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
Author Archives: Ray
Haut-Colombier Bordeaux Clairet 2009
Chateau Haut-Colombier, Bordeaux Clairet 2009 This is a deeply-colored rose, approaching what you see in some Pinot Noir and Sangiovese. In the nose the fruit shines through with some earthy notes as well. In the mouth it is fruity and … Continue reading
Oberon Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Oberon, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc 2009 This wine is the essence of grapefruit, from the aroma to the flavors in the mouth. The acidity is crisp, making this wine quite zippy and refreshing. The grapes are all Sauvignon Blanc and … Continue reading
Langtry Genevieve Vineyard Chardonnay 2008
Langtry Estate, Guenoc Valley, Genevieve Vineyard, Chardonnay 2008 This is a rich Chardonnay that provides a multiplex experience, to borrow from the film industry. The nose features tropical fruit and toasty, nuttiness. In the mouth the tropical fruit is fully … Continue reading
Murhphy-Goode Minnesota Cuvee Chardonnay 2008
Murphy-Goode, Alexander Valley, Minnesota Cuvee, Chardonnay 2008 This is a richer style of Chardonnay with notes of oak, brown spices, butter and vanilla in the nose. On the palate there’s a sense of stone fruits, oak, a moderate amount of … Continue reading
Posted in Alexander Valley, California, Chardonnay, Sonoma County
Tagged Murphy-Goode
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Clarendon Hills Piggot Range Syrah 2005
Clarendon Hills, Clarendon, Piggot Range, Syrah 2005 The nose shows smoky oak and sweet black fruit. In the mouth the fruit is quite expressive and ripe, with an extremely silky texture and great length. It’s a treat to taste a … Continue reading
Vieux Telegraphe Telegramme 2007 and Tim Gaiser Wine Genius
Vieux Telegraphe, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Télégramme 2007 Tasted first at 11:15 on Friday morning, the nose featured cherries, strawberries, black pepper, sweet notes of vanilla and caramel as wells as the scent of the garrigue. In the mouth the wine showed medium … Continue reading
Posted in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France, Grenache, Rhône
Tagged Tim Gaiser MS, Vieux Telegraphe
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Wildhurst Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Wildhurst, Lake County, Reserve, Sauvignon Blanc 2009 The nose features plenty of freshly mown grass and grapefruit – quite classic. In the mouth the citrus flavors shine in the most zippy way possible – nice and refreshing. I had a … Continue reading
Domaine Richaud L’Ebrescade 2004
Domaine Richaud, Cairanne Cotes du Rhone Villages, L’Ebrescade 2004 The nose features sweet black fruit, a bit of raisins, a light meaty character and a sense of the garrigue. In the mouth it is smooth and succulent, rich, with some … Continue reading
Posted in Cairanne, Cotes du Rhone, Cotes du Rhone Villages, France, Grenache, Rhône
Tagged Richaud
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Windsor Blanc de Noir 2006
Windsor Vineyards, North Coast Champagne, Private Reserve Series, Blanc de Noir 2006 This is a dry and fruit-forward sparkling. Each sip has a vivid sense of blackberries, blueberries and more – nice. Produced and bottled in Lower Lake 12.5% $25 … Continue reading
Handley Dry Creek Chardonnay 2007
Handley, Dry Creek Valley, Handley Vineyard, Chardonnay 2007 The nose features tropical fruit and subtle oak in the background while the mouth shows us a light and fresh version of Chardonnay, fruity with roundness – very nice. The estate is … Continue reading
Pierre Gimonnet Gastronome 2004
Pierre Gimonnet & Fils, Champagne, Premier Cru, Gastronome, Blanc de Blancs, Brut 2004 This wine is the epitome of green apples in a glass, bracing and wonderful. This profile is emblematic of the house style and the length is amazing. … Continue reading
Egly-Ouriet Brut Tradition Disgorged 2009
Egly-Ouriet, Champagne, Grand Cru, Brut Tradition nv The nose features biscuits and apples, apples that are fresh and those baked in an apple tart. In the mouth this bubbly is freshly fruity, embracing the taste of apples across the spectrum, … Continue reading
Posted in Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Dry
Tagged Egly-Ouriet
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Roederer Estate Extra Dry
Roederer Estate, Anderson Valley, Estate Bottled, Extra Dry nv The nose displays stone fruits, apples and citrus with a little puff pastry. In the mouth you’ll find the essence of green apples and citrus with a balancing shot of sweetness. … Continue reading
Posted in California, Chardonnay, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Dry
Tagged Roederer Estate
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Cascina Castle’t Moscato d’Asti 2008
Cascina Castle’t, Moscato d’Asti 2008 This wine is delightful in its expression of orange blossoms with an added complexity from the extra year in the bottle – creamy and delicious. Estate bottled by Maria Borio in Costigliole d’Asti 5.5% purchased … Continue reading
Domaine Carneros Le Reve 2004
Domaine Carneros, Carneros, Brut, Blanc de Blancs, Le Reve 2004 As in the past, the nose exhibits the sweetest of fruits and flowers. In the mouth the theme continues with ripe stone fruits, a creamy texture and a dosage that … Continue reading
Egly-Ouriet Champagne Pinot Meunier disgorged August 09
Egly-Ouriet, Champagne Premier Cru, Les Vignes de Vrigny, Brut nv disgorged August 2009 The nose features a veritable bread basket of smells from the boulangerie, buttered biscuits, freshly baked croissants and more great memories of France. In the mouth the … Continue reading
Scharffenberger Brut Rose
Scharffenberger, Mendocino County, Brut Rose, Sparkling Wine nv This is a sparkler that features lively fruit, vivid strawberries and raspberry punch, with an accent of floral notes. In the mouth the fruit carries on with a creamy character, a sense … Continue reading
Posted in California, Chardonnay, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Dry
Tagged Scharffenberger
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Chateau Suduiraut 2005
Chateau Suduiraut, Sauternes 1er Cru 2005 The nose features lots of honey, a bit of straw, tropical fruit notes and appropriate volatility. In the mouth it is thick and rich, lemony, tempered by acidity and reminiscent of a spoonful of … Continue reading
Posted in Bordeaux, France, Late Harvest White, Sauternes, Semillon
Tagged Suduiraut
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Clos Du Val Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Clos Du Val, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District, Estate Bottled, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 The nose features a complex mix of black fruit, chocolate and earthiness. In the mouth it is quite dense and structured. At this point it is just … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
Tagged Clos Du Val
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Emblem Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Emblem, Napa Valley, Rutherford, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 The sense of Cassis leaps out of the glass when you pour this wine – the fruit character ripe and concentrated. In the mouth the concentration of fruit continues, on a structured frame. … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
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Small Vines Russian River Pinot Noir 2008
Small Vines, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir 2008 This wine is a star. In the nose the fruit has a liqueur-like character, showing off its ripeness. In the mouth there is again that straddling of the Old and New Worlds … Continue reading
Bourgogne Rouge 2007
Domaine G. Roumier, Chambolle-Musigny 2007 Give this some air to allow the fruit to emerge. Then there’s a mix of cherries, moist black earth in the garden and brown spices. In the mouth this is just a baby, with plenty … Continue reading
Posted in Beaune, Burgundy, Chambolle-Musigny, France, Pinot Noir
Tagged de Montille, Roumier
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Toulouse Pinot Noir 2007
Toulouse Vineyards, Anderson Valley, Estate, Pinot Noir 2007 In the nose there is a sense of the forest floor and toasty, smoky oak. In the mouth it shows as an elegant style of Pinot Noir, very supple and approachable. We … Continue reading
Dr. Loosen Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese 2008
Dr. Loosen, Mosel, Urziger, Wurzgarten, Riesling, Spatlese 2008 Give this some air to blow off a little reductive character and then limes, peaches and nectarines will come through. In the mouth you’ll find the fruit has a candied character, sweet … Continue reading
William Fevre Chablis Fourchaume 2008
William Fevre, Chablis Premier Cru, Fourchaume 2008 In the nose you’ll find the smell of bread dough and butter with a healthy whiff of stone fruits. In the mouth the concentration of fruit is evident, with buttery richness adding a … Continue reading
Lenz Moser Heuriger Gruner Veltliner 2009
Lenz Moser, Niederosterreich, Heuriger, Trocken, Gruner Veltliner 2009 The nose sports grapefruit and lemongrass, a nice combination of citrus and herbs that is complemented by floral notes. In the mouth it is crisp and refreshing without being austere – a … Continue reading
Quady Elysium 2006
Quady, California, Elysium, Black Muscat 2006 The nose features a grapy/berry expression, a bit liquer-like. In the mouth it is light-bodied and sweet, reminiscent of fresh raspberries and grape jelly – nice. Winemaker Michael Blaylock. P&B in Madera, L0702, 15% … Continue reading
Naia Verdejo 2008
Naia, Rueda, Verdejo 2008 Quite simply, this wine is delightfully refreshing, emphasizing fresh fruit and acidity. This is perhaps the 3rd or 4th vintage of the Naia Verdejo that I’ve tasted and the consistency is a hallmark – very nice. … Continue reading
Posted in Rueda, Spain, Verdejo
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Emblem Oso Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Emblem, Napa Valley, Oso Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 This is very refined Cabernet. The nose sports the ripeness of Cassis with the richness of vanilla and chocolate. In the mouth the edges are all polished, a ripe wine yet one … Continue reading
Saintsbury Chardonnay 2008
Saintsbury, Carneros, Chardonnay 2008 The nose features hazelnuts and tropical fruit in ample supply. In the mouth viscosity is matched by acidity, creating a balanced wine that showcases stone fruits like peaches and apricots and tropical fruits like pineapple and … Continue reading
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