Wine Regions & Grapes
Sampling of Wineries
Acorn Andrea Oberto Atlas Peak Benziger Beringer Blandy's Bodega Navarro Correas Burgans Cantina Terlano Chimney Rock Chronicle Domaine Carneros Domaine de la Mordoree Dow's Dr. Loosen Emilio Lustau Fonseca Foxen Gaston Riviere Glen Ellen Hess Collection Innocent Bystander Kendall-Jackson Korbel La Caudrina Luna Vineyards Madeira Wine Company Martin Codax Masi Merryvale Mulderbosch Navarro Vineyards Pahlmeyer Roederer Estate Ruggeri Sawyer Cellars Sbragia Six Sigma Winery St. James Steltzner Vineyards Trinchero Winery Trione V. Sattui Winery William Fevre Wilson Winery
Monthly Archives: May 2008
Beyond the Pinot in the Russian River
Over the past few weekends I’ve had the opportunity to visit some of the wineries in Sonoma’s famed Russian River Valley. This region is rightfully known for its Pinot Noir, a red wine of suppleness coupled the food-friendly charm of … Continue reading
Posted in California, Chardonnay, France, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
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Throwing strikes on the hill
Stryker Sonoma sits on a little hill with a broad view of the Alexander Valley. We recently visited with Jen Berman on the winemaking team and the Bordeaux varietals were top-notch. I thoroughly enjoyed the chocolaty Merlot and the supple … Continue reading
A look at Italian Primitivo
A Mano Puglia Primitivo IGT 2005 Fine for the price – it shows some Zin-like jammy fruit and complexity probably from a bit of brett. The latest bottle sample in April ’08 was especially supple and Zin-like. Bot for Amano … Continue reading
Posted in Italy, Primitivo, Puglia
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Summer dessert with a sparkle
Michele Chiarlo Moscato d’Asti DOCG 2007 Perfect White Muscat smells of orange blossoms and a multitude of other flowers. In the mouth one feels like you’ve just popped a handful of flowers passed your lips, with sweetness and delicacy. P&B … Continue reading
Posted in Italy, Moscato d'Asti, Muscat, Piemonte, Sweet Sparkling
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Hello mumm
Mumm Napa Napa Valley Grande Annee 2001 Lots of citrus fruit in the sparkler of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. A lighter-bodied sparkling that is fruit driven, rounded and possessing some floral/minty characteristics. P&B in Rutherford 12.5% $30 at the winery … Continue reading
Posted in California, Chardonnay, Napa Valley, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Dry
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Sparkling brut
We’ve looked at different styles of brut sparkling before. This flight illustrates some more contrast in what this word can mean. Roederer Estate, Anderson Valley, Estate Bottled, Brut nv This wine is consistently the personification of green apples – lip … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Champagne, France, Mendocino County, Sparkling Dry
Tagged Laurent-Perrier, Roederer Estate
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Cava cava
Codorniu Cava Reserva Raventos Brut nv Intense gunflint in the nose along with some mustiness. There’s some grippy astringency in the mouth. Let’s give it the benefit of the doubt and say it has a low level of cork taint. … Continue reading
Posted in Cava, Chardonnay, Penedes, Spain
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Korbel Extra Dry
Extra dry has always been the most confusing phrase on bottles of bubbly. Of course it is not really extra dry as the name implies. Rather it is drier than the sweetest styles of bubbly. Korbel California Champagne Extra Dry … Continue reading
Night o’ pink sparkling
Tonight we taste 8 different bubblies on the pink side, from Spain, north to Burgundy and Champagne and finally back home to California. Codorniu Cava Pinot Noir Brut nv Earthy and coarse – a real disappointment. All Pinot Noir fermented … Continue reading
In heaven there must be Pinot
This flight of 5, charts 3 vintages and 4 appellations. See the ‘Focus on Arlaud’ for the last of this flight. Lost Canyon Russian River Valley Dutton Ranch Morelli Lane Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006 Raisins, evolving fruit and warmth show … Continue reading
Focus on Loosen
Dr. Loosen Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Blue Slate Riesling 2006 If you love Jolly Ranchers, this is the liquid form, a sweet and tart, delicious value. Qualitatswein, bottled in Bernkastel 8% $12.49 at Bottle Barn Dr. Loosen Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese 2006 … Continue reading
Posted in Germany, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Riesling
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Burgundinan Chardonnay
Verget Saint Veran 2006 Minerals and stone fruits to smell. There’s plenty of acid for you fans of Chard. without the butter. Long and a good value though the prices are creeping. It’s a poor time to be buying Burgundy … Continue reading
Posted in Burgundy, Chablis, Chardonnay, Saint Veran
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Pinot stars compete
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-St-Georges Clos des Porrets St.-Georges 1er Cru 2005 This is a monopole for Gouges, the legend from Nuits-St-Georges. The wine is quite tight, just a baby, packed with fruit and earthy notes with a tannic exterior. Lay … Continue reading
Off to Oregon
This flight features 4 Oregonian Pinots Brandborg Umqua Valley, Oregon Ferris Wheel Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir 2006 P&B in Elkton 13.8% $40 at the winery Brandborg Ken Wright Cellars Yamhill-Carlton District Shea Vineyard 2006 This was the hands-down star of … Continue reading
Posted in Oregon, Pinot Noir, Umpqua Valley, Willamette Valley
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Musical Rose
Etude Carneros Pinot Noir Rose 2006 Lots of strawberry to smell and the palate features refreshing acidity with a glistening sheen of creamy fruit. P&B in Napa 13.9% $19.95 at Traverso’s Etude
Posted in California, Carneros, Napa Valley, Pinot Noir
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Battling Bubblies
This flight pits top wines from Schramsberg in Calistoga and Roederer Estate in Philo. Roederer Estate Anderson Valley L”Ermitage Estate Brut 2000 This has been a personal favorite balancing the racy house style with the complexity given by time on … Continue reading
More bubbles
J Russian River Valley late disgorged brut 1997 Smelling of acacia flowers and a bit of bread with brie, the mouth is elegant with richness and a the taste of warm biscuits. P&B in Healdsburg 12.5% $79.99 at Bottle Barn … Continue reading
Napa sparkles
Domaine Chandon etoile Brut This is true to type with the house style of forward fruit and a soft profile. The fruit source for this wine is 54% from Napa and 46% from Sonoma. After primary ferment this wine was … Continue reading
Posted in California, Carneros, Chardonnay, Napa Valley, Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, Sparkling Dry
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The grapes behind the bubbly
Much of our North American Sparkling features Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This flight features one of each, in the full expression of their color. Iron Horse Sonoma County Green Valley Estate Bottled Blanc de Blancs 2001 This wine sports tart … Continue reading
Posted in California, Carneros, Chardonnay, Green Valley, Pinot Noir, Sonoma County
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This ain’t the Scotch
Ballentine Vineyards Napa Valley Estate Grown Zinfandel Port 2004 There’s a sense of a brand new, just crushed wine in the cellar, with vivacious, grapy fruit. There’s definitely some heat as we would see from Portugal, yet this New World … Continue reading
Posted in Napa Valley, Port, Zinfandel
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SA Pinot
Hamilton Russell Vineyards Walker Bay Pinot Noir 2006 Quite earthy, toasty and tannic. Grown, made, matured and bottled on the estate in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Hermanus 14% $31.99 at Bottle Barn Hamilton Russell
Posted in Pinot Noir, South Africa, Walker Bay
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Refreshers from the deep south
This flight features two wines from a personal favorite winery, Mulderbosch. Neither of these wines is shy in the acid department and the Sauvignon is particularly herbaceous – yummmm! Mulderbosch, Stellenbosch, Chenin Blanc, Steen op Hout 2007 P&B in Stellenbosch … Continue reading
Posted in Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa, Stellenbosch, Western Cape
Tagged Mulderbosch
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Primo Zin
Collier Falls Dry Creek Valley Primitivo 2005 This is lovingly slathered in oak. P&B in Geyserville 15.2% $32 at the winery Collier Falls Bella Alexander Valley Big River Ranch Zinfandel 2005 A very balanced Zin with tannic structure and dense … Continue reading
Tuscan M&Ms
Poliziano Rosso di Montepulciano DOC 2005 This has been a stalwart good value in a modern style, though the price has crept to the border of $20. The ’05 vintage is light-bodied, accessible and subtly laced with a bit of … Continue reading
Posted in Italy, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Tuscany
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Pizza time
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico DOCG 2004 The previous vintage showed some herbaceousness and tannic grip, as well as cherry, fresh and evolving with complexing earthiness. Here again with the 2004 there is a rusticity and astringency. 85% Sangiovese, 10% … Continue reading
Posted in Amador County, California, Sangiovese, Sierra Foothills
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Creme caramel company
Chateau Raymond-Lafon Sauternes 2003 Amazing balance for such a lusciously sweet wine with creme caramel flavors. Going back to the 2002, my notes again emphasize the complexity, concentration and appropriate VA levels. A class favorite, very rich and thick, very … Continue reading
Posted in France, Sauternes, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
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LHSB
Trecini Russian River Valley Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2006 The grapes for this wine were harvested at 33 brix. The Sauvignon character really comes through with citrus and some herbaceousness. The mouthfeel is lighter than other dessert wines, making this … Continue reading
Round the world with Pinot
Les Carabenes Vin de Pays d’Oc 2006 Too bad this sample is corked. Imported by PlanetWine in Oakland Mis in the postal code F-11300 13.5% 14.99 at Traverso’s Greenstone Point South Island Pinot Noir 2006 A little weedy, very firm … Continue reading
Posted in Casablanca Valley, Chile, Languedoc, New Zealand, Pinot Noir
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