Monthly Archives: August 2009

Graham’s Six Grapes

Graham’s, Porto, “Six Grapes”, Reserve nv The nose combines blackberry liqueur, raisins and a spiritous note. In the mouth you taste something akin to blackberry candy poured over a Tootsie Roll – chocolate and black fruit with a healthy shot … Continue reading

Posted in Fortified dessert, Port, Portugal, Touriga Nacional | Leave a comment

Il Conte d’Alba Moscato d’Asti

Il Conte d’Alba, Moscato d’Asti DOCG nv This wine smells of ginger and flowers while in the mouth it is sweet and lightly fizzy. It’s almost perfect except for a bit of TCA which unfortunately is adding a bit of … Continue reading

Posted in Italy, Muscat, Piemonte, Sparkling sweet | Leave a comment

Martin & Weyrich Moscato Allegro 2007

Martin & Weyrich, California, Moscato, Allegro 2007 The orange blossoms are alight in the glass when you pick it up. In the mouth it is light, airy, fruity, flowery, sweet and delightful. Fermentation was stopped early to lock in the … Continue reading

Posted in California, Muscat, Sparkling sweet | Leave a comment

Kendall-Jackson Riesling 2007

Kendall-Jackson, California, Vintner’s Reserve, Riesling 2007 Stone fruits come to mind when you raise this glass, a sense of peaches and apricots. In the mouth the apricot flavor is delightful, augmented by the residual sugar and balanced by the acidity. … Continue reading

Posted in California, Riesling | 2 Comments

La Crema Chardonnay 2007

La Crema, Sonoma Coast, Chardonnay 2007 In the nose there’s a sense of biscuits, croissants and other freshly baked doughy things with hints of oak and vanilla. In the mouth this wine is rich with oak yet the apples and … Continue reading

Posted in California, Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County | Leave a comment

Bogle Phantom 2006

Bogle Vineyards, California, Phantom 2006 Dark fruits and a bit of berry jam mark the nose with a hint of toffee. In the mouth, the fruits are surrounded by tannins that are ripe, with just a little grip to let … Continue reading

Posted in California, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel | Leave a comment

Dr. Loosen Bernkasteler Lay 2006

Dr. Loosen, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Bernkasteler, Lay, Riesling, Kabinett 2006 Minerality combines petrol giving a glimpse that Riesling is in the glass, even if you didn’t see the label. Limes and candy spark through in the mouth, with refreshing acidity tempering the … Continue reading

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

Rombauer, Carneros, Chardonnay 2006

Rombauer Vineyards, Carneros, Chardonnay 2006 You can’t miss the oak on the nose of this wine as if you just split a stack in the backyard. In the mouth there is citrus and tropical fruits with layers and layers and … Continue reading

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

Sauvignon Republic Marlborough 2008

Sauvignon Republic, Marlborough, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 The current vintage shows plenty gooseberry and freshly cut grass. In the mouth, it is racy as ever, with added depth of flavor and a sense of citrus peel – very nice. Notes on … Continue reading

Posted in Marlborough, New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc | Leave a comment

Wiederkehr Tawny Port

Wiederkehr, Arkansas Moutain, Tawny Port nv The nose sports lots of vanilla with nuts and a very overt sense of oaky richness. In the mouth the nuttiness continues with caramel sweetness. The alcohol is perfectly integrated so watch that it … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, Concord, Fortified dessert, Port, Tawny Port | Leave a comment

St. John de Vine Red

St. John, Red Table Wine, Medium Sweet, de Vine Red nv This wine speaks floral notes from the glass with the foxiness I associate with the Concord that I ate as a boy. In the mouth is fruity and friendly, … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas | 4 Comments

7 Deadly Zins 2007

Michael & David, Lodi, 7 Deadly Zins, Old Vine Zinfandel 2007 This wine has been a consistent oak bomb on the soft and plush side. The current vintage is particularly on the mark, soft, light-bodied and very oaky – a … Continue reading

Posted in California, Lodi, Zinfandel | Leave a comment

Sequoia Grove Cabernet 2005

Sequoia Grove, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 The nose combines earth, forest floor, black fruits a bit of bay leaf. In the mouth this wine is structured, yet in a way that shows off the black fruit rather than dominting … Continue reading

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Napa Valley | Leave a comment

Post Familie Merlot nv

Post Familie, American, Merlot nv There’s a lively pluminess in the glass when you smell this wine. In the mouth there’s plenty of fruit as well, with a healthy dose of acidity making this a natural with food. You can … Continue reading

Posted in American, Merlot | Leave a comment

Chateau Aux Arc Dragonfly Red

Chateau Aux Arc, American, Dragonfly Red nv The nose speaks of sweet oak while in the mouth this wine is smooth and light with a little warmth. Some of the fruit came from the estate’s Dragonfly Ranch, supplemented by imports … Continue reading

Posted in American, Arkansas, Merlot, Zinfandel | Leave a comment

La Spinetta Moscato 2008

La Spinetta, Moscato d’Asti DOCG, Bricco Quaglia 2008 Heaven in a glass, with plenty of flowers, lovely sweetness, light effervesence and freshness all day. This is a personal favorite from the legend. I was blessed to meet Rivetti before the … Continue reading

Posted in Italy, Moscato d'Asti, Muscat, Piemonte, Sparkling sweet | Leave a comment

Dom Perignon 2000

Dom Perignon, Champagne 2000 The nose shows fresh stone fruit with a sense of fresh peach tarts, still warm from the oven. In the mouth there is the characteristic acidity, a taste of green apples yet enhanced by a lingering … Continue reading

Posted in Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Dry | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Fleury Fleurty 2008

Fleury Estate Winery, Napa Valley, Rose 2008 This is a rose with no shortage of colour. The nose is clean, showing red fruits and perfume. In the mouth the wine is broad, a rather big-bodied rose with the flavor of … Continue reading

Posted in California, Napa Valley, Rosé | Leave a comment

Claiborne & Churchill 2007

Claiborne & Churchill, Central Coast, Dry Riesling 2007 Fortunately I had the opportunity to try this wine again after the corked bottled discussed previously. In the nose are stone fruits, flintiness and a bit of the petrol character we associate … Continue reading

Posted in Arroyo Seco, California, Central Coast, Monterey County, Riesling | Leave a comment

Ballatore Spumante

Ballatore, California, Rosso Spumante nv The nose explodes with sweet red fruits. In the mouth it is quite fruity, tasting of cherries and strawberries in a light-bodied format with plenty of sweetness. The dosage is 76 grams per litre. The … Continue reading

Posted in California, Sparkling sweet | Leave a comment

Schramsberg Cremant 2004

Schramsberg, North Coast, Cremant, Demi-Sec 2004 There’s sweet tropical fruit in the nose, with flowers and perfume. In the mouth this wine is lightly sweet, with a fruity core and a little bitterness. The grapes are 84% Flora, 9% Chardonnay, … Continue reading

Posted in California, Chardonnay, Flora, Mendocino County, Napa Valley, North Coast, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Lightly Sweet | Leave a comment

Roederer L’Ermitage 2002

Roederer Estate, Anderson Valley, L’Ermitage, Brut 2002 The nose opens with fresh biscuits, citrus and stone fruits, also calling to mind a freshly baked fruit tart. In the mouth this wine is very concentrated and full of the flavor of … Continue reading

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

Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvee 2002

Gloria Ferrer, Carneros, Vintage Reserve, Royal Cuvee, Brut 2002 Let this open up a bit and after 10 minutes the fruit will start to show. There are apples both red and green and refreshing acidity in this light-bodied sparkler. Tasted … Continue reading

Posted in California, Carneros, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Dry | Leave a comment

Domaine Carneros Brut 2005

Domaine Carneros, Carneros, Brut 2005 The nose is opulently fruity with floral notes as well. In the mouth it is soft and fruity, round and very approachable – nice.  The grapes are all Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and the wine … Continue reading

Posted in California | Leave a comment

Schramsberg Mirabelle Rose

Schramsberg, North Coast, Mirabelle, Brut Rose nv There’s a red-fruited sweetness in the nose, reminiscent of the cherries jubilee that I used to whip up table side back in the day. In the mouth the fruity theme continues with moderate … Continue reading

Posted in California, Chardonnay, Mendocino County, Napa Valley, Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, Sparkling Dry | Leave a comment

Harney Lane

Harney Lane, Lodi Albarino 2008 This is spectacularly ripe and fresh Albarino, showing full fruit development. In the nose, the tropical notes are alight while in the mouth there is fresh citrus to complement the tropicals. In the mouth there … Continue reading

Posted in Albariño, California, Lodi | Leave a comment

Chateau Lascombes 2005

Chateau Lascombes, Margaux 2005 This wine is super toasty in the nose with hints of dark chocolate and cassis. The mouth is quite structured urging a good 10 years and more in the cellar, yet already the black fruit is … Continue reading

Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot | Leave a comment

Franciscan Cabernet 2006

Franciscan, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 This wine features lots of fruit overlayed with sweet vanilla. The oak adds richness. The tannins are ripe; there’s a nice long acidity as well as balance. This wine is quite approachable and ready … Continue reading

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Napa Valley | Leave a comment

Rubissow Wines

We had a great visit to Rubissow with our Wines of California & Europe class on the first day of August. I’ll post the notes on the estate next week but in the meantime here are two of their stars. … Continue reading

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Merlot, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley | Leave a comment

Raymond White 2008

Raymond Vineyards, Napa Valley, Small Lot, White Wine 2008 This wine is crisp and ripe with the flavor of limes and oranges. The grapes behind this wine are 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Semillon. The Sauvignon was fermented and aged … Continue reading

Posted in Bordeaux Style Blends, California, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon | Leave a comment