Author Archives: Ray

About Ray

Ray Johnson teaches and writes about wine and the business of wine. He makes his home in Sonoma County.

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

Posted in Bordeaux, Bordeaux Clairet, France, Rosé | Tagged | 1 Comment

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

Posted in California, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc | Tagged | Leave a comment

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

Posted in California, Chardonnay, Guenoc Valley, Lake County | Tagged | Leave a comment

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 | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Australia, Clarendon, South Australia, Syrah | Tagged | Leave a comment

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 , | Leave a comment

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

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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 | 2 Comments

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

Posted in California, North Coast, Sparkling Dry | Tagged | Leave a comment

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

Posted in California, Chardonnay, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County | Tagged | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Sparkling Dry | Tagged | Leave a comment

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

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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 | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Italy, Muscat, Piemonte, Sparkling sweet | Tagged | 2 Comments

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

Posted in California, Carneros, Chardonnay, Sparkling Dry | Tagged | 3 Comments

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

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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 | 1 Comment

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 | Leave a comment

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 | 1 Comment

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

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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

Posted in California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County | Tagged | 1 Comment

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 , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir | Tagged | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Germany, Mosel, Riesling | Tagged | Leave a comment

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

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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

Posted in Austria, Gruner Veltliner, Niederosterreich | Tagged | Leave a comment

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

Posted in California, Fortified dessert, Muscat | Tagged | 1 Comment

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 | Leave a comment

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

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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

Posted in California, Carneros, Chardonnay | Tagged | 1 Comment