Wollersheim Winery American Seyval Semi-Dry Prairie Fume 2006
This smells of citrus, in particular lime with a candied element.  It’s very clean and bottled under Stelvin so no risk of cork taint. In the mouth is a lovely sweet-tart character with moderate concentration.  Very nice indeed. P&B in Prairie du Sac Wisconsin 10% $8.00 at the [...]

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Pirramimma McLaren Vale Old Bush Vine Grenache 2003
The last two tastings of this wine earlier in 2007 showed the fruit of Grenache with ever-integrating oak. Again tonight it is supple and the raisiny fruit is surounded by acidity and still kissed by oak. This is sourced from the oldest vineyard on the estate, dry farmed [...]

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J. Wilkes Santa Barbara County Bien Nacido Vyds Pinot Blanc 2005
Clean, lime and candy like a Riesling, quite dry with perhaps a bit of warmth which disappearred with chilling, long flavor of lime Bot. in Sant Maria 14.1% $20 at the Wine Emporium.
Ancien Carneros Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Gris 2006
Fresh fruit galore to smell, lusch fruit, [...]

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Chambers Rosewood Vineyards Rutherglen Muscat nv
This wine is concentrated and thick displaying its fruit with great complexity. The raisined grapes come from old vines, some from beginning of 1900s. P&B in Rutherglen Lot#6338 for the first sample and Lot#06039 for today’s sample. 19% $12.69 at Bottle Barn

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This flight features 2 grapes, 3 wines and 3 countries.
Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007
This is in-your-face Sauvignon with bell pepper and lots of acid. All stainless with some lees contact. 13% $9.49 at Bottle Barn Oyster Bay
Annie’s Lane Clare Valley Riesling 2005
Showing its petrol side with peaches and apricots. The wine is on target [...]

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Mas Amiel Muscat de Rivesaltes 2005
A vin doux naturel from the esteemed producer in Maury. My notes from early 2007 state: stunning – a fresh and light-bodied dessert wine that brims with Muscat fruit; the alcohol adds body but no burn. Again tonight the alcohol is perfectly integrated but there is evolution away [...]

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Domaine Richaud Cairanne Cotes du Rhone Villages 2005
When I visited with Marcel Richaud a few years ago, his red wines were concentrated and demonstrated the value in this appellation. Bottles tasted here at home from the 2003 vintage were sometimes spot on and other times problematic. Now with the 2005 we experience lots of sulfur [...]

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This flight features 3 whites and offers an opportunity to contrast acid levels, weight and residual sugar.
Chateau Sainte-Marie Entre-Deux-Mers Vielles Vignes 2005
Of the 2004 I noted a perfect balance of the grapes used and a great value. This 2005 bottle was losing its vibrancy and becoming alcoholic. Perhaps the stelvin was not forming a complete [...]

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Chateau Suduiraut Sauternes 1er Cru 2003
The wine makes me crave a lemon tart as you taste a reflection of the butter in the crust in the viscosity and butter/caramel tones in the wine and a reflection of the zippy lemon in the custard in the springy citrus character of the wine. This is one of [...]

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Chateau Nenin Pomerol 2003
My earlier notes this year show a supple wine filled through with blue fruit. Tonight the wine is very polished, soft in profile with oak as an integrated nuance. From the Delon family, Jean-Hubert and Michel, that owns Leoville Las Cases, mis a Pomerol, Michel Rolland is consultant, property is just [...]

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This flight features 4 Rieslings from trocken to Spat and Germany to Monterey
Carl Loewen Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Varidor Riesling Trocken 2005
Grapes sourced entirely from the Varidor Vineyard, wild yeast ferment and aging in neutral oak fuder. Terry Theise Selection, Qualitatswein A.P. Nr. 3 529 127 3 06, 12% $15.69 at Bottle Barn Loewen
Zilliken Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Saarburger Rausch Riesling [...]

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Zin not only stands alone but is featured prominently in blends from budget to chic.
Trentadue Sonoma County Old Patch Red 2005
Perceptibly sweet and slightly effervescent, 70% Zin, 20% Petite Sirah, 5.5% Carignane, 4.5% Syrah sourced from Alexander, Russian River and Dry Creek Valleys. P&B Geyserville 14.9% $9.99 at Bottle Barn Trentadue
Ridge Dry Creek Valley [...]

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Rosenblum Cellars San Francisco Bay Castanho Vineyard Zinfandel Port 2003

Viscous and full of vanilla.  Noticeable but appropriate sense of alcohol for a port style of wine. This vineyard hails from Contra Costa County and was aged in US and Fr oak for 18 mos. 12% RS P&B Alameda 18% $14.59 (375ml) at Bottle Barn Rosenblum [...]

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This flight features 2 wines from an area that has distinguished itself for its long-established vineyards and good values.
Gnarly Head Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel 2005
Jammy liquer-like fruit and sweet vanilla in the nose. The wine is light-bodied, sweet appearing and supple. Aged in Fr, US and Hungarian oak. V&B in Manteca 14.5% $9.99 at Traverso’s [...]

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Wild Hog Vineyard Lake County Nova Vineyards Zinfandel 2003
Dried fruits, good acidity, some creaminess and a little warmth. Organically grown grapes. P&B in Cazadero 15.5% $24 at Traverso’s Wild Hog
Groom Barossa Valley Bush Block Zinfandel 2006
Intense smells of eucalyptus and the taste of black fruits with a tannic backbone. Sourced from an 8 acre vineyard [...]

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Holdredge Russian River Valley Saralee’s Vineyard Late Harvest Gewurztraminer 2006
36.4 Brix at harvest and 10.2% RS, P&B Healdsburg 13.65% $26.99 at Bottle Barn (375ml) Holdgredge
Davis Family Russian River Valley Rapport Fortified Old Vine Zinfandel Dessert Wine 2005
V&B Healdsburg 16.8% $26.99 (375ml) at Bottle Barn Davis Family

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Mozzocco Dry Creek Valley Matrix Zinfandel 2005
Winemaker Antoine Favero V&B in Healdsburg 16.1% $36.49 at Bottle Barn

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Nelson Estate Sonoma Valley Bennett Valley Vineyard Malbec 2004
The nose is oak city and the palate is very supple with moderate acidity and a long finish. I think that many will find this wine agreeable and readily approachable. Aged in Fr oak for 18 mos. C&B in Healdsburg 13.6% $21.99 at Bottle Barn Nelson [...]

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Stark Russian River Valley Cuvee Julian Syrah 2004
This is Syrah that is not afraid to be tannic with lots of alcohol showing in the nose and the mouth. There’s 2% Viognier in the final blend and the fruit is sourced 63% from Bill and Betsy’s Alegria Vineyard and 35% from Saralee’s Catie’s Corner. P&B Healdsburg [...]

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This flight features Pinot all day. The first wine won Best of Class and went onto win the big award. The second is a red Burgundy from a top producer. Wines 3 and 4 were in the running for the BOC that De La Montanya won.
De La Montanya Sonoma Coast Christine’s Vineyard [...]

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D’Argenzio Sonoma Valley D’Alfonso Sangiovese 2005
I had an opportunity to taste this wine twice in the past 2 weeks, once at the sweeps round and again during the D’Arenzio Harvest Party at the winery on Cleveland Avenue. This wine sports fresh red fruits in a light-bodied package where the acidity is in balance and there [...]

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Kunde Estate Sonoma Valley Grenache Rose 2006
A clean wine with parfum and strawberries framed by great acidity. We awarded this wine a Gold Medal and it won best of Class of the 10 pink wines tasted. The wine also showed well during the sweepstakes round. Unfortunately pink wines never have a chance to win sweepstakes [...]

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This flight features 2 Best of Class Winners in the Fair. The first is the BOC Chardonnay under $20, which came up through our panel of judges. The third wine is the BOC Chardonnay above $20 that went on to take the sweeps. In between is a star from Burgundy for contrast and benchmarking.
Benziger [...]

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Gloria Ferrer Sonoma County Methode Champenoise Blanc de Noirs nv
This is a perennial favorite in my classes. The silky, lowish acid profile combined with the dosage earns this wine many fans. 92% Pinot Noir and 8% Chardonnay, color from the addition of 5-7% cold-soaked Pinot Noir juice added to the base wine, 18 mos [...]

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La Morandina Moscato d’Asti DOCG 2006
This wine smells of orange blossoms and ginger and tastes sweet while light bodied and ready and willing to accompany your next bowl of raspberries. Bot in Castiglione Tinella in Cuneo 5.5% $17.99 at Traverso’s.
 
Vigne Regali Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG 2005
This wine is sweet and has a bit of [...]

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After a flight of sparkling wines from Franciacorta, this round goes still.
Ca’ del Bosco Terre di Franciacorta DOCG Maurizio Zanella 2005
This is a concentrated white wine with layers of flavor and lots of acidity to frame it. 80% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Bianco, Stainless ferment and 2 mos in large oak. Bottled in Erbusco 12.5% $35 [...]

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This flight demonstrates the contrasting taste profiles in the methode champenoise wines of Franciacorta and the tank feremented Prosecco of the Veneto.
Bellavista Franciacorta DOCG Cuvee Brut nv
Fresh and dry, this wine is 80% Chardonnay, with the balance Pinot Bianco and some Pinot Nero with reserve wines. P&B in Erbusco 12.5% $29.95 at Traverso’s Bellavista
Ruggeri [...]

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This flight features 3 Syrah from both sides of the Atlantic.
Domaine des Entrefaux Crozes-Hermitage 2005
Black pepper and structure in a good value Northern Rhone Syrah. Charles & Francois Tardy a Chanos-Curson 12.5% $14.49 at Bottle Barn
Lewis Cellars Sonoma County Ethan’s Syrah 2005
Smells of wweetness derived from the grapes and the oak – a dry wine [...]

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The red wines from the Southern Rhone follow a recipe that emphasizes Grenache. The wines of this flight highlight this underdog grape.
Unti Dry Creek Valley Grenache 2005
Pretty funky at first opening but after an hour, the smell improved to show the Grenache fruit. This wine is framed by a moderate level of tannin. [...]

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Fratelli Revello Barolo DOCG 2003
This is the Revello’s regional bottling and it’s no slouch. Tasted earlier in the year, I wrote: spot on for the price, with new world styling of chocolaty oak and ripe fruit along with massive tannin and classic licorice. Now in September this wine still shows its licorice in a very [...]

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