Spice Wine Reviews

2017 Ken Brown Wines Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

A beautiful example of what put Sta. Rita Hills on the map of world’s best Pinot Noir regions.

Tasting notes: red fruit, spice

2018 Tabalí Talinay Pai

Talinay is like Bourgogne in Chile, but with a fruit forward, new world sensibility. This is a winery to know if you like Pinot Noir (or Chablis-style Chardonnay)

Tasting notes: black cherry, berry, spice, bright

2018 Penrose Hill Firstleaf Inkscape Shiraz

A subtle version of what this grape can produce, but a great introduction to it if you’re not familiar and looking for an alternative bold red wine to Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tasting notes: dark fruit, tobacco, spice, subtle

2019 Weingut Moric Moric Blaufränkisch

A medium-bodied red wine that tastes a bit like Pinot Noir had a love child with Mourvèdre (red fruit forward, especially black cherry, mixed with violets and a little spice), and it tends to be brighter than either of those imaginary progenitors.

Tasting notes: red fruit, bright, black cherry, violets, spice

2020 Naked Wines Ana Diogo-Draper Red

Portugal is one of the world’s best wine values right now and food-friendly red wine styles like this one are contributing to its growing popularity.

Tasting notes: red fruit, spice, smooth tannin

2020 Quinta Nova Pomares Duoro (Tinto)

This Duoro Tinto is smooth, with subtle fruit and spice. A bright and food-friendly wine that while enjoyable was not necessarily unique.

Tasting notes: smooth tannin, red fruit, spice, bright

2018 Three Wine Company Old Vines Field Blend

This red blend embodies all of the best qualities of its grapes — a bit of spice, a bit of oak, some red fruit, some black fruit, a touch of smokiness… without being a punch in the mouth.

Tasting notes: spice, oak, red fruit, black fruit, smoky

2017 Piedrasassi Sta. Rita Hills Syrah

There’s nothing subtle about a Moorman Syrah and the complex flavors of cherry, plum, and spice are what keep critics and wine lovers delighted.

Tasting notes: cherry, plum, spice

2015 Hersly Wines Hersly Lazare Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

A true Napa Cab somewhere in the middle of its transformation from young and chewy to smooth and supple. Fruit flavors are fading faster than the tannins are integrating.

Tasting notes: spice, chocolate, dark fruit, grippy tannin

2019 Brutocao Cellars Über Cab

Made in a popular style, this Cabernet uses conventional winemaking techniques to achieve a specific flavor profile from medium-quality fruit.

Tasting notes: spice, mocha, cherry

2020 Margerum Wine Company Barden Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills

A beautifully-made Pinot Noir from Sta. Rita Hills featuring organic fruit from top vineyards in the region: La Encantada, Sanford & Benedict, and Radian.

Tasting notes: red fruit, spice, earthy, mushroom, dried herbs