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
Category Archives: Alexander Valley
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
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Reynoso Cabernet 2004
Reynoso Family Vineyards, Alexander Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 The nose features cocoa and vanilla with a dash of mint, quite sweet-appearing, in the way that dry wines echo the sweet smells we associate with dessert. In the mouth it’s reminiscent … Continue reading
Posted in Alexander Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Sonoma County
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Geyser Peak Chardonnay 2008
Geyser Peak, Alexander Valley, Water Bend, Block Collection, Chardonnay 2008 This Chardonnay speaks richness on all fronts, toasty, buttery, ripe tropical fruit and a thick, rather unctuous texture in the mouth. Produced and bottled under Stelvin in Geyersville 14.1% $24 … Continue reading
Jordan Chardonnay and Cabernet
Before moving to California, I worked in a flash French restaurant back in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This was the mid-eighties and all of the staff were died in the wool Francophiles, disdaining New World wine while seldom ever tasting it. Local … Continue reading
Posted in Alexander Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Tagged Jordan
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Reynoso Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Reynoso Family Vineyards, Alexander Valley, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 There’s a nice waft of citrus in the nose with stone fruits like peaches and nectarines. In the mouth the story of citrus continues, with a soft profile and long flavors of … Continue reading
Posted in Alexander Valley, California, Sauvignon Blanc
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Sonoma County Harvest Fair 2009 Bordeaux stars
Spragia Family Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Home Ranch, Merlot 2006 The nose features a strong blast of fresh oak. In the mouth that note carries through, with plummy fruit, a little warmth and a supple texture. V&B in St. Helena … Continue reading
Sonoma County Zinfandel
J. Keverson, Russian River Valley, Alton Lane Vineyard, Zinfandel 2007 The fruit is very bright in the nose and graced by a healthy dose of black pepper. In the mouth the fruit is framed by acidity. This is one of … Continue reading
deLorimier Lace 2006
deLorimier, Alexander Valley, Estate Bottled, Late Harvest, Lace 2006 This is rich and tropical with a lovely sense of dried apricots and balancing acidity. The botrytised grapes behind the wine are 55% Muscat Blanc and 45% Semillon, harvested at 29.9 … Continue reading
Robert Young Merlot 2005
Robert Young, Alexander Valley, Merlot 2005 California Merlot in which the fruit is alive and the acidity is not shy – now that is beautiful. A bit of leafiness and caramel complements the fruit, adding complexity. There’s a hint of … Continue reading
Posted in Alexander Valley, California, Merlot, Sonoma County
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Trione Bordeaux Blend 2005
Trione, Alexander Valley, Geyserville Ranch, Red Wine 2005 In the nose there is cassis and tobacco, a blend of California and Bordeaux. In the mouth, there is the taste of dark chocolate and berries and a fully-structured palate – just … Continue reading
Bella Syrah
Bella, Alexander Valley, Big River Ranch, Syrah 2005 There’s jammy black fruit in the nose and a little bit of tar and reductive character when first open. In the mouth, the wine is chewy and oaky with a bit of … Continue reading
Posted in Alexander Valley, California, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Syrah
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Trentadue Port
Trentadue, Alexander Valley, Estate, Zinfandel, Port 2003 Raisins mix with the fortifying spirit in the nose, a sense of candy with a bit of brandy thrown in. The mouth features ripe cherries, prunes, brown sugar and the alcohol boost. Grown, … Continue reading
Posted in Alexander Valley, California, Port, Sonoma County
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Geyser Peak Reserve Alexandre 1999
Geyser Peak, Alexander Valley, Reserve Alexandre, Meritage 1999 The nose is drying out yet there is quite a bit of chocolate to enjoy. The mouth has reached a rather astringent phase, drying out. The acidity is carrying some nice elements … Continue reading
Rusina Petite Sirah 2007
Rusina, Alexander Valley, Petite Sirah 2007 The nose features a dusty character with a bit of spirit while the mouth is redolent with berries and the tannins are tamed making this quite accessible today. There is probably a little Zin … Continue reading
Posted in Alexander Valley, California, Petite Sirah, Sonoma County
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Alexander Valley Zinfandel
Stryker Sonoma, Alexander Valley, Estate, Old Vines, Zinfandel 2006 The fruits are, fresh, stewed and jammy, all at the same time and dusted with black pepper. The mouth is vibrantly fruity with a little warmth and a touch of tannin. … Continue reading
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Wattle Creek Shiraz
Wattle Creek, Alexander Valley, Shiraz 2005 The nose smells of oak, nuts and caramel over chocolate with a bit of spiritous character peeping through. The mouth is a supple expression of ripe black fruit and oakiness. P&B in Cloverdale 14.4% … Continue reading
Posted in Alexander Valley, California, Sonoma County, Syrah
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Coyote Crest Syrah 2005
Coyote Crest, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, Estate Bottled, Syrah 2005 Unfortunately this wine is corked. Grown, Produced & Bottled in Healdsburg 15.9% $28 at the winery Coyote Crest Vineyards & Winery
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Dutcher Crossing Chard 2007
Dutcher Crossing, Alexander Valley, Stuhlmuller Vineyard, Chardonnay 2007 There’s toasitness, nuttiness, fresh oak and bread dough in the nose. The mouth features fresh apples and vibrant acidity with oaky richness as an enhancement rather than a cover over the fruit … Continue reading
Posted in Alexander Valley, California, Chardonnay, Sonoma County
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Palmeri Van Ness Syrah 2004
Palmeri, Alexander Valley, Van Ness Vineyard, Syrah 2004 This Syrah features meaty, gamey notes in the nose. In the mouth it’s a big wine, with plenty of structure and extract. Many Syrah have moved into a candy-like, no structure direction … Continue reading
Posted in Alexander Valley, California, Sonoma County, Syrah
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Stonestreet Chardonnay 2006
Stonestreet, Alexander Valley, Chardonnay 2006 The nose is toasty and oaky while the mouth combines red and green apples with silky, buttery richness. P&B in Healdsburg 14.5% $28 at the winery Stonestreet Wines
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deLorimier Lace 2004
deLorimier, Alexander Valley, Estate Bottled, Late Harvest, Lace 2004 The nose combines bananas, caramel and minerality. The mouth is viscous without being cloying showcasing the tropical fruit in a rich way, as if dazzled with honey. The botrytised grapes behind … Continue reading
Stars out of the Bordeaux tradition
Adobe Road, Knights Valley, Cabernet Franc 2005 This is perfectly ripe Cab Franc – no veg to smell at all, just lots of berries. The structure of Cab Franc is in the mouth combining with the fruit and filled out … Continue reading
5 Bordeaux grapes and 3 continents
Clarendon Hills Clarendon Brookman Merlot 2005 Roman Bratasiuk pulls no punches with his opulent wines. This Merlot features ripe fruit and the cigar box characters we often associate with Bordeaux. The texture is oh so plush. P&B in Blewitt Springs … Continue reading
Red style part 2
Here we take another look at variations on the taste and feel of dry red wine. ZD Carneros Pinot Noir 2006 Lots of sweet cherries and palpable acidity make this a refreshing Pinot. This wine originates with Pinot grown in … Continue reading
Throwing strikes on the hill
Stryker Sonoma sits on a little hill with a broad view of the Alexander Valley. We recently visited with Jen Berman on the winemaking team and the Bordeaux varietals were top-notch. I thoroughly enjoyed the chocolaty Merlot and the supple … Continue reading
Primo Zin
Collier Falls Dry Creek Valley Primitivo 2005 This is lovingly slathered in oak. P&B in Geyserville 15.2% $32 at the winery Collier Falls Bella Alexander Valley Big River Ranch Zinfandel 2005 A very balanced Zin with tannic structure and dense … Continue reading
Frankly Cab
Frank Family Vineyards Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 This Alexander Valley Cab was made by the Napa winery known for its deft hand with the local fruit. Tonight we taste a wine from grapes sourced a little farther north. This … Continue reading
Posted in Alexander Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, California
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