Tony Ware

8.6

Dave Phinney makes slutty wines. This fleshy, long-legged blend of Spanish grapes and regions goes down so easy. It's so fresh you'll want to take it behind the middle school and get it pregnant. — 9 years ago

Tony Ware

9.2

Pours like black pants with a brown belt: neutral in color but daring in character. Thick like molasses, yet creamy texturally. Warms from rich ganache into bakers chocolate, brown baking spices, apple brandy, strawberry licorice and a lick of chili peppers. — 9 years ago

Tony Ware

8.6

Waxy, with citrus, stone fruit and even a hint of wet slate flavors competing for attention. Yeah, those are gummy bears paired with it, and they brought forth more tropical facets like pineapple without negatively impacting the crisp, dry finish. — 10 years ago

Tony Ware

8.6

A ruby-red slipper; once clicked you're transported to a land of plump cherries, dried blackberries and a kiss of woodsy spice. — 10 years ago

Tony Ware

8.2

Strawberries and salty grapefruit. A slightly crunchy texture, with tart acid. Pale salmon color and bright green apple finish. Made the mosquitoes slightly more bearable, but priced for its presentation not its presence. — 9 years ago

Tony Ware

8.8

Honeyed in color and floral to the nose, enriched with dried orchard fruits and backed by clarifying minerality. Cloves and white pepper are balanced with lychee and peach, while healthy acidity holds it all in check. Thai chilies and garlic vinegar sauces in an Asian tasting menu gave it a high-five for keeping up with and setting pace for the heat. — 9 years ago

Tony Ware

9.4

Like a lamb to the slaughter, and also the perfect accompaniment to slaughtered lamb as an Easter treat. Even with a decade+ on it, it felt young. Candied dark red fruit, baking spices, earth and herbs, yet never dried out. Dense, but never weighed down. Beaucastel is wine that truly rewards patience. — 10 years ago

Tony Ware

8.5

Like a Syrah in sheep's clothing: black cherry, licorice, blistered dough and peppery acidity. Not much on the nose, but initially keeps the tongue tingling. Points lost for softening rather quickly, though there were nice raspberry notes on day two. — 9 years ago

Tony Ware

8.6

Started out overly citric and ruddy, but a little time in the glass and some pesto sausage and plum tomato pasta on the plate and the cabernet franc's herbaceous facets linked arms with the merlot jamminess to plump up the tar and licorice core. — 9 years ago

Tony Ware

8.6

Opens so aromatic I want to dab it behind my ears. An inky purple, teeth-staining blend of just about everything Napa produces, put together into a supremely food-friendly plummy jam. And that's not just jam the flavor, but also the way they mean it in songs. Jam on it! — 10 years ago