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: October 2008
Heitz Grignolino Port 2004
Heitz Cellar, Napa Valley, Grignolino Port 2004 It’s like cranberries marinated in brandy when you lift the glass. In the mouth it is light-bodied for a Port-style wine with a little acidic zing, sweetness and an alcoholic kick. This has … Continue reading
Posted in California, Grignolino, Napa Valley, Port
Leave a comment
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Williams Selyem, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir 2006 There’s a sweet medley of cherry, berry and vanilla notes in the nose. In the mouth the wine is pure elegance. I consistently see this thread in Bob Cabral’s wines, what the French … Continue reading
Posted in California, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County
Leave a comment
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
DuNah, Russian River Valley, DuNah Estate Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2006 Toastiness and toffee leap out of the glass with a sense of earthiness and crushed leaves. The mouth is deeply concentrated with cherry fruit and toffee with a very supple … Continue reading
Posted in California, Green Valley, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Leave a comment
Balletto Rose of Pinot Noir 2007
Balletto, Russian River Valley, Estate Bottled, Pinot Noir 2007 There is candied cherry fruit in the nose and a creaminess to the mouthfeel. The fruit really comes through in the palate as well. 20% of the wine was fermented in … Continue reading
Posted in California, Pinot Noir, Rosé, Russian River Valley
Leave a comment
Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel 2005
Tablas Creek Vineyard, Paso Robles, Esprit de Beaucastel 2005 The brett is dominating the nose and while it works for this style of wine, it will put off some looking for a cleaner approach in the New World. The gaminess … Continue reading
Posted in California, Grenache, Mourvedre, Paso Robles, Syrah
1 Comment
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Andre Brunel, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Les Cailloux 2005 The nose sports smoke and a healthy but appropriate dose of brett for this wine, accentuating a meatiness. The earthiness repeats in the mouth with an explosion of red fruits. The structure provides the … Continue reading
Posted in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France, Grenache, Mourvedre, Rhône
Leave a comment
Domaine Olivier Guyot, Marsannay, La Montagne 2003
Give this wine some time to blow off the stink. Then you can see the cherries, cola and earthy forest floor notes in the nose. There are gamey flavors in the mouth, with the acidity you’d expect and a rather … Continue reading
Posted in Burgundy, France, Marsannay, Pinot Noir
Leave a comment
Wines of France
Verget, Macon Villages, “Grand Elevage” 2006 There’s a mix of minerality and doughy notes in the nose while the mouth is steely with a bit of slipperiness coating the tongue, adding richness to the austerity. From Jean-Marie Guffen, whose Chardonnays … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, Burgundy, Chardonnay, France, Gewurztraminer, Macon-Villages
Leave a comment
Port o’ Missouri
Stone Hill, Missouri, Port 2004 The prunes and sweet Linzer torte stand out in the nose. In the mouth there is the alcohol and tannic edge of vintage Port from the Duoro as well as chocolate and vanilla. This was … Continue reading
Posted in Missouri, Norton, Port
2 Comments
Rosy Anderson
Lazy Creek, Anderson Valley, Rose of Pinot Noir 2007 This wine has the zippy acidity and vibrance of the rose from County Line with a depth of flavor, a density that fills out the wine on the palate – great … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Pinot Noir, Rosé
Leave a comment
A find in the hills
Kanzler, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir 2007 This is a barrel sample from the family’s vineyard out in what is called the Sebastopol Hills, about 3 miles west of town. While dense, the wine is very polished with a slather of … Continue reading
Posted in California, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
Leave a comment
Petite
Small Vines, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir 2006 Like the Russian River bottling, this Pinot is packed with flavor. There’s a backbone of acidity to keep this wine going a long time in your mouth and a long time in your … Continue reading
Posted in California, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County
Leave a comment
Carpenter envy
James David, Paso Robles, Penman Springs Vineyard, Muscat Blanc 2007 There’s a great variety of floral notes, from the sweet ones like honesuckle to roses and spicey numbers. The mouth is light-bodied and citrusy with a real sense of eating … Continue reading
Posted in California, Muscat, Paso Robles
Leave a comment
Take a chance
Clos LaChance, Central Coast, Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Sourced exclusively from the winery’s vineyard in San Martin. You knew them first from the days in Saratoga 14.5% $30 at the winery LaChance
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Central Coast
Leave a comment
Heading toward Boonville
Bink, Yorkville Highlands, Weir Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2005 The nose is a bit closed right now but the mouth is vibrantly fruitly in a very supple framework. Winemaker Debbie Schatzlein 14.5% $40 at the winery, just 300 cases Bink
On the ridge
Ridge, California, Pagani Ranch, Sonoma Valley, Zinfandel, 2006 There’s a wealth of liquer-like fruit in the nose – very pretty with floral tones as well. The fruit carries through in the mouth with moderate structure like last year. Notes on … Continue reading
Posted in California
Leave a comment
Down the boot
Botromagno, Puglia IGT, Primitivo 2006 The nose shows drying and oxidized fruit while the mouth is extremely tannic. The astringency dominates; it was a mistake to take a chance on this wine. Bottled in Gravina 13.5% $14.99 at Traverso’s
Posted in Italy, Primitivo, Puglia
Leave a comment
Well well
Benessere, Napa Valley, Estate, Sangiovese 2005 You can smell sweet, candied cherries and vanilla in the glass while the mouth is a supple showcase of the same with Sangiovese’s textbook acidity. The house style is one of polished wines. 12 … Continue reading
Posted in California, Napa Valley, Sangiovese
Leave a comment
V for Vernaccia
Casa Alle Vacche, Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, I Macchioni, 2007 There is a New World ripe expression of fruit in the nose, along with perfume, green herbs and some minerality. In the mouth there is ample acidity with some … Continue reading
Posted in Italy, Tuscany, Vernaccia
Leave a comment
Dazzling Champagne
I had the opportunity to meet with two respected growers from Champagne at the WineWise and Terry Theise tasting today in San Francisco. Both are producers as well, crafting dynamite sparklers, each with their own house style. If forced to … Continue reading
Posted in Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Pinot Noir
Leave a comment
Across Italy
Vietti, Langhe DOC, Nebbiolo, Perbacco 2005 Spot on with black licorice and a wallop of tannin. Estate Bottled in Castiglione Falletto 13.5% $26.99 at Traverso’s Vietti Badia a Coltibuono, Chianti Classico DOCG 2005 There is a pleasant combo of earth, … Continue reading
Posted in Chianti Classico, Italy, Langhe, Nebbiolo, Piemonte, Sangiovese, Tuscany
Leave a comment
Dessert stars
Paradise Ridge Winery, Russian River Valley, Ode to Joy, Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Lots of complexity in this wine, with honey galore – very reminiscent of Sauternes. This dessert wine was crafted to honor the memory of Marijke Byck-Hoenselaars. … Continue reading
Starring Zin
Alexander Valley Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Redemption Zin, Zinfandel 2006 A moderate amount of jammy fruit and black pepper drive the nose while the palate is gripping, light-bodied and a little warm. P&B in Healdsburg 14.5% $18.99 at Bottle Barn … Continue reading
Stars out of the Bordeaux tradition
Adobe Road, Knights Valley, Cabernet Franc 2005 This is perfectly ripe Cab Franc – no veg to smell at all, just lots of berries. The structure of Cab Franc is in the mouth combining with the fruit and filled out … Continue reading
Pinot stars
Buena Vista, Carneros, Pinot Noir 2006 The nose is sweet vanilla while the mouth features red fruits, a light-body and vanilla sweetness. The fruit is sourced from the winery’s Ramal Vineyard. Produced in Sonoma and Bottled in Napa 13.5% $17.99 … Continue reading
Italian style
Ramazzotti, Sonoma County, Raffinto, Red Wine 2005 This smells like a walk in the oak forest where some of the trees have been freshly felled – an intertwining of oak and earth. The mouth is vivaciously fruity with the oak … Continue reading
The pink stars
Taft Street, Sonoma Coast, Rose of Pinot Noir 2007 Mild but muted strawberries and an astringent profile. Unfortunately this wine has a sub-threshold level of TCA that’s blocking the fruit. The grapes come from the Pasta King, Art Ibletto. P&B … Continue reading
The white stars
Clarbec, Sonoma County, Pinot Gris 2007 There’s fresh tropical fruit and subtle oak in the nose. The fruit comes through in the mouth with a caress of acidity and a little bit of richness – very nice. The grapes were … Continue reading
English