keith Wallace — Sun, 05 May 2013 18:55:53 +0000

Chilean wine review A vanguard in the organic wine movement, De Martino has been farming organically since 1997, and has been carbon neutral for the last season. Despite that, the winery has been making great wines for the past few years. The winery is making interesting wines, and the style has been changing over the [...]

Epikur Magazine

Robert Hall Winery 2007 Rhone de Robles

Keith Wallace — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:20:53 +0000

Paso Robles Wine Review One of my favorite trends in Paso Robles is the embrace of these Rhone-style wines. I am especially pleased to see Robert Hall embracing the style. I met Robert at a wine festival I organized about six years ago. A wonderful and generous man, we talked at length about his winery. [...]

Epikur Magazine

Wine Video of the Week: Gallo Pink Chablis

Keith Wallace — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:40:47 +0000

“It was a white wine, as white as the crystals in her crown…. it was called chablis. So great was her praise that is blushed pink… now this legendary wine is recreated for you by Ernest and Julio Gallo… the smart wine for young modern tastes” Priceless!

Epikur Magazine

Reserve des Vignerons 2010 Saumur Champigny

Keith Wallace — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:21:58 +0000

Loire valley wine review Minimalistic, fresh and pretty; this Loire Valley red is a true gem. Fresh and bright red fruit are tied to accents of dried leaves and a forest breeziness. Mineral notes come forward in the mid-palate with elements of iron and granite and oyster shell. The finish comes with fresh violets and [...]

Epikur Magazine

Wine Video of the Week: Paso Wine Man

Keith Wallace — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:28:47 +0000

Only in Paso Robles. Irreverent and funny, this video hits the perfect balance. Many wine advertisements inadvertently regress into kitsch, but this never falls into that trap. It really offers up some of the excitement that is SLO, with tongue firmly placed in cheek. Nicely done!

Epikur Magazine