Mumm Napa Napa Valley Devaux Ranch Methode Traditionnelle 2002
There’s lots of citrus with a hint of the zest and a touch of alcohol. The grapes are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and the wine was aged 3 years on the lees. P&B in Rutherford 12.5% $30 at the winery Mumm
Gloria Ferrer, Carneros, Vintage Reserve, Royal Cuvee, [...]

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Domaine Chandon, Sonoma County 62%, Napa County 38%, etoile, Rose nv The house style is one of forward fruit and a soft profile. Likewise with this wine in a copper color and an added zip of acidity. The fruit source for this wine is 62% from Sonoma and 38% from Napa. After primary ferment this [...]

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Traditional appellation wine versus a modern blend from Piemonte.
Vietti, Barolo DOCG, Castiglione 2004 In June of ‘08 I noted brown spices and licorice on a very tannic frame that is balanced by acidity and extract. In April of ‘09, this wine is displaying much of the same with an even greater integration of the structural [...]

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Cossart Gordon Madeira 5 Years Old Malmsey nv
This is a rich style of Madeira from the Malvasia grape, known as Malmsey. The nose features toffee and caramel with a healthy dose of toasted nuts. In the mouth, you taste all of that in a framework of acidity. There’s plenty of weight from the underlying alcohol [...]

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Though often talked about in the same breath, these two grapes are quite dissimiliar.
Esterlina Cole Ranch Dry Riesling 2006
Concentrated stone fruit wrapped in acidity – long, great, delicious. P&B in Healdsburg 13.8% $14.99 at Bottle Barn Esterlina
Elena Walch Alto Adige Gewurztraminer DOC 2006
Lots of spicy rose, broad and with a touch of classic Gwz bitterness. [...]

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This flight examines 3 approaches to the grape that goes by both the names Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio.
Cantina Terlano Alto Adige Pinot Grigio Denominazione di Origine Controllata 2006
Mineral and stone fruit flavors with palpable acidity. Bottled in Terlano 13% $14.49 at Bottle Barn Terlano
Montevina California Pinot Grigio 2007
Tremendously floral with a hint of RS [...]

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Lustau, Sherry, Denominaciónes de Origen, Solera Reserva, Rare Cream nv
This is a step up from Lustau’s Deluxe Cream Sherry and cries out for a fireplace after dinner. There’s tons of complexity to this wine, the sort of experience for the nose that you could spend hours with. The flavors run from caramel to toffee and [...]

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Muga Rioja DOC Reserva 2004
This wine has some guts for aging. There’s sweet oak, black fruit and a nice light level of brett to add complexity to this structured baby. 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 10% Mazuelo and Graciano. The wine spent 6 months in large casks and 2 years in small French oak barrels. [...]

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San Alejandro Calatalud Las Rocas Garnacha 2005
100% Grenache, 70-100 years old. The Las Rocas line is bottled for Eric Solomon, from a cooperative effort of growers in Calatalud. Elabroado y embotellado in Miedes 14.5% $8.49 at Bottle Barn
Legaris Ribera del Duero DO Crianza 2004 The first whiff was pretzels, really. That was followed by raisins, [...]

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Albarino, a.k.a., Alvarinho, is hot. This refresher from Iberia is becoming more visible in America, with more imports from abroad and more plantings on the homefront.
Condes de Albarei, Rias Baixas DO, Albarino 2007 Fully aromatic and lip smacking with a sweet/tart character – delicious. Check that – I don’t mean that the wine is [...]

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Zin and Petite often work together, one behind the scenes of the other who gets the billing on the label.
Claudia Springs Redwood Valley John Ricetti Vineyard Zinfandel 2005
There’s jammy fruit and a little warmth from the alcohol. Winemaker Bob Klindt. P&B in Philo 15.9% $19.49 at Bottle Barn Claudia Springs
Everett Ridge Dry Creek Valley Estate [...]

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Pine Ridge California Chenin Blanc – Viognier 2007
Pine Ridge has made some incarnation of Chenin for years. This blend couples 80% Chenin Blanc, which has ample acidity, with 20% Viognier, adding aromatics and lusciousness. There’s a touch of residual sugar to make the wine pair well with spicy food on a hot summer night. [...]

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There’s a broad spectrum to what is considered dry white wine, as we see in these two examples from California.
Kunde Estate Sonoma Valley Magnolia Lane Sauvignon Blanc 2007
This is an exciting wine of floral and citrus notes, high acidity and light body. G, P & B in Kenwood 13.8% $9.49 at Bottle Barn Kunde
Cambria Santa [...]

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Here we take another look at variations on the taste and feel of dry red wine.
ZD Carneros Pinot Noir 2006
Lots of sweet cherries and palpable acidity make this a refreshing Pinot. This wine originates with Pinot grown in certified organic vineyards. The wine is then aged for 10 months in French oak. Winemaker Chris Pisani. [...]

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Another round of variations on the theme of dry white wine.
Longboard Vineyards Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Citrus and herbs in a high acid profile with citrus peel in the mouth. This Sauvignon is mostly done in stainless with a touch of fermentation and aging in neutral French oak. Winemaker Oded Shakked. P&B in Sonoma [...]

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Like white wine, red wine comes in many shapes and sizes, from the silky, flowing ribbons to brawny, square-jawed brawlers. Here are 3 takes on red wine style.
Lincourt Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir 2004
Easy drinking cherries in a glass. This wine is a compilation of fruit from the Santa Maria Valley and the Rancho [...]

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So many of us enjoy dry white wine. Yet what is dry is not one thing, as we see in the case of these two dry white wines.
Benziger Sonoma Valley MacLeod Family Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2006
This is crisp citrus in a bottle. The Benziger family is a leaders in sustainable practices and encourages a similar [...]

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Heron Hill Finger Lakes Ingle Vineyard Riesling 2005
The smell is a combination of lime, flowers and that Riesling petrol quality. The mouth features the sweet tart character often associated with German Riesling. It is very concentrated with great length – superb! The RS is woven into the taste profile such that some might not even [...]

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