Monthly Archives: July 2009

Ceago Vinegarden

Like Rosenblum Cellars on the San Francisco Bay, you can literally arrive by boat when you visit Ceago Vinegarden. The estate takes its name from a Pomo Indian word and is pronounced in the same way as Diego. It is … Continue reading

Posted in California, Chardonnay, Clear Lake, Lake County, Mendocino County, Merlot | Leave a comment

Tejada Wines 2005

With the 2005 vintage, Byron Kosuge is fully in charge of the winemaking at Tejada. In June we sampled the 05s with Ibo Tejada and his family at their estate in Lake County. The estate is noted for its focus … Continue reading

Posted in California, Grenache, Lake County, Tempranillo | Leave a comment

Prager Tomas Port 2004

Prager, Napa Valley, Imogene’s Vineyard, Tomas, Port 2004 This wine is full of dried fruits, prunes and dark chocolate, with sweetness and warmth. The grapes were sourced from the family’s property in Calistoga. GP&B in St. Helena 19.5% $45.99 at … Continue reading

Posted in California, Fortified dessert, Napa Valley, Port | Leave a comment

Foxen Williamson-Dore Syrah 2006

Foxen, Santa Ynez Valley, Williamson-Dore Vineyard, Syrah 2006 This vintage exudes sweetness, like berry jam and raspberry liqueur. In the mouth it is supple and warm, oaky and smoky – a very rich and ripe style of red wine. The … Continue reading

Posted in California, Santa Barbara County, Santa Ynez Valley, Syrah | Tagged | Leave a comment

Dujac Chambolle Musigny 2006

Dujac Fils & Pere, Chambolle-Musigny 2006 Give the wine some air to blow off a musty character and the fruit begins to emerge with notes of smoke and brambles. Give the wine another 40 minutes and the sweetness of the … Continue reading

Posted in Burgundy, Chambolle-Musigny, Chardonnay, Cote de Nuits, France, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc | Tagged | Leave a comment

Zilliken Riesling Spatlese 2006

Zilliken, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Saarburger, Rausch, Riesling, Spatlese 2006 The nose if beautifully floral with hints of petrol while the mouth features peaches galore, significant acidity and the richness of residual sugar. Owner/Winemaker Hanno and daughter Dorothee. Gutsabfullung Weingut Forstmeister Geltz in … Continue reading

Posted in Germany, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Riesling | Leave a comment

Sequoia Grove Chardonnay 2007

Sequoia Grove, Carneros, Napa Valley, Chardonnay 2007 There’s lots of tropical fruit in the nose, pineapples, bananas and coconuts. In the mouth the pineapple flavors come through with a hint of oak and a significant blast of green apples in … Continue reading

Posted in California, Carneros, Chardonnay, Napa Valley | Leave a comment

Huet Moelleux 1990

Domaine Huet, Vouvray, Le Haut-Lieu, 1ere Trie, Moelleux 1990 This wine has developed a beautiful tawny color over almost 2 decades. The nose smells of toffee, caramel and raisins. The mouth is an absolute explosions of fresh oranges covered in … Continue reading

Posted in Chenin Blanc, France, Late Harvest White, Loire Valley, White Dessert | Leave a comment

Smith Haut Lafitte 2005

Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Leognan 2005 The nose smells of leather, earth, smokiness, horse blanket and a host of descriptors that get at a sense of brettanomycees as complexity rather than a flaw. That said, I know that this level … Continue reading

Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Pessac-Leognan | Leave a comment

Giscours 2005

Chateau Giscours, Margaux 2005 The berry fruit is ripe and expressive in the nose, with a sense of cedar and a light touch of earthiness. The fruit comes through on the palate, with some chewy though ripe tannin and a … Continue reading

Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaux, Merlot | Tagged | Leave a comment

Rolland-Maillet 2005

Chateau Rolland-Maillet, Saint-Emilion, Grand Cru 2005 Upon first opening this bottle was uncharacteristically rustic for a Rolland wine; patience is rewarded with 10 minutes or so of air. In the mouth however, the fruit is immediately apparent and the texture … Continue reading

Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Saint-Emilion | Leave a comment

Pichot Vouvray 2008

Domaine Le Peu de la Moriette (Domaine Pichot), Vouvray 2008 In the nose there is a sense of herbaceousness, candied green fruit and floral notes. In the mouth there is that familiar balance of the sweet and the tart, as … Continue reading

Posted in Chenin Blanc, France, Loire Valley, Vouvray | Leave a comment

Brundlmayer Kamptaler Terrassen Gruner 2008

Weingut Brundlmayer, Kamptaler, Terrassen, Gruner Veltliner 2008 Give this new wine a bit of air to blow of the reductive character. Then with 5 minutes the citrus and minerality emerge, with a healthy dose of white pepper and floral notes. … Continue reading

Posted in Austria, Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal | Leave a comment

Quady Electra 2008

Quady, California, Orange Muscat, Electra 2008 Spot on again in ’08! Notes on the previous vintage tasted at the winery in the spring of ’09: This wine features an abundance of citrus in a very fresh way, as if you … Continue reading

Posted in California, White Dessert | Leave a comment

Guenoc Serpentine Meadow Petite 2000

Guenoc, Guenoc Valley, Serpentine Meadow, Reserve, Petite Sirah 2000 In the nose there is black fruit and toffee, prunes and chocolate. In the mouth the tannins have simmered down while the acidity has remained taut, framing a cranberry-like fruit  – … Continue reading

Posted in California, Guenoc Valley, Lake County, Petite Sirah | Leave a comment

Edmeades Piffero 2005

Edmeades, Redwood Valley, Piffero Vineyard, Zinfandel 2005 The fruit has taken on a sweet character, seemingly combining fresh and dried cherries. The wine fills out the entire palate with flavor in a supple way – delicious. P&B in Geyserville 15.5% … Continue reading

Posted in California, Mendocino County, Redwood Valley, Zinfandel | Leave a comment

Sobon Primitivo 2007

Sobon Estate, Amador County, Rezerve, Primitivo 2007 The black pepper is not shy in the nose of this wine. In the mouth the blackberries come to the fore along with ripe tannins. All the grapes were grown organically. Grown, produced … Continue reading

Posted in Amador County, California, Primitivo, Sierra Foothills | Leave a comment

Carol Shelton Monga Zin 2006

Carol Shelton, Cucamonga Valley, Lopez Vineyard, Monga Zin, Old Vine, Zinfandel 2006 In the nose there is jammy fruit and earthy notes. In the mouth you’ll find a chewy Zin, with a touch of creaminess and the acidity to carry … Continue reading

Posted in California, Cucamonga Valley, Zinfandel | Leave a comment

Migration Pinot Noir 2007

Goldeneye, Anderson Valley, Migration Pinot Noir 2007 This vintage features zesty berry fruit and brambles in the nose. In the mouth  it is full of fruit with a light touch of oak to complement. The acidity keeps this light-bodied Pinot … Continue reading

Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir | Leave a comment

Noceto Nutz!

Tutti I Giorni, Amador County, Nutz! In the nose there is vibrant red fruit and a meaty character. In the mouth there is tons of acidity, red fruit and a little grip in a light-bodied package. P&B in Plymouth by … Continue reading

Posted in Amador County, California | Leave a comment

Sobon Viognier 2008

Sobon Estate, Amador County, Viognier 2008 The tropical notes are such that this wine reminds me of the banana popsicles that I enjoyed as a boy. There’s also a layer of richness as well, making this wine slippery smooth. Besides … Continue reading

Posted in Amador County, California, Sierra Foothills, Viognier | Leave a comment

Ceago Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Ceago Vinegarden, Clear Lake, Kathleen’s Vineyard, Estate Grown, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 The nose assertively expresses gooseberries and herbaceousness when first opened and continues with stone fruits. In the mouth it is crisp and clean and reminiscent of fresh grapefruit with … Continue reading

Posted in California, Clear Lake, Lake County, Sauvignon Blanc | Leave a comment

Chapoutier Banyuls 2007

M. Chapoutier, Banyuls 2007 There’s lots of pruny complexity in the nose. In the mouth it is spot on, nuttiness and raisins tossed in molasses – yum. There was a touch of TCA in the first bottle tasted, described here … Continue reading

Posted in Banyuls, Fortified dessert, France, Grenache, Roussillon | Leave a comment

Tablas Creek Cotes de Tablas 2006

Tablas Creek Vineyard, Paso Robles, Cotes de Tablas 2006 California sunshine comes through in this New World wine, with ripe liqueur-like fruit and polished edges. There’s a sense of tart cherries and cranberries as well, acidity balancing the ripe character. … Continue reading

Posted in California, Grenache, Paso Robles, Rhone Blend | Leave a comment

Perrin Vacqueyras 2006

Perrin & Fils, Vacqueyras, Les Christins 2006 Black pepper and red fruits combine with a sense of the garrigue when you smell this wine. In the mouth it is structured and ready to accompany a pepper steak; the acidity carries … Continue reading

Posted in France, Grenache, Rhône, Syrah, Vacqueyras | Leave a comment

Jade Mountain La Provencale 2002

Jade Mountain, California, La Provencale 2002 Raisined fruit and pruniness combines with caramel to paint a complex picture in the nose. In the mouth it’s starting to dry out and show a bit of spiritousness as it has crested the … Continue reading

Posted in California, Rhone Blend | Leave a comment

Provisor Syrah 2002

Provisor, Dry Creek Valley, Syrah 2002 This wine, almost 7 years on is showing quite nicely, with dried fruits and a supple texture. The wine was aged in new and older French oak for 16 months. This was the first … Continue reading

Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Syrah | Leave a comment

Gourgonnier Rose 2008

Mas de Gourgonnier, Les Baux de Provence, Rose 2008 The fruit is evolving away from freshness as this wine seems to be aging prematurely. The mouth is quite gripping – a disappointment. Bottled with a synthetic cork; perhaps the seal … Continue reading

Posted in France, Grenache, Les Baux de Provence, Provence, Rosé | Leave a comment

Lake County Wine Studio

Lake County Wine Studio features the wines of the region on Main Street in the town of Upper Lake, just a stone’s throw from the end of Highway 29. We all know the congested bit of this highway where the … Continue reading

Posted in California, Lake County, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel | 4 Comments

MacMurray Pinot Gris 2008

MacMurray Ranch, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Gris 2008 In the nose there is a strong sense of candied fruit with a light dusting of green herbs. In the mouth the stone fruit comes alive with a little warmth in a medium … Continue reading

Posted in California, Pinot Gris and Grigio, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County | Leave a comment