Andre Brunel, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Les Cailloux 2006 In the nose the fruit goes from fresh to raisin, with black pepper and spices from the cupboard. In the mouth, this wine is approachable already, chewy and dripping with acidity with plenty of extract to fill out the palate – excellent! This is their estate CDP. 65% old [...]

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Coudoulet de Beaucastel, Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge, 2005 The black fruits are alight in the nose with a liquer-like character. In the mouth the fruit is very expressive with the structure you’d expect – a great combo. The grapes are sourced from the Coudoulet vineyard, grown organically and include about 30% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache, 20% Cinsault and [...]

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E. Guigal, Cote-Rotie, Brune et Blonde de Guigal 2005 Here is a Syrah that demonstrates the black pepper quality that lurks in this variety. There’s also earthiness, a benign Band-Aid character adding to the complexity of the nose. The mouth shows Syrah’s structure, plenty of acidity and a sense of the tannin. Yet as we [...]

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JC Cellars, California Cuvee, Syrah 2006 This is an inky Syrah to look at. The nose features sweet black fruits and berry pie. The mouth is a rich expression of Syrah, with sweet-appearing fruit and ripe tannins. Winemaker Jeff Cohn. P&B in Oakland 15.0% $40 at the winery JC Cellars

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South Coast, California, Grenache, Rose 2007
In the nose there is candy, flowers and the smell something citrus. The mouth is plump and amplified by a about 1% RS. This took the sweepstake award for pink wine at the Chronicle Wine Competition in January. Nice wine. The grape sourcing was split 50/50 between Lost Tierra [...]

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Carol Shelton, Mendocino County, Rendezvous Rose 2007 This wine is redolent of strawberries – just bountiful! In the mouth this rose is truly dry yet with plenty of fruit it comes across as quite concentrated.  I bought a 6 pack of this a few months ago and I think it is showing the best of [...]

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Copain, Mendocino County, ‘Tous Ensemble’, Viognier 2007
It’s a pleasure to find a tasty Viognier under 14% and this one delivers with the classic peaches and flowers – fresh and delicious. P&B in Healdsburg 13.7% $17.99 at Traverso’s Copain Wines

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Leitz, Rheingau, Rudesheimer, Magdalenenkreuz, Riesling, Spatlese 2007 This wine speaks of flowers, both the sweet and the spicy type. The mouth shows us candied fruit, apricots both dried and sweet, driven by a healthy dose of acidity. There is great balance to this wine and it is delicious.  Erzeugerabfullung in Rudesheim 8.0% $19.49 at Bottle [...]

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Schloss Lieser, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Riesling, Kabinett 2007 Give this wine a little air when you crack the screwcap to blow off a bit of reductiveness. Then you can see Riesling’s petrol character already shining through with citrus in the nose. The mouth is filled with the tartness of lime and a slightly creamy character – very [...]

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Dr. Loosen, Mosel, Dr.L, Riesling 2007 This wine is reminiscent of SweetTarts – the candy I loved as a child, with a bit of phenolic grip on the palate – austere but reasonably priced for a sense of the region. Qualitatswein, bottled in Bernkastel 8.5% $9.69 at Bottle Barn Dr. Loosen

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Hibou de Nuit, Sonoma County, Gewurztraminer 2006 The nose features a vibrant combo of floral and tropical notes, including pineapple and candied banana. In the mouth this Gewurz is quite dense with a streak of acidity to keep it fresh. It’s like a look toward Alsace with a New World sense of freshness. Winemaker Tom [...]

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St. Joseph, Grand River Valley, Riesling 2003 In the nose there are floral notes, apricots and candied lime. The mouth features peaches and apricots in a semi-dry appearance, fresh and delicious. The staying power of this wine is amazing – 6 years on it is as youthful as you can imagine.
We tasted this wine with [...]

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Canzona Vineyards, Sonoma Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 There are sweet smells of caramel and vanilla, bright cherry fruit, cassis and a hint of cigar box. The mouthfeel is supple. Certainly the structure of Cabernet is there to experience, but the tannins are ripe and velvety, making this is an elegant Cabernet, a pleasure to drink [...]

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I had an opportunity to visit with Paul and Kathryn Sloan of Small Vines Wines on Sunday, during their open house at the winery in Santa Rosa. We retasted the ‘06 Russian River and ‘06 Sonoma Coast which I reviewed back in the fall of ‘08.
These two wines are carrying on beautifully.  They capture the [...]

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Kimmel, Mendocino, Chardonnay 2007 The tropical notes on this wine are explosive.  It’s as if there’s a banana Popsicle hiding in the glass. Joining with the fruit there are brown spices and a sense of freshly-split oak. In the mouth the wine is quite ripe, with oakiness, warmth and tropical fruit showing on a silky [...]

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Jordan de Asso, Carinena DO, Crianza 2005 This wine features a great balance of oak and fruity flavors, driven by a long sense of acidity. The grapes behind this blend are 40% Tempranillo, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Syrah. The wine was aged in 100% French oak for one year plus a year in bottle [...]

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Trentadue, Alexander Valley, Estate, Zinfandel, Port 2003
Raisins mix with the fortifying spirit in the nose, a sense of candy with a bit of brandy thrown in. The mouth features ripe cherries, prunes, brown sugar and the alcohol boost. Grown, Produced & Bottled in Geyserville 18.5% $?? at the winery for a 500ml bottle Trentadue

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Geyser Peak, Alexander Valley, Reserve Alexandre, Meritage 1999 The nose is drying out yet there is quite a bit of chocolate to enjoy. The mouth has reached a rather astringent phase, drying out. The acidity is carrying some nice elements of dried cherry along but honestly this wine has gone over the hill at year [...]

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Rusina, Alexander Valley, Petite Sirah 2007 The nose features a dusty character with a bit of spirit while the mouth is redolent with berries and the tannins are tamed making this quite accessible today. There is probably a little Zin in the blend. P&B in Healdsburg 14.5% The previous vintage retails for $30 at the [...]

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Stryker Sonoma, Alexander Valley, Estate, Old Vines, Zinfandel 2006 The fruits are, fresh, stewed and jammy, all at the same time and dusted with black pepper. The mouth is vibrantly fruity with a little warmth and a touch of tannin. P&B in Geyserville 15.2% $26 at the winery for the previous vintage (the ‘06 is [...]

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Wattle Creek, Alexander Valley, Shiraz 2005
The nose smells of oak, nuts and caramel over chocolate with a bit of spiritous character peeping through. The mouth is a supple expression of ripe black fruit and oakiness. P&B in Cloverdale 14.4% $30 at the winery Wattle Creek Winery

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Coyote Crest, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, Estate Bottled, Syrah 2005 Unfortunately this wine is corked. Grown, Produced & Bottled in Healdsburg 15.9% $28 at the winery
Coyote Crest Vineyards & Winery

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Dutcher Crossing, Alexander Valley, Stuhlmuller Vineyard, Chardonnay 2007 There’s toasitness, nuttiness, fresh oak and bread dough in the nose.  The mouth features fresh apples and vibrant acidity with oaky richness as an enhancement rather than a cover over the fruit – very nice. Winemaker Danny Glover with Kerry Damskey consulting. P&B in Healdsburg 14.4% $34 [...]

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Rosenblum Cellars, Sonoma Valley, Maggie’s Reserve Zinfandel 2005
This wine is very sweet smelling, with a sense of pastry dough dabbed with vanilla. The mouth is quite rich, full of sweet-appearing fruit – just luscious. Some of the vines that gave us the grapes for this wine hail from 190. P&B in Alameda 14.8% $35.49 at [...]

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Elyse, Napa Valley, Morisoli Vineyard, Zinfandel 2006 Brown spices jump out in the nose while the mouth is supple and densely fruity. The grapes are sourced from Morisoli in Rutherford, west of Highway 29 at the base of Mount St. John. Cellared and bottled in Oakville 15.2% $26.49 at Bottle Barn Elyse

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Shenandoah Vineyards, Amador County, Special Reserve, Zinfandel 2007 This is an easy quaffer that delivers the fruit of Zin in a light-bodied format. The grapes were organicaly grown in California’s gold country. P&B in Plymouth 14.4% $7.99 at Bottle Barn
Shenandoah Vineyards

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Corte Rugolin, Amarone della Valpolicella DOC, Classico, Vigna “Monte Danieli” 2001
The nose is fetching in its liquer-like essence with a bit of volatility amping up the fruitiness. The mouth is quite luscious, rich and in dried fruits and extract. – very mouth-filling and long. The previous vintage displayed a complex nose inlcuding oak and brown [...]

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Agricola Punica, Isola dei Nuraghi IGT, Barrua 2004
Earthy notes dominate the nose initially along with dried and pruny fruit. The mouth features ripe New World-like fruit with substantial structure. Give this baby some time in the cellar. Bottled in Santadi 14% $49.95 at Traverso’s Agricola Punica

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Rocca di Montegrossi, Chianti Classico DOCG, 2005
There’s earthiness in the nose and plenty of tart cherry flavor in the mouth. This wine is medium-bodied, shows a bit of tannin and is long on acidity. I’m craving salame as I taste it. 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo, aged in French oak for 12 months. Estate bottled [...]

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Tenuta Guado al Tasso, Bolgheri DOC, Vermentino 2006 There is fresh perfume in the nose but also a sense of the wine aging and along its peak. The mouth is rounded and full of citrus but again there’s a complexity that has developed that at this point in time is quite nice as this wine [...]

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