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: September 2009
Husch Gewurztraminer 2007
Husch, Anderson Valley, Gewurztraminer 2007 This Gewurz has a lot of sweet perfume in the nose. In the mouth, it’s fresh, tasting of lychee with just a bit of RS at .8% – nice. GP&B in Philo 13.9% $9.99 at … Continue reading
Elena Walch Gewurztraminer 2007
Elena Walch, Alto Adige, Gewurztraminer 2007 Let this current vintage air a bit as its a little stinky at first. With time the roses that you expect emerge. Though the wine is dry, the body is big and viscous, low … Continue reading
Posted in Alto Adige, Gewurztraminer, Italy
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McManis Pinot Grigio 2008
McManis Family Vineyards, California, Pinot Grigio 2008 This is a fruit-driven Pinot Grigio with a little pettilance, plenty of tangy citrus flavor and a roundness in the mouth – a delicious value. Most of the fruit was sourced from the … Continue reading
Posted in California, Pinot Gris and Grigio
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Weinbach Catherine Pinot Gris 2007
Domaine Weinbach, Alsace, Cuvee Ste. Catherine, Pinot Gris 2007 This is a another gem from Weinbach. In the nose there are candied fruits, as in a fresh fruit tart glazed with a layer of sweetness while at the same time … Continue reading
Posted in Alsace, France, Pinot Gris and Grigio
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2004 Napa Bordeaux Blends
Franciscan, Napa Valley, Magnificat 2004 This wine exudes sweet ripe fruit in the nose. This profile follows through in the mouth with chalky tannins and lingering acidity. Produced and bottled in Rutherford 14.5% $50 at the winery for the latest … Continue reading
California Zinfandel 2006
Terra d’Oro, Amador County, Deaver Vineyard, Zinfandel 2006 The nose features stewed fruits, raisins, caramel and brown spices. In the mouth the wine is warm, with sweet, pruny fruit. The vines were planted in 1881. P&B Plymouth 15.5% $30 at … Continue reading
Posted in Amador County, California, Paso Robles, Sierra Foothills, Zinfandel
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Smith-Madrone Chardonnay
I’ve long been a fan of the Riesling produced by Smith-Madrone and further an ardent admirer of their willingness to stick with a grape which despite the great wines it can deliver, doesn’t bring home the biggest side of bacon … Continue reading
LangeTwins Viognier 2008
We visited with Joe Lange at the winery during the summer and he took us through their most state-of-the-art facility. We learned about the tremendous commitment the Lange family has made to sustainability. And on top of that, they’re making … Continue reading
Posted in California, Clarksburg, Viognier
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Frostwatch Chardonnay 2007
Frostwatch, Bennett Valley, Sonoma County, Chardonnay 2007 The nose is complex and toasty with a sense of hazlenuts. In the mouth the fruits are tropical, like papaya and pineapple. This is a big-bodied Chardonnay with viscosity and buttery richness, as … Continue reading
Posted in Bennett Valley, California, Chardonnay, Sonoma County
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Earthquake Petite 2005
Earthquake, Lodi, Petite Sirah 2005 In the nose there’s a very ripe sense of berries in this wine, with chocolate thrown on top. In the mouth the tannins are present but tamed compared to what you might expect with Petite. … Continue reading
Posted in California, Lodi, Petite Sirah
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J. Lohr Riesling 2007
J. Lohr Estates, Monterey County, Bay Mist, White Riesling 2007 The nose features minerality and a little petrol. Over the years this wine has been spot-on with light RS and balancing acidity. 100% Riesling with some botrytis, all stainless, and … Continue reading
Posted in California, Monterey County, Riesling
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Merryvale Starmont 2007
Merryvale, Napa Valley, Starmont, Chardonnay 2007 There’s plenty of oaky richness in the nose while the mouth adds the richness of butter and viscosity while at the same time maintaining a refreshing apple character – nice. P&B in Napa 13.5% … Continue reading
Posted in California, Chardonnay, Napa Valley
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Sauvignon Republic Russian River 2008
Sauvignon Republic, Russian River Valley, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 This has been a consistent winner and the current vintage features freshly mown grass and citrus. In the mouth there’s a zippy thread of acidity and the taste of fresh oranges – … Continue reading
Posted in California, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County
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Saucelito Canyon Late Harvest Zin 2006
Saucelito Canyon, Arroyo Grande Valley, Late Harvest, Zinfandel 2006 This wine is evolving prematurely, showing the uptake of oxygen in the nose. In the mouth, the sweet berries are still delicious. RS is 11%. GP&B in Arroyo Grande 15.6% $25 … Continue reading
Terra Valentine Yverdon Cab 2005
Terra Valentine, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District, Yverdon Vineyard, Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 This dense wine sports cedar in the nose, as well as black fruits and cigar box. In the mouth it is quite dense and structured, built to … Continue reading
Caceres Reserva 2001
Marques de Caceres, Rioja, Reserva 2001 The nose smells of stewed cherries, evolving nicely, developing complexity. In the mouth, the characteristic acidity is on display, on a plate of suppleness, with leather, olive and cherries – very nice. The fruit … Continue reading
Posted in Rioja, Spain, Tempranillo
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Mordoree Tavel Rose 2008
Domaine de la Mordoree, Tavel, “La Dame Rousse” 2008 The freshness of strawberries are evident in the nose and in the mouth that theme is over a rather big and slightly warm structure. The grapes behind this pink wine are … Continue reading
Napa Valley Wines
Grgich Hills, Napa Valley, Estate Grown, Fume Blanc 2007 This wine is always ripping with acidity, tangy and bright and the same is certainly true today – yes! Sourced from biodynamically grown fruit grown in American Canyon and the Carneros, … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Carneros, Chardonnay, Diamond Mountain District, Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District, Pinot Noir, Rutherford, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Spring Mountain District, Stags Leap District
Tagged Atlas Peak, Bell, Black Coyote, Chimney Rock, Grgich Hills, Hess Collection, Mahoney Vineyards, Moondance Cellars, Sawyer Cellars, Sbragia, Steltzner Vineyards, Stonegate, Terremoto Cellars, V. Sattui Winery
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DeLoach Chardonnays 2007
DeLoach, Sonoma Coast, Golden Coast, Chardonnay 2007 The nose features plenty of fresh oak. In the mouth there is more of the same with green apples and warmth. The wine was barrel fermented and the lees were stirred. P&B in … Continue reading
Posted in California, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County
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MacMurray Ranch Pinots 2007
MacMurray Ranch, Central Coast, Pinot Noir 2007 Give this wine a good 20 minutes of air and the perfume will come through in the nose, with candied fruit and floral notes. In the mouth this light-bodied wine has refreshing acidity … Continue reading
St. James Late Harvest Vignoles 2005
St. James Winery, Ozark Mountain, Late Harvest, Vignoles 2005 The smell reminds me of pumpkin pie with its brown spices showing and maybe graced with a few slices of orange. The mouth is full of the flavor of caramel. The … Continue reading
Posted in Late Harvest White, Missouri, Ozark Mountain, Vignoles, White Dessert
Tagged St. James
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Chateau Grillon 2002
Chateau Grillon, Sauternes 2002 In the nose there are dried apricots, hay and a bit of nuttiness. In the mouth the wine is moderately sweet, with moderate viscosity and a nice thread of balancing acidity. This was probably on the … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, France, Late Harvest White, Sauternes, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, White Dessert
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Long-Depaquit Vaucopins 2005
Domaine Long-Depaquit, Chablis Premier Cru, Les Vaucopins 2005 It’s butter through and through with this wine, from the first whiff to the lingering aftertaste. Mis par Albert Bichot a Chablis. 13%$26.49 at Bottle Barn Bichot
Posted in Burgundy, Chablis, Chardonnay
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Cline White Rhone 2007
Cline, Carneros, 85% Marsanne 15% Roussanne 2007 The stone fruits come through in the nose with a dusting of minerality. In the mouth the acidity shines against the backdrop of stones, making this a leaner, almost Old World approach; there’s … Continue reading
Posted in California, Carneros, Marsanne, Roussanne, Sonoma County
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Triennes Viognier 2007
Domaine de Triennes, Vin de Pays du Var, Sainte Fleur, Viognier 2007 This wine sings the Viognier song as if from the New World. The nose features fresh flowers and fruits and quite a perfume. In the mouth this freshness … Continue reading
Posted in France, Var, Vin de Pays du Var, Viognier
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Mayo Pinot Gris 2007
Mayo Family Winery, Sonoma Coast, Balletto Vineyards, Unwooded, Courtney’s Cuvee, Pinot Gris 2007 Unfortunately this wine is corked masking the potential of the wine in the bottle. The wine was fermented and aged in stainless. Winemaker Michel Berthoud. P&B in … Continue reading
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