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: Anderson Valley
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
Goldeneye Vin Gris 2009
Goldeneye, Anderson Valley, Vin Gris of Pinot Noir 2009 The nose features fresh strawberries. On the palate there is a creamy mouthfeel, a silky texture, with a thickness not often found in rose – very nice. The wine is made … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir, Rosé
Tagged Goldeneye
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North Coast Pinot Noir
Willowbrook, Russian River Valley, J.C.O. Limited, Estate Grown, Pinot Noir 2007 The nose is a very sweet expression of oak and ripe fruit. In the mouth, this Pinot is silky and warm, showing caramel over freshly baked cherry pie. Winemaker … Continue reading
Chronicle Pinot Noirs 2006
Chronicle, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir 2006 The nose sports sweet cherry and raspberries, with vanilla and cinnamon. The mouth shows these fruits again in a sleek format, a texture that is silky and ripe – delicious. Think about this Pinot … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County
Tagged Chronicle
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Family wineries in California
The Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers hosted a seminar and tasting yesterday to showcase the passing of the torch in California’s winegrowing families. Featured speakers included Warren Bogle, whose family has been farming in Clarksburg for … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Carneros, Chardonnay, Clarksburg, Gewurztraminer, Mendocino County
Tagged Benziger, Bogle, Navarro Vineyards
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Esterlina Estate Pinot 2007
Esterlina, Anderson Valley, Estate Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2007 The fruit is quite expressive in the nose – an explosion of red and black fruits with a smoky note for complexity. In the mouth the fruit shines again with plenty of … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir
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Copain Tous Ensemble Rose 2008
Copain, Anderson Valley, ‘Tous Ensemble’, Rose 2008 This rose has developed a rather rustic character. With 12 hours the funkier smells have blown off. The fruit, however, is receding and the alcohol is showing more of itself, with a sense … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, Rosé
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Husch Gewurztraminer 2007
Husch, Anderson Valley, Gewurztraminer 2007 This Gewurz has a lot of sweet perfume in the nose. In the mouth, it’s fresh, tasting of lychee with just a bit of RS at .8% – nice. GP&B in Philo 13.9% $9.99 at … Continue reading
Roederer L’Ermitage 2002
Roederer Estate, Anderson Valley, L’Ermitage, Brut 2002 The nose opens with fresh biscuits, citrus and stone fruits, also calling to mind a freshly baked fruit tart. In the mouth this wine is very concentrated and full of the flavor of … Continue reading
Migration Pinot Noir 2007
Goldeneye, Anderson Valley, Migration Pinot Noir 2007 This vintage features zesty berry fruit and brambles in the nose. In the mouth it is full of fruit with a light touch of oak to complement. The acidity keeps this light-bodied Pinot … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir
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Handley Pinot Gris 2007
Handley, Anderson Valley, Pinot Gris 2007 Green herbs and spicy flowers mark the nose. In the mouth, this wine is crisp with a rounded quality. P&B in Philo 14.1% $11.99 at Bottle Barn Handley
Handley Pinot 2006
Handley, Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir 2006 This year the AV Pinot is a little warmer than in the past, with veery ripe berries showing through in the mouth. Winemaker Milla Handley. P&B in Philo 14.5% $23.99 at Bottle Barn Handley
Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir
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Navarro Gewurz 2007
Navarro, Anderson Valley, Estate Bottled, Dry, Gewurztraminer 2007 Another long-time favorite from Navarro that captures the smell of Gewurz without the sweetness. In the nose it is like roses and baby powder while the mouth is fuller-bodied than you find … Continue reading
Navarro Muscat 2007
Navarro Vineyards, Anderson Valley, Estate Bottled, Dry Muscat 2007 This wine has consistently dazzled with the ebulent smell of Muscat in a dry format. The ’07 is spot-on again with loads of orange blossom in the nose. In the mouth … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Mendocino County, Muscat
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Navarro Riesling 2007
Navarro, Anderson Valley, Mendocino, Riesling 2007 Unfortunately the first bottle was a little corked and the wet cardboard was rearing its ugly head. Yet behind that was the essence of lime. With more than ample acidity, the .8% RS is … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Mendocino County, Riesling
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Navarro Pinot Gris
Navarro, Anderson Valley, Mendocino, Pinot Gris 2006 The nose sports candied citrus and tropical notes while the mouth is fruity and round with a spark of acidity. The time in bottle has added some nice complexity to a wine that … Continue reading
MacPhail Frattey Shams Pinot 2006
MacPhail Family, Anderson Valley, Frattey Shams Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2006 This wine is smoky and warm in the nose and pure suppleness in the mouth. The cherry fruit integrates perfectly with the oak – very polished. The wine spent 11 … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir
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Londer Paraboll Pinot 2006
Londer Vineyards, Anderson Valley, Paraboll, Pinot Noir 2006 There’s doughy notes infused with caramel and a spiritous character. In the mouth, the wine is stamped with a sweet oaky essense and a supple texture. The grapes for this wine were … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir
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Copain Tous Ensemble Pinot 2007
Copain, Anderson Valley, ‘Tous Ensemble’, Pinot Noir 2007 This wine is quite toasty and smoky with forest floor earthiness as well. In the mouth, the palate is complete and filled-out with flavor with plenty of acidity to frame it and … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir
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Woodenhead Anderson Valley Pinot 2003
Woodenhead, Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir 2003 The wine has developed volatility which shows in both the smell and on the palate yet the fruit is still quite vibrant across the tongue. P&B in Forestville 14.5% estimated price of $40 at … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir
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Toulouse Pinot Noir 2006
Toulouse, Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir 2006 Smoky and spiritous in the nose and warm and gripping in the mouth. The wine was aged for 12 months in French oak. P&B in Philo 14.5% $39 at the winery Toulouse Vineyards
Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir
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Rosy Anderson
Lazy Creek, Anderson Valley, Rose of Pinot Noir 2007 This wine has the zippy acidity and vibrance of the rose from County Line with a depth of flavor, a density that fills out the wine on the palate – great … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Pinot Noir, Rosé
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Phoenix flight
When Vacu-Dry ceased operations in Sebastopol, California, many bemoaned the continuing decline of the apple industry in Sonoma’s West County region. Yet from those ashes many a high-flying phoenix has taken flight. The large and rather dingy industrial complex that … Continue reading
Sparkling pink wine from Napa and Anderson Valleys
This flight shows a nice contrast in approach to the making of pink sparkling in California. The Roederer embraces a high acid framework that is very crisp while the Mumm goes for a softer approach with a more visible hint … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, Blanc de Noirs, California, Chardonnay, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir, Rosé, Sparkling Dry
Tagged Mumm Napa, Roederer Estate
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Pinot please
Papapietro Perry Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2006 intensely concentrated berry, liquer-like fruit and a little warmth. P&B in Healdsburg 14.25% $38.49 at Bottle Barn Papapietro Perry Sonnet Santa Lucia Highlands Tondre’s Grapefield Pinot Noir 2004 Smokey oak and cherry … Continue reading
AV and not audio visual
Handley Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2005 The reserve Pinot from Handley was a big hit last semester. This wine features sweet vanilla notes wrapped around supple cherry fruit – an extra silky texture. Winemaker Milla Handley. P&B in Philo 14.5% … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir
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Sparkling brut
We’ve looked at different styles of brut sparkling before. This flight illustrates some more contrast in what this word can mean. Roederer Estate, Anderson Valley, Estate Bottled, Brut nv This wine is consistently the personification of green apples – lip … Continue reading
Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Champagne, France, Mendocino County, Sparkling Dry
Tagged Laurent-Perrier, Roederer Estate
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In heaven there must be Pinot
This flight of 5, charts 3 vintages and 4 appellations. See the ‘Focus on Arlaud’ for the last of this flight. Lost Canyon Russian River Valley Dutton Ranch Morelli Lane Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006 Raisins, evolving fruit and warmth show … Continue reading
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