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: March 2009
Frescobaldi Nipozzano Riserva 2005
Marchesi de Frescobaldi, Chianti Rufina, Nipozzano, Riserva DOCG 2005 The nose is toasty, charred and sweet smelling. In July ’09 the brett is starting to show itself yet still in a complexing way. In the mouth, the intense acidity of … Continue reading
Posted in Chianti Rufina, Italy, Sangiovese, Tuscany
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La Rasina Rosso 2005
La Rasina, Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2005 There are cherries and green herbs in the nose. In the mouth the cherries are vibrant and tart with some tannic grab. Estate bottled by Marco Mantengoli in Montalcino 13.5% $22.49 at Bottle … Continue reading
Posted in Italy, Montalcino, Sangiovese, Tuscany
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Cantina Valle Isarco Pinot Grigio 2007
Cantina Produttori Valle Isarco, Alto Adige, Valle Isarco, Pinot Grigio DOC 2007 Stone fruits and flowers fill the glass with a sense of candy and spice – there’s something a bit reminiscent of Alsace. In the mouth there is the … Continue reading
Posted in Alto Adige, Italy, Pinot Gris and Grigio, Valle Isarco
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Penet-Chardonnet Champagne Grande Reserve
Penet-Chardonnet, Champagne, Grand Cru, Grande Reserve, Extra Brut nv There is a light golden color in the glass and the biscuit notes are quite developed in the nose – very complex. Besides the biscuits there are browned apples, cherries and … Continue reading
Posted in Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Dry
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Dr. Frank Rkatsiteli 2006
Dr. Konstantin Frank, Finger Lakes, Rkatsiteli 2006 We opened this wine last night and were delighted by its similarity to Riesling. The acidity is quite intense and the wine has the stuffing to fill out the experience in the mouth. … Continue reading
Posted in Finger Lakes, New York, Rkatsiteli
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Back to wine reviews
I’ve been teaching with a focus on the business side of wine since returning from the sensory seminar with VESTA in Missouri – thus the silence on the wine review front. The Marketing class at the SRJC and the Wine … Continue reading
Posted in California
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Carter Cabernet 2000
Carter, Napa Valley, Oakville, Beckstoffer Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon 20009 Almost 9 years on this wine is hitting its stride. The nose shows the bottle bouquet development of exotic spices like sandelwood. There’s a healthy mix of dried fruits and herbs, … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
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Dancing Bull Zinfandel 2006
Dancing Bull, California, Winemaker’s Reserve, Zinfandel 2006 There are smells of baked berries and vanilla in a pie, a sweet essence that is mingled with a fresh grinding of black pepper. In the mouth, this is a light-bodied and soft … Continue reading
Posted in California, Zinfandel
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Talon Cabernet 2005
Returning late after teaching my Wine Marketing class tonight I opened an innocuous Pinot Grigio while reading the mail. Linda made an extraordinary meatloaf the other night so I decided to open a red to drink with that after a … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Kentucky
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Carol Shelton Zinfandel
We recently visited with Carol and Mitch at their winery in Santa Rosa. Carol makes Zin from grapes sourced throughout the state of California. One of the gems that we tasted was sourced from San Bernardino County while two others … Continue reading
Rene Renou Bonnezeau 1999
Rene Renou, Bonnezeaux, Tri de Vendanges 1999 Mis en bouteille par Rene Renou, proprietaire et recoltant a Thouarce 13% $27.99 for a 500ml bottle at the Wine Merchant
Posted in Bonnezeaux, Chenin Blanc
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Dow’s Boardroom Tawny
Dow’s, Porto, Boardroom, Reserve Tawny nv In the nose there is caramel and overt alcohol. In the mouth the same follows through though the often tolerated burn is a bit too much given the rather light concentration of flavor. Bottle … Continue reading
Posted in Fortified dessert, Port, Portugal, Tawny Port
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D.H. Lescombes Cabernet Franc 2007
D.H. Lescombes, New Mexico, Limited Release, Cabernet Franc 2007 I’ve been fortunate to taste this wine 4 times since the Chronicle Wine Competition judging in January and it really is a star. It puts together the best of Bordeaux and … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Franc, New Mexico
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Carol Shelton Wild Thing 2004
Carol Shelton, Mendocino County, Cox Vineyard, Wild Thing, Zinfandel 2004 Jammy berry and black pepper star in the nose while the mouth features an almost liqueur-like sense of blackberries. V&B in Sebastopol 16% $29.99 at the Wine Merchant Carol Shelton
Posted in California, Mendocino County, Zinfandel
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Lindemans Bin 50 Shiraz 2008
Lindemans, South Eastern Australia, Bin 50 Shiraz 2008 In the nose there is a light level of black fruits and oaky essence. The wine is very light-bodied with sweet black fruit, a little low-level RS and a touch of grippiness. … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, South Eastern Australia, Syrah
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Leitz Riesling 2006
Leitz, Rheingau, Rudesheimer, Klosterlay, Riesling, Auslese 2006 Awesome concentration and great balance in the dance of sugar and acid. Erzeugerabfullung in Rudesheim 8.5% $22.49 for a 500ml bottle at the Wine Merchant in Clayton, Missouri Weingut Josef Leitz
Posted in Germany, Rheingau, Riesling
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Kerpen Riesling 2007
Kerpen, Mosel, Wehlener, Sonnenuhr, Riesling, Kabinett 2007 Fresh stone fruits are in full force and a lovely sweet and tart essence is in the mouth. Gutsabfullung in Bernkastel-Wehlen 9.0% $20.69 at the Wine Merchant in Clayton, Missouri Weingut Kerpen
Posted in Germany, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Riesling
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La Gitana Manzanilla
Bodegas Hidalgo, La Gitana, Jerez, Manzanilla nv The nose has classic bruised apples with some acetone as well. The mouth is quite dry and gripping. This drinks to paradigm yet is too evolved in the chemical direction, lacking the freshness … Continue reading
Posted in Manzanilla, Sherry, Spain
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Talley Chardonnay 2006
Talley, Arroyo Grande Valley, Estate Bottled, Chardonnay 2006 There are toasty notes in the nose and a sense of freshly cut oak. In the mouth there is citrus fruit and a sense of richness – nicely balanced. The fruit was … Continue reading
Navarro Riesling 2007
Navarro, Anderson Valley, Mendocino, Riesling 2007 Unfortunately the first bottle was a little corked and the wet cardboard was rearing its ugly head. Yet behind that was the essence of lime. With more than ample acidity, the .8% RS is … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Mendocino County, Riesling
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Navarro Pinot Gris
Navarro, Anderson Valley, Mendocino, Pinot Gris 2006 The nose sports candied citrus and tropical notes while the mouth is fruity and round with a spark of acidity. The time in bottle has added some nice complexity to a wine that … Continue reading
Frederic Magnien Vosne 2005
Frederic Magnien, Vosne-Romanee, Vielle Vigne 2005 The nose of this wine features earth and rubber, some Band-Aid as well as reductive notes. In the mouth, the wine is tight and tannic, with obvious brett. I’ve had some other Magnien wines … Continue reading
Posted in Burgundy, Cote de Beaune, Pinot Noir, Vosne-Romanee
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Robert Weil Riesling 1999
Robert Weil, Rheingau, Riesling, Kabinett, Trocken 1999 The smell of this wine combines petrol and dried apricots. In the mouth, there is racy acidity, the zip of lime juice and an added creamy complexity. The flavor goes on very long … Continue reading
Posted in Germany, Rheingau, Riesling
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Laurello Cabernet Franc
Laurello, Grand River Valley, Cabernet Franc nv The nose puts together the herbaceous side of Cab Franc with the black fruit character it can expound. There’s a healthy but appealing dose of brett, giving the earthiness that might remind one … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Franc, Grand River Valley, Ohio
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Margerum Pinot Gris 2007
Margerum, Columbia Valley Washington, Margerum Ranch Vineyard, Pinot Gris 2007 The nose combines stone and tropical fruits with some green herbs from the spice rack and a touch of spiritous character. The mouthfeel is rich and slippery, with stone fruit … Continue reading
Latest wine class news
Hello everyone! I’ve been immersed in producing the public tasting for the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. With that behind me, it’s back to writing and teaching and the ink is ready to flow. Coming up in the Saint Louis … Continue reading
Posted in California
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