Quady, California, Vya, Extra Dry Vermouth nv The nose combines mint, ginger and a host of spices. In the mouth it is dry and spicy with a reminiscence of quinine’s bitterness – an intense mouth refresher!
The grapes are Colombard and Orange Muscat and the wine is infused with a bevy of botanicals. Winemaker Michael Blaylock. [...]

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Blandy’s, Madeira, 5 Year Old, Bual nv Toffee meets raisins with a spriritous character in the nose. In the mouth the weight is there, with nuttiness, caramel and a lighter shade of residual sugar than you find with Blandy’s Malmsey. I would break out the strongly flavored cheese, like Stilton with this wine for a [...]

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La Caudrina, Moscato d’Asti 2008 There’s a lovely sense of orange blossoms in the nose while the mouth is sweet and ethereal – very nice. Estate bottled in Castiglione Tinella 5.5% $15.99 at Bottle Barn

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Ariel, Dealcoholized, Merlot 2007 Simple and light-bodied. Made and bottled by J. Lohr in San Jose. Contains less than one half of one percent alcohol by volume, purchased for $6.49 at Bottle Barn
Ariel Vineyards

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Glen Ellen, California, Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 There’s a sense of whole berries, sweet and a little tooty-fruity with a vanilla veneer.  In the mouth this wine is a bit sweet, quite fruity and fairly gripping – disappointing. Vinted and Bottled in Livermore and Ripon, CA 12.5% purchased for $3.59 at Bottle Barn

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Glen Ellen, California, Reserve Pinot Grigio 2008 It’s not terribly aromatic and it is a bit spiritous but it’s fairly dry and acidic and perfect for making a Kir. And the price is affordable. Vinted and Bottle no where near Glen Ellen, in Livermore and Ripon, CA 12% $3.59 at Bottle Barn

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Glen Ellen, California, Proprietor’s Reserve, Gamay Beaujolais, Valdiguie 2000 The nose is quite evolved, featuring raisins, tea, herbs. and some volatile burn. The mouth is quite delightful for the price and age of this wine, one that was not meant to be aged. It is soft and complex, showing the sweet expression of mature red [...]

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Marques de Caceres, Rioja, Reserva 2002 The nose shows some of the herbaceousness that can be found with Tempranillo along with vanilla and cherries dabbed with brown sugar and baked in a pie.
The mouth is bright with cherries and structure, youthful. Yet at the same time there is the complexity of age, fruit that is [...]

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Ellipsis, Russian River Valley, Rose of Pinot Noir 2008 The color is in the range of cooked salmon and the nose has lost its expression of fruit. In the mouth the tanginess of raspberries is accompanied by a bit of creaminess. Given its evolution, it might be best to drink this up soon. Produced and [...]

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Elena Walch, Alto Adige, Pinot Grigio 2008 The nose features lemon and flowers with a bit of doughiness. The mouth is bright with citrus and its expected acidity, without the austerity of many Grigios from Italy. The whole palate is filled out with flavor and coupled with a touch of richness – nice. P&B in [...]

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Benziger, Carneros, Chardonnay 2008 The nose features butter and vanilla and a bit of fresh oak. In the mouth the rich theme continues, with viscosity, butter and oakiness, with balancing acidity in the background. V&B in Graton 13.5% purchased for $10.99 at Bottle Barn Benziger

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Mulderbosch, Western Cape, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 The nose features minerality and green herbs. In the mouth this Sauvignon is as zippy as usual, green, acidic and quite refreshing. P&B in Stellenbosch 12.5% purchased for $15.99 at Bottle Barn Mulderbosch

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Black Star Farms, Old Mission Peninsula, Arcturos, Dry, Riesling 2008 The nose combines stone fruit, green apple and minerality.
In the mouth the acidity shines and is balanced by a touch of residual sugar, at 9 grams per litre. This creates a Jolly Rancher experience for adults that would be perfect with fresh dungeness crab. A [...]

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This region holds a particular place in my heart. Linda and I visited some of the top producers of the region this summer and hiked the magnificent mountains. This Tyrolean region is beyond picturesque and vies with Stellenbosch as the most beautiful wine region in the world.
Alois Lageder, Alto Adige, Haberle, Pinot Bianco 2008 The [...]

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Kelleher, Oakville, Napa Valley, Brix Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Toasty oak marks the nose along with Cassis. In the mouth this wine is supple and the oaky expression continues with a nice thread of acidity.The wine was aged in French oak for 2 years, 50% of which was new and 50% of which was once-filled [...]

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Raymond, Napa Valley, Reserve, Chardonnay 2008 The nose features the smell of fresh oak, stone fruit and a bit of coconut and banana. In the mouth it is smooth and restrained, showing richness without thickness – an elegant Chardonnay. This wine was fermented in stainless, 40% of it was aged in new and one year [...]

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Rusack, Santa Barbara, Chardonnay 2008 This is a toasty Chardonnay,with the oak out in force. You smell it immediately as your nose approaches the glass. In the mouth the oak is joined by tropical fruit and a bit of butter, making for a rich style of Chardonnay.
Produced & bottled in Solvang 14.2% $22.99 at Brown [...]

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Robledo, Lake County, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 This is a delightful Sauvignon.
The nose sports citrus and floral notes. In the mouth the wine is clean and vibrantly citrussy with a pleasant acidic zip. Produced and bottled in Kelseyville 14.3% $20 at the winery, a gift from a friend.
Robledo Family Vineyards

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I was fortunate to visit Chateau Vignelaure back in the 80s – was it ‘84 or ‘85?  Some of my memories are fuzzy. The memory that isn’t fuzzy however, is that Vignelaure was a trend setter, planting Cabernet Sauvignon in Provence, despite the apparent heresy. Today the rules for what can be planted on AOC [...]

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Brassfield Estate, High Valley, High Serenity Ranch, Estate Bottled, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Give this a little air to allow the fruity aromatics to come to the fore. Then you’ll find pineapple and lemon laced with crushed green herbs. The mouth features a soft profile with moderate concentration.
The grapes behind this wine include 13.5% Semillon and [...]

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Domaine Chandon, California, Brut, Classic nv Unfortunately this wine was corked. The aromatics are dampened and the mouth is astringent. A sense of the dosage is the only element coming through.
I was concerned when I removed the foil from the top of the bottle. The smell of TCA was quite apparent. I removed the wire [...]

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Korbel, Russian River Valley Champagne, Natural’ Méthode Champenoise 2007 In the nose you’ll find green apples and strawberries while in the mouth it is acidic, with a sense of apples that have been baked with brown sugar. 65% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay; the style was instigated at Korbel by Adolf Heck in 1962, .7% [...]

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Willamette Valley Vineyards, Willamette Valley – Oregon, Riesling 2008 This wine captures the essence of the SweeTarts I chewed on as a boy – great memories from nights at the movie theater then and a wonderful accompaniment to spicy food now. You could also liken it to hard candy of the green apple variety, where [...]

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St. James Winery, Country Red, Semi-Sweet Wine nv In the nose this is beautiful grapy, reminiscent of the grapes I ate as a boy. In the mouth it is moderately sweet, light-bodied and balanced by acidity – nice. P&B in St. James, Missouri 11.5% $6.99 at the winery St. James Winery

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Chateau Puy Arnaud, Cotes de Castillon 2005 The oak makes its presence known whey you smell this wine. In the mouth the full ripeness of the fruit comes through, with ample concentration and plenty of structure – a solid value in $10 Bordeaux. The grape behind this wine is Merlot, grown biodynamically. The vines average [...]

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Domaine de Beausejour, Chinon 2007 This wine is riper than previous incarnations, showing black fruit beyond the capsicum. In the mouth it is green, but tolerable and gripping but tolerable. 100% Cab Franc with stainless ferment; Gerard et David Chauveau in Panzoult 12.5% $13.59 at Bottle Barn
Beausejour

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Andrea Oberto, Barbera d’Alba DOC 2008 The nose features tar as well as some bound up sulfur. In the mouth it is immensely tart, screaming with acidity and a little leaner than hoped for. This wine doesn’t show nearly as nice as previous vintages; let’s give it another try in spring. Estate bottled in La [...]

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d’Arenberg, McLaren Vale, The Footbolt, Shiraz 2005 The nose features liquer-like character, a concentration of candied black fruit, a hint of eucalyptus and some subtle volatility. In the mouth the fruit is in force, the feel is silky and a thread of acidity provides structure – long and nice.
During fermentation the wine is given gentle [...]

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Perrin & Fils, Cotes du Rhone Villages 2007 The nose features sweet berries and black pepper. In the mouth it quite structured with medium weight; it’s crying out for red meat – nice value from the Rhone. This wine is 50% Syrah and 50% Grenache. Mis en bouteille in Orange 13% $9.69 at Bottle Barn

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Beringer, California, California Collection, White Zinfandel 2008 You remember those hard candies, watermelon flavored?  Well here you have them in a glass, sweet and tart at the same time – very nice. 3 hours of skin contact provide the color. Based on previous vintages, the RS is about 3.5%. Vinted and bottled in St. Helena [...]

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