Mirassou, California, Merlot 2006 The smells are of sweet, jammy black fruits. In the mouth this wine is quite supple and slightly sweet, melting a sense of vanilla into the black fruits. A bit of Zinfandel and Syrah augments the Merlot. V&B in Modesto, 13.95% $12 suggested retail in California Mirassou

continue reading.....

Dancing Bull, California, Winemaker’s Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 The nose reminds one of a dusty road with sweet flowers and fruit in the background. In the mouth, this Cabernet is a supple, easy drink, mildly sweet and easy. Besides the Cabernet there is a bit of Merlot, Syrah, Zin and who knows what in the [...]

continue reading.....

Quady Winery, Amador County, Starboard 1996 The raisins are in full force, chocolate and lots of sweet smells melded with a hint of the fortifying spirit. The mouth sports chocolate and caramel with a strong but appropriate sense of the brandy that was added.  The grapes are 97% Tinta Cao and Touriga Francesca, grown near [...]

continue reading.....

Siduri, Sonoma Mountain, Van der Kamp Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2006
The nose combines fresh and dried fruits along with the forest floor. The mouth is warm and silky. P&B in Santa Rosa 14.1% $36.99 at Bottle Barn Siduri

continue reading.....

Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Pinot Noir 2007
Like the previous vintage, this wine is a rustic style of Pinot. I’d like to try another bottle before passing judgment.
Grown, made, matured and bottled on the estate in, Hermanus 13.5% $39.99 at K&L and $37.99 at Bottle Barn Hamilton Russell

continue reading.....

Sonnet, Santa Cruz Mountains, Muns Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2005 There is bright berry fruit, and a bit of Bandaid in the nose. The mouth is still rather tight and the fruit is starting to break out and shine. The vineyard, owned by Ed Muns, is perched in spots above the fogline at 2600 feet. A [...]

continue reading.....

Thomas Fogarty, Santa Cruz Mountains, Estate Reserve, Pinot Noir 1999 There’s quite a sense of the horse saddle at this point in time, with brown spices and prunes and dried fruits. The mouth is drying out and the brett is starting to dominate. Serve with sausages and all will be OK. Winemaker Michael Martella. GP&B [...]

continue reading.....

Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards, Russian River Valley, Gunsalus Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2005
The fruit is almost liquer-like in the nose, with a jammy character. In the mouth, the fruit is also vibrant. P&B down in Saratoga. 14.5% $50 at the Winery savannahchanelle.com

continue reading.....

Innocent Bystander, Victoria, Pinot Noir 2007
This is one of those Pinots that has the smoky character of an ashtray. In the mouth, there are green characters and astringency – a disappointment from this producer. The grapes are sourced from vineyards in Sexton, Quarry Ridge and Tarraford. Produced in Healesville 13.5% $15.99 at K&L Innocent Bystander

continue reading.....

Plantagenet, Western Australia, Omrah, Pinot Noir 2007 The wine smells of earth and cherries. In the mouth, the smells repeat with a touch of the richness of oak. This is a good value Pinot. The grapes are from vineyards in the Great Southern region of WA, in particular from Mount Barker and Denmark. Omrah is [...]

continue reading.....

Segura Viudas, Cava, Brut, Aria, Pinot Noir nv This seems a sweeter brut than many with some astringency – awkward. This is traditional method sparkling, fermented in the bottle opened and produced in Torrelavit 12% $7.49 at Bottle Barn

continue reading.....

Lucien Albrecht, Cremant d’Alsace, Brut, Rose nv In the nose are candied fruits and flowers. The mouth is quite fruity, moderately acidic with some creaminess – nice value. This wine is all Pinot Noir and the wine spends 9 months on the lees after the second fermentation. Proprietor and winemaker Jean Albrecht. Produced in Orschwihr [...]

continue reading.....

Williams Selyem San Benito County, Vista Verde Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2006 Tasted at the Wine & Spirts Magazine panel tasting last week, this was one of the eleven of 45 wines passed through to the next round. In the nose, there is sweet red fruit and oak. In the mouth, the wine is very dense, [...]

continue reading.....

This flight provides an interesting contrast in California Viognier. Both are well-made but different animals entirely. The Preston is lighter, fresher, with aromatics that might remind one of a dry California Gewurztraminer. The Cold Heaven is rich, thick and buttery, with a palate that might remind one of a rich version of California Chardonnay.
Preston, Dry [...]

continue reading.....

Duckhorn Vineyards, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Ripe citrus and floral notes dazzle your nose when you smell this wine. In the mouth, it is round and softer than many SBs, with ripeness of fruit and a little warmth. When we visited the winery in the summer, Matt said that 25% of the grapes are [...]

continue reading.....

Cloudline, Oregon, Pinot Noir 2007 There’s vegetative characters and compost with a sense of carbonic maceration. The nose on this wine never seemed to come around. The mouth repeats on the smells and is very light-bodied and low in concentration. Cellared and bottled in McMinnville 13.5% $19.99 at Traverso’s Cloudline Cellars
St. Innocent, Willamett Valley, Seven [...]

continue reading.....

Woodenhead, Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir 2003
The wine has developed volatility which shows in both the smell and on the palate yet the fruit is still quite vibrant across the tongue. P&B in Forestville 14.5% estimated price of $40 at the winery Woodenhead

continue reading.....

Toulouse, Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir 2006 Smoky and spiritous in the nose and warm and gripping in the mouth. The wine was aged for 12 months in French oak. P&B in Philo 14.5% $39 at the winery Toulouse Vineyards

continue reading.....

This flight features 3 wines from the Northern Rhone, all 100% Syrah.
Domaine Eric et Joel Durand, Cornas, Empreintes 2005 In the nose there is tar, a sense of permanent solution, meat and black fruits. With more air the black pepper comes on. On the palate this wine is chewy and earthy, medium weight, with hints [...]

continue reading.....

Jean-Luc Colombo, Cotes du Rhone, Les Abeilles 2006 This is a juicy-fruity budget offering from the famous Cornas producer. It drinks easily with a little bit of structure. Eleve et mis in La Roche de Glun in Tain 13.5% $???
Domaine des Girasols, Rasteau Cotes du Rhone Villages, Vieilles Vignes 2005 There’s minerality and black fruit [...]

continue reading.....

Domaine Jacques Puffeney, Arbois, Vin Jaune 1998 The smell of Fino Sherry hits you directly in the nose, that sense of nuttiness and apples. There is also some sense of volatility. In the mouth, you are reminded of tart, green apples, graced with a dusting of almonds. This wine is extremely concentrated, as if every [...]

continue reading.....

Clos Lapeyre, Jurancon Sec 2007 This wine is intensly acidic with great concentration of tart, green fruit. The intensity is on a par with what you get in the great Semillons of the Hunter, with an appropriate, underripe character. It’s reminiscent of tasting not only the flesh of the fruit, but also savoring the pitch. [...]

continue reading.....

Domaine Pierre Gonon, Saint-Joseph, “Les Oliviers” 2006 This bottle of white Saint-Joseph sports a toasty nose, with minerality and nuttiness. The mouth follows a similar line, with toasty, smoky essence and buttery richnss. This is a fat and weighty white wine, almost unctous and lowish in acidity. The grapes are 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne [...]

continue reading.....

Michel & Stéphane Ogier, Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes, Vigonier de Rosine 2006 You would swear this wine is from the New World when you stick your nose in the glass. The peachy fruit is just so vibrant. In the mouth, this wine is full-bodied and luscious, lowish in acidity and brimming with the [...]

continue reading.....

Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, “La Crau” 2006 The wine today is Brunier’s white CDP. In the nose there is baking bread, straw and a subtle sense of stone fruits. In the mouth the wine is quite weighty, mineral driven and enhanced by oak in the background. The wine is a touch corked thus there [...]

continue reading.....

Domaine Huet, Vouvray, Clos du Bourg, Moelleux, Premiere Trie 2002 The nose sports minerality and citrus and the mouth is vivaciously alive, singing with acidity and joined in a chorus with flavors of tangerine and pineapple. This is certainly not as sweet as many wines that you might take with dessert. With its balance of [...]

continue reading.....

M. Chapoutier, Vin de Table de France, Doux, Les Coufis de Paille de l’Ardeche 2001 This wine is deeply golden, picking up hues of amber and a touch of khaki. The nose is a complex mix of orange and spice, reminiscent of flaming oranges studded with cloves at a tableside performance in a restaurant of [...]

continue reading.....

Lustau, Jerez DO, Solera Reserva, Dry, Amontillado, Los Arcos nv
This wine is nutty and sweet smelling but beware it’s not sweet. In the mouth is a sense of toffee, peanut brittle and toasted almonds. This is the budget Amontillado from Lustau, not as concentrated as their Escuadrilla yet no slouch for the price. P&B in [...]

continue reading.....

Finca Sobreno, Toro DO, Crianza 2004 There is a rustic quality to the nose, combining earthiness and fruit on the ground. In the mouth this wine is a baby with ample tannin and a balance of acidity and extract – give this a good 4 years in the cellar. This wine is 100% Tempranillo and [...]

continue reading.....

Bodegas Alto Moncayo, Campo De Borja DO, veraton 2006 This wine exudes the sweet smell of oak with a hint of cedar. The mouth is soft and fruity, having a lusciousness that is true to the house style.This wine is 100% Garnacha. Winemaker Chris Ringland from Australia. Estate bottled in Bulbuente 15.5% $21.69 at Bottle [...]

continue reading.....