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Wine Reviews

3 Weekend wine picks available at Costco (1 red, 1 white, 1 surprise)
All Things Wine
3 Weekend wine picks available at Costco (1 red, 1 white, 1 surprise)
by Clinton Stark | 01.15.10 | Comment
3 Weekend wine picks available at Costco (1 red, 1 white, 1 surprise)

With the weekend almost here, chances are you’ll be near a Costco at some point, if you’re like most of us. Maybe it’s the Cirque equivalent of the shopping “big top.” The only high wire act here though ...

Stark Sips
2007 Jackson Estate Shelter Belt Chardonnay, Marlborough, New Zealand (91 pts, $22)
by Clinton Stark | 12.14.09 | Comment
2007 Jackson Estate Shelter Belt Chardonnay, Marlborough, New Zealand (91 pts, $22)

Think New Zealand. Marlborough. Wine. Likely, images of Kim Crawford come to mind, and their ever popular, fruit forward Sauvignon Blanc.

However, that’s changing. More New Zealand wines are making their way into the hands of eager North American ...

Stark Sips
2006 Artesa Pinot Noir, Carneros (92 pts, $25)
by Clinton Stark | 11.05.09 | Comment
2006 Artesa Pinot Noir, Carneros (92 pts, $25)

A few months back I wrote about the ‘07 Artesa Chardonnay (91 pts, $20) which is a nice white, great bang for the buck. At the time, while enjoying a tasting flight in Artesa’s scenic, glassy ...

Stark Sips
2008 Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay, Carneros (91 pts, $32)
by Clinton Stark | 10.30.09 | Comments (2)
2008 Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay, Carneros (91 pts, $32)

I’m really liking the “unoaked” Chardonnay trend. There is almost nothing worse than a buttery, almost oily, creamy Chard, especially served too warm. The main reason is another of the wine words: structure. Less oak, to me at ...

Stark Sips
Weekend wine pick: 2006 Santa Ema 60/40 Reserve (87 pts, $10)
by Clinton Stark | 08.27.09 | Comment
Weekend wine pick: 2006 Santa Ema 60/40 Reserve (87 pts, $10)

Here’s a good value wine you can most likely buy right now at your local Costco for about $10. But it delivers at least twice that in laid back flavor. This Chilean wine from Santa Ema, as the ...

Stark Sips
2007 Artesa Chardonnay Carneros (91 pts, $20)
by Clinton Stark | 08.15.09 | Comments (1)
2007 Artesa Chardonnay Carneros (91 pts, $20)

This Chardonnay is one of my two favorites Artesa wines. The other is their Pinot, just the regular non-reserve one (classic tier). At a recent tasting Loni and I both agreed that these were the standouts, especially at ...

Stark Sips
2005 Tin Roof Cellars Merlot, California North Coast (89 pts, $7.49)
by Clinton Stark | 06.22.09 | Comments (4)
2005 Tin Roof Cellars Merlot, California North Coast (89 pts, $7.49)

Cherry. Bargain.

That’s the two word summary for this Merlot. I’d score higher if it weren’t for just a tad too much cherry. It eases off after about an hour or two of breathing. And you know, maybe it’s ...

Stark Sips
2006 Château Haut-Sorillon Bordeaux Supérieur, France (84 pts, $7.99)
by Clinton Stark | 06.16.09 | Comments (3)
2006 Château Haut-Sorillon Bordeaux Supérieur, France (84 pts, $7.99)

Bordeaux Supérieur? Probablement pas. But, for $7.99, a good try nevertheless.

This is a Trader Joe’s selection, and all things considered is not half bad, especially for the price. Just don’t expect it to live up to its claim ...

Stark Sips
Weekend wine pick: 2006 Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley Chile (89 pts, $8.99)
by Clinton Stark | 06.06.09 | Comment
Weekend wine pick: 2006 Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley Chile (89 pts, $8.99)

Chile is all about hidden value. While Argentina, Portugal and others are getting recent glory and headlines, look to Chile for some wine deals.

Case in point: this ...

Stark Sips
2006 St. Francis Chardonnay, Sonoma County ($12, 89 pts.)
by Clinton Stark | 05.29.09 | Comment
2006 St. Francis Chardonnay, Sonoma County ($12, 89 pts.)

I was pleasantly surprised to: (a) find this wine sitting on a Safeway store shelf in San Jose, and (b) get it on sale for about $12. St. Francis Winery & Vineyards is a top tier Sonoma producer ...

Stark Sips
2007 Firestone Riesling, Central Coast, California (88 pts, $6.99)
by Clinton Stark | 05.22.09 | Comment
2007 Firestone Riesling, Central Coast, California (88 pts, $6.99)

Another decent Riesling, this time from Santa Barbara County, Central Coast California. Available at Trader Joe’s for only $6.99, it is priced the same as my perennial favorite value Riesling from Chateau Ste. Michelle. It is drier though, ...

Movie and Wine pairing!
Movie Review: ‘Angels & Demons’, San Francisco preview with Quintessa wines
by Al Graichen | 05.15.09 | Comment
Movie Review: ‘Angels & Demons’, San Francisco preview with Quintessa wines

Angels & Demons opens on Friday, May 15, but for a few lucky people around the US a special preview screening was held tonight, May 14 to accompany the release of Quintessa’s 2008 Illumination and 2006 Faust.

The preview ...

Stark Sips
2006 Benziger Chardonnay, Sonoma County wine review (88 pts, $16)
by Clinton Stark | 05.11.09 | Comment
2006 Benziger Chardonnay, Sonoma County wine review (88 pts, $16)

Slightly off the beaten path in Sonoma County, Benziger is a scenic, wooded winery worth the visit. We visited a few years back and came back with plenty of good memories, not the least of which was the ...