June 2007: LIVE Rating: this is dark almost opaque in the glass. The aroma of purple cream, just like the 2005. On the palate, there is a burst of multiple flavors. Plums, chocolate, cream. These are moving across the palate, and moving through time ...

What are the best wine bargains for the first half of 2008? Let's start by defining "wine value". We'll define wine value as occurring when the perceived quality of the wine exceeds its cost.

Find The Stump Jump at WineZap. By way of background: "Stump jump" is the name of a plow which was used in SOuth Australia to clear land and make its way over the gnarly Eucalyptus tree roots. Chester Osborn, a fourth generation family winemaker in...

Find Tortoise Creek Shiraz at WineZap. By way of background: Tortoise Creek Shiraz is built from grapes acquired from a number of vineyards near the village of St. Chinian in the southwest area of France, called Languedoc. It is finished at 13.5%...

Find Covey Run Riesling at WineZap. By way of background: Covey Run Riesling is from the Columbia Valley area of Washington State, and is finished at 11.5% alcohol - a modest level fairly typical of off-dry rieslings. In the glass: Covey Run...

Find Slipstream Shiraz/Grenache at WineZap. Original Review, December, 2007: The Slipstream shiraz/grenache blend comes from the well-regarded McLaren Vale region of south Australia. This is a negociant label, meaning the grapes have been collected...

Find Marlborough sauvignon blanc at WineZap. By way of background: Stonewall Sauvignon Blanc is from the Wairu River area of Marlborough, New Zealand, finished at 13% alcohol, without any oak aging. New Zealand, of course, is known for its crop of...