Shelter, Napa Valley, The Butcher, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 The nose features vibrant black currants with notes of tobacco and the cigar box. In the mouth there is nice density, the acidity shines and the tannins are very ripe. This is an elegant Cabernet, with lingering sweet oak. Cellared and bottled in St. Helena 14.3% $75 [...]

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Robert Mondavi, Napa Valley, Moscato d’Oro 2007 In the nose you’ll find a light waft of the orange blossoms we associate with Muscat. In the mouth the wine is clean and fruity, a light expression of Muscat as dessert, fresh and well-suited for fresh fruit after dinner. The grape behind this wine is Muscat Canelli. [...]

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Stonegate, Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley, Spaulding Vineyard, Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 This wine delivers chocolate wrapped in black fruits with a healthy dusting of oak on a big structure. The acidity carries the flavors a long way and while this would benefit from a long sleep in the cellar it is accessible now, especially [...]

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Howell Mountain Vineyards, Napa Valley, Bear & Lion, Old Vine, Zinfandel 2006 The fruit in the nose has a very fresh grape juice quality with a note of blackberry liqueur. In the mouth the wine is jammy, soft and light with warmth underneath. Cellared and bottled in Napa 15.5% $25 at wine.com
Howell Mountain Vineyards

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McKenzie-Mueller, Napa Valley, Estate Bottled, Cabernet Franc 2005 The black fruit in the nose is very sweet smelling, with notes of pencil shavings and cedar. In the mouth it is light to medium-bodied with a sense of vanilla and chalky tannins in the background. GP&B in Napa 14.9% $35 for the previous vintage at the [...]

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V. Sattui Winery, Napa Valley, Los Carneros, Chardonnay 2007 The oak is quite prominent in the nose, freshly split, with notes of tropical fruit, bananas and coconut. In the mouth the oak continues, with a healthy dash of butter on top of the tropically-themed fruits. The wine was barrel fermented and aged on the lees [...]

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The Seventy-Five Wine Company, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 The nose on this wine packs some punch. Give it a bit of air to blow off the reductive character and then you can focus on the gooseberries, freshly mown grass and citrus. In the mouth it is quite concentrated and acidic, as well as very [...]

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Mill Creek, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Estate Vineyard, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 The nose shows off notes of citrus and tropical fruits like banana. In the mouth it is full of orange and grapefuit,with plenty of acidity and a little warmth. Grown, produced and bottled in Healdsburg 14.5% alcohol, purchased for $13.99 at Bottle Barn
Mill [...]

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Pacific Rim, Columbia Valley, Selenium Vineyard, Vin de Glaciere, Riesling 2007 This wine features lots of dried apricot, with acidity to match the great sweetness, a wine that is very dense and very long. The grapes were grown at an elevation of about 1,000 feet on the northern edge of Yakima Valley and frozen after [...]

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Berger, Niederosterreich, Gruner Veltliner 2008 In the nose there is a little sense of bread dough while the mouth displays lots of fresh lime, light-bodied and long. This wine has been a value and notice that you still get a super size. Estate bottled by Weingut E. & M. Berger in Gedersdorf in Krems 12.5% [...]

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Verget, Meursault 2006 In the nose you’ll find sweet oak with green herbs with a little volatility. In the mouth there is plenty of acidity, an expression of fresh lemons and a little thickness. From Jean-Marie Guffen, Vinifie et mis en bouteilles in Sologny. 13% $27.99 at Bottle Barn Verget

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Jean-Marc Brocard, Chablis Premier Cru, Vaucoupin 2006 In the nose you’ll find a steely, flinty quality melded with apples baked in a pastry – yes a fresh apple tart. In the mouth the acidity is tempered by some viscosity with a bit of warmth in the background. Mis en bouteille a Prehy 13% $23.99 at [...]

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Esterlina, Anderson Valley, Estate Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2007 The fruit is quite expressive in the nose – an explosion of red and black fruits with a smoky note for complexity. In the mouth the fruit shines again with plenty of acidity and a supple texture. Warm up the barbie for some grilled salmon. P&B in [...]

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Muscardini Cellars, Sonoma Valley, Monte Rosso Vineyards, Rosato di Sangiovese 2008 This is a zippy rose, a clean expression of Sangiovese’s cherry character with refreshing acidity – very nice. The wine was fermented and aged in neurtal French oak for 5 months. Proprietor and winemaker Michael Muscardini. Vinted and bottled in Kenwood 13.8% $22 at [...]

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Les Vignerons de Tavel, Tavel, Prestige des Lauzeraies 2007 Sweet cherry fruit marks the nose and carries over on the palate. The mouth is broad and weighty, the acidity low, the fruit flavors are compelling and the body is big – a nice Tavel. The grapes are 50% Grenache, 25% Cinsault and 25% Syrah harvested [...]

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Chatom Vineyards, Calaveras County, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 In the nose this Sauvignon features flowers and green herbs while in the mouth it is soft and viscous. Grown, produced and bottled in Douglas Flat 14.8% $16  at the winery, a gift from the SFCWC Chatom Vineyards

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Clos de la Coulee de Serrant, Savennieres-Coulee de Serrant 2004 The wine in this bottle is deeply golden, almost brown, the nose is very complex, the mouth is quite dense and the flavors go on for a long time. Yet this wine is quite evolved.
The wines of Savennieres and in particular this estate are known [...]

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Husch, Mendocino, Renegade, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 This is a rounder style of Sauvignon with the enhancement of oak. The wine takes its name from the ‘renegade’ yeasts that are allowed to ply their craft without the help of their cultured cousins. The grapes are a special selection from the family’s La Ribera Vineyards. The wine [...]

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Belo, Napa Valley, Vintage Tawny Port, Tinta Isabella 1996 The nose is pruny and spirtitous with some volatility. The mouth shows lots of caramel and nuttiness, like crunching up some almonds, wrapping them in milk chocolate and basting them with caramel. It’s appropriately warm with lingering acidity – a very nice Tawny style of Port [...]

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Etude, Carneros, Estate Grown, Pinot Noir 2007 This is sweet smelling Pinot with caramel and an almost jammy fruit character. The mouth is very concentrated with ripe tannins, punchy acidity and that sweet caramel on top of the black fruit – very nice. Produced and bottled in Napa 14.4% $31.99 purchased at Bottle [...]

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Paul Hobbs, Carneros, Napa Valley, Hyde Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2007
The nose features ripe black fruits, a bit of earthiness, cola and a toasty note. In the mouth you’ll find the characteristic mouthfeel that I find over and over again with Paul Hobbs’ wines – suppleness. There’s lingering acidity as well – very nice. P&B [...]

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Fotinos, Carneros, Napa Valley, Pinot Noir 2005 The nose features very sweet brown spice notes, with ashes of the campfire. In the mouth there’s a fair amount of grip. Produced and bottled in Sonoma 14% $35 at the winery, a gift to the class from the SFCWC Fotinos Vineyard

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Saintsbury, Carneros, Pinot Noir, Garnet 2008 This has always been a light and elegant Pinot and the ‘08 is on target. By light I don’t mean thin and the creaminess enhances the mouthfeel. There’s a screw cap top for added protection. Cellared and bottled in Sonoma 13.5%, purchased at Bottle Barn for $15.99 Saintsbury

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Chateau Montelena, Napa Valley, Chardonnay 2007 In the nose there’s a sense of brioche while the mouth sports green apple, with a patina of silkiness and very long acidity – very nice and always a personal favorite. P&B in Calistoga 13.7% $39.99 purchased at Bottle Barn Montelena

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Pomelo, California, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 The nose sports citrus and freshly mown grass. In the mouth you’ll find lemon with a sense of both its juice and pith. The wine is soft, clean and light with a bit of petillance and moderate acidity. Produced and bottled by Mason Cellars in Oakville.
Mason has made delightful Sauvignons [...]

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Grey Stack, Bennett Valley, Dry Stack Vineyard, Grenache 2007vGrenache’s candy-like character comes through in the nose, sweet smelling and ebulliently fruity. In the mouth there is structure to match the fruit, a vision of Chateauneuf, where Grenache shows that it makes more than candy bombs – well done.
Winemaker Russell Bevan and Vineyard Manager Chris [...]

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Chateau de Pibarnon, Bandol 2005 The nose is quite spicy, borrowing both brown and green entries from the spice rack. In the mouth this wine is quite substantial, big in structure and acidity that drives the flavor for a long time. This is just a baby now – give it at least 8 years in [...]

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Cline, Contra Costa County, Ancient Vines, Mourvedre 2007 Give this some air as it is a little reductive upon first opening. In the mouth the black fruit is apparent with ample acidity and light body. P&B in Sonoma 15% $10.99 at Bottle Barn Cline Cellars

Cline, Contra Costa County, Small Berry, Mourvedre 2007 There’s a fair [...]

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JC Cellars, Santa Barbara County, Fess Parker’s Vineyard, Syrah 2006 This Syrah features boatloads of oak through and through. The mouthfeel is supple and the oak adds a sweet vanilla appearance, enriching the wine further. Winemaker Jeff Cohn. P&B in Oakland 15.0% $23.99 at Bottle Barn JC Cellars

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Alain Graillot, Crozes Hermitage 2007 In the nose you sense the classic black pepper along with a meatiness and herbal character, perhaps hinting at rosemary and thyme. In the mouth this is a structured Syrah, acidic and tannic, delicious and long. Vinifie, eleve et mis en bouteille a Pont de l’Isere 13% $21.99 at Bottle [...]

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