Wine Regions & Grapes
Sampling of Wineries
Acorn Allegrini Atlas Peak Balletto Benziger Blandy's Bodega Navarro Correas Burgans Chronicle d'Arenberg Domaine Carneros Domaine de la Mordoree Dow's Dr. Loosen Fonseca Foppiano Foxen Gaston Riviere Glen Ellen Innocent Bystander Kendall-Jackson Korbel Madeira Wine Company Martin Codax Masi Merryvale Mulderbosch Napa Cellars Navarro Vineyards Noceto Paul Hobbs Reynoso Roederer Estate Ruggeri Sawyer Cellars Sbragia Shed Horn Six Sigma Winery Sonoma State Wine Business Institute St. James Trinchero Winery Vietti Wildhurst William Fevre Wilson Winery
Author Archives: Ray
More Red Wines of Lake County
Bell Hill, Lake County, Merlot 2005 When first tasted in July 2009, I wrote: the nose features sweet notes of vanilla and cherries while the mouth repeats with ripe tannins, just to let you know they are there – very … Continue reading
Posted in California, Lake County, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel
Tagged Bell Hill, Gregory Graham, Shed Horn
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White Wines of Lake County
Shannon Ridge, Lake County, Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Citrus is the theme throughout the nose and on the palate, crisp and refreshing. Fermented in stainless and bottled under a screwcap closure. Vinted and bottled in Geyserville 13.5% and available for $26 … Continue reading
Posted in California, Chardonnay, Lake County, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc
Tagged Shannon Ridge, Wildhurst
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Napa Cellars Dyer Vineyard Syrah 2009
Napa Cellars, Carneros, Dyer Vineyard, Syrah 2009 This is a sweet smelling Syrah, forecasting ripe fruit on the palate. That comes through without a doubt, with loads of berries and a very supple texture. A bonus to the experience is … Continue reading
St. Rose Pinot Noir 2099
St. Rose, Russian River Valley, Nunes Vineyard, Ten Block, Pinot Noir 2009 The nose features cherries and raspberries – ebulliently fruity and graced with a touch a vanilla. In the mouth the theme of fresh Pinot fruit continues on a … Continue reading
Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Bonterra, 58% Lake County, 42% Mendocino County, Sauvignon Blanc 2010 The nose is a full-on experience of citrus, as in a slice fresh grapefruit and a wedge of lemon. The flavors follow suit in the mouth with the zippiness that … Continue reading
Posted in California, Lake County, Mendocino County, Sauvignon Blanc
Tagged Bonterra
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Pierre Sparr Cremant d’Alsace
Pierre Sparr, Cremant d’Alsace, Brut, Reserve The nose features sweet flowers, a perfumed character, with pears and apples. In the mouth there is a soft impression, fruity with moderate acidity – nicely crafted as an aperitif. The grapes behind this … Continue reading
Glenugie Gamay Noir 2005
We recently enjoyed a mature wine from Beaujolais so I thought it a good idea that we try a wine from the cellar made from the same grape in the New World. Some years ago we enjoyed a week’s holiday … Continue reading
d’Arenberg Custodian 2009
d’Arenberg, McLaren Vale, The Custodian, Grenache 2009 The nose features sweet, lolly-like berry notes that follow through in the mouth. The flavor profile is driven by the fruit, emphasizing the grapes in the vineyard while the texture is quite silky … Continue reading
Pellegrino Marsala
During my visit to Pellegrino I had the opportunity to learn first-hand about one of Europe’s most famous fortified wines, Marsala. While the market has faded and consumer interest in these wines has waned, a few producers soldier on making … Continue reading
The Wines of Donnafugata
During our recent trip to Sicily I had the opportunity to visit with the team at Donnafugata both on the main island in Marsala and on the small and windswept island of Pantelleria. The wines run the spectrum from fresh, … Continue reading
Posted in Ansonica, Cabernet Sauvignon, Catarratto, Italy, Moscato di Pantelleria, Muscat, Nero d'Avola, Pantelleria, Sicilia
Tagged Donnafugata
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