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: January 2010
Kathryn Kennedy Reserve Syarh 2002
Kathryn Kenndy, Santa Cruz Mountains, Maridon Vineyard, Reserve, Syrah 2002 This was a delicious wine and I can’t tell you why for the notes are in a journal that I’ve misplaced. Yet I feel compelled to share the story – … Continue reading
Chronicle Zinfandels 2006
Proprietor Mike Hengehold was on hand at ZAP today in San Francisco to showcase his Zin portfolio. He is sourcing fruit from vines that were planted in the Russian River long before I was born. The fruit hangs well into … Continue reading
Petaluma Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay 2004
Petaluma, Piccadilly Valley, Chardonnay 2004 The nose offers toastiness, freshly split oak and vanilla with a sense of ripe, tropical fruit. In the mouth the viscosity is matched by steely acidity, combining the best of Burgundian austerity and Australian flamboyance. … Continue reading
Posted in Adelaide Hills, Australia, Chardonnay, Piccadilly Valley, South Australia
Tagged Petaluma
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Kenwood Artist Series 1999
We had a great visit today with Kryss Speegle at Kenwood Vineyards. She took the class through a tasting of wines through the years so that everyone could experience the evolution a wine goes through, form early days to long … Continue reading
St. James Vintner’s Select Vignoles 2006
St. James Winery, Ozark Mountain, Vintner’s Select, Semi-Dry, Vignoles 2006 This wine is like peaches in a glass, infused with simple syrup to add richness. The viscosity is balanced by acidity making for delightful wine to pair with the spicy … Continue reading
Luna Sangiovese 2007
Luna, Napa Valley, Sangiovese 2007 This is a light-bodied and fruit forward Sangiovese to tickle the heart of died in the wool New World wine drinkers. I’m a huge fan of Sangiovese but often when I introduce a classic model … Continue reading
Saint Clair Vicar’s Choice Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Saint Clair, Marlborough, Vicar’s Choice, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 In the nose you’ll find apricot and green pepper spiced up with floral notes. In the mouth the acidity is vibrant and the body light with a bit of petillance – a … Continue reading
Innocent Bystander Shiraz-Viognier 2006
Innocent Bystander, Victoria, Shiraz-Viognier 2006 It’s very neat how you get the ripeness of Shiraz, the black fruits that we love, with the cooler climate marker of black pepper, all in one bottle. This is a great walk down the … Continue reading
Cellars of Sonoma
On Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. pacific time I’ll be on the air with Cellars of Sonoma. Listen in or join me live at their tasting room in Santa Rosa. Cheers!
King Estate Oregon Pinot Gris 2007
King Estate, Oregon, Signature Collection, Pinot Gris 2007 In the nose I found tropical fruit, I swear it smelled like lychee. Also there was a spicy floral note, like geranium leaves with some grass and a bit of mint. In … Continue reading
Bodega Celdran Vinto Tinto Reserva 2004
Bodega Celdran, Sonoma County, Vinto Tinto, Reserva 2004 In the nose you’ll find read fruits and cedar with a bit of the sweet tobacco of Bordeaux. In the mouth the texture is supple, the fruit is ripe and an Old … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Sonoma County, Spanish Blend, Zinfandel
Tagged Bodega Celdran
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Trione Sauvignon Blanc 2006
I hope you don’t think that I’m on the payroll at Trione ’cause here is another review of a super wine. At the Chronicle judges’ dinner last week we were each given a gift-wrapped bottle of a wine to take … Continue reading
Posted in California, Russian River Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County
Tagged Trione
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Trione new releases
Trione, Russian River Valley, River Road Ranch, Pinot Noir 2008 In the nose you’ll find sweet red fruit with pastry notes, think cherry pie, warm and aromatic. In the mouth you’ll find a supple expression of that cherry pie, absolutely … Continue reading
Posted in California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Syrah
Tagged Trione
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Blandy’s 5 Year Old Verdelho
Blandy’s, Madeira, 5 Year Old, Verdelho nv The flavor profile puts together the best of Amontillado from Spain with a splash of sweetness. You’ll find a woody, nutty essence with warmth and dried oranges. This is a weighty aperitif that … Continue reading
Posted in Aperitif, Madeira, Portugal, Verdelho
Tagged Blandy's, Madeira Wine Company
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Keuka Spring Gewurztraminer 2008
Keuka Spring, Finger Lakes, Gewurztraminer 2008 The nose features spicy floral notes, like roses and very pretty at that. In the mouth it is round, with a little RS, lots of lychee fruit, and a brightness that eludes many of … Continue reading
Francois Chidaine Montlouis Clos Habert 2007
Francois Chidaine, Montlouis sur Loire, Clos Habert 2007 This wine was a tremendous disappointment after my experience with the previous vintage, reviewed earlier. First it was worrisome that the colour was quite golden. Smelling the wine was a first rate … Continue reading
Posted in Chenin Blanc, France, Loire Valley, Montlouis sur Loire
Tagged Francois Chidaine
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2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Big Winners
This morning I visited with Henry Tennenbaum of KRON-TV 4. During our segment we sprinted through a tasting of these four Judges’ Choice Winners. My notes are just a brief snapshot from memory so pick up a bottle of each … Continue reading
Posted in California
Tagged Merryvale, Michale & David, Navarro Vineyards, Robert Hall Winery
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2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
The Results are coming tomorrow – online first at SFGate. It’s been a grueling week in Cloverdale at the top end of Sonoma County. Chris Sawyer is one of over 60 judges who lent a palate to help evaluate 4,913 … Continue reading
Peterson Sauvignon revisited
Peterson, Dry Creek Valley, Timbercrest Farms, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 During my visit at Peterson earlier in 2009 I was enamored with the ’08 Sauvignon and purchased a case. In May I wrote the following post: This wine is vibrant with … Continue reading
Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County
Tagged Peterson Winery
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Six Sigma Sauvignon Blancs 2008
This flight provides a nice contrast of Sauvignon styles. You have the same winery, same county, same grape, same vintage, 2 vineyards and 2 takes on how to handle this grape in the winery. Both are great but as you’ll … Continue reading
Paul Hobbs Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Paul Hobbs, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 This is a truly delicious wine, showing the polish that you expect from Hobbs. Though it can improve in the cellar it is spot-on drinkable right now. A good friend shared this with … Continue reading
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