Sebeka, Western Cape, “Cape Blend”, Shiraz Pinotage 2007 There’s a sense of sweet black fruit and oak in the nose that carries through in the mouth as well. The wine is extremely soft and low in acidity with a touch of residual sugar. The grapes are 58% Shiraz and 42% Pinotage. V&B by Swartland Winery [...]

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Domaine de Trevallon, Vin de Pays des Bouches du Rhone 2005 The nose sports the sort of lively, jammy fruit that we associate with California Zinfandel. Obviously it’s not, but its the intensity of the fruit that I trying to get at. With this, you have the green essences of Cab in a green pepper [...]

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The Rhone Rangers hosted a seminar yesterday featuring wines that pay homage to the grapes made famous in France’s Rhone Valley. The seminar was not bound by geography; there were wines from both sides of the Atlantic. The seminar was also not bound by tradition as we tasted blends based on combining Syrah and Cabernet [...]

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Flora Springs, Napa Valley, Trilogy 2001 There is a medley of brown spices in the nose and a supple, now is the time to drink this, profile in the mouth. There’s complexity and the acidic frame carrying on - nice. The grapes are 50% Cabernet, 30% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. P&B in St. Helena [...]

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Clos du Marquis, Saint-Julien 2003 There is vibrant sweet, black fruit in the nose. In the mouth you could swear this wine is from the New World. While the structure associated with Bordeaux is on stage in this wine, the fruit is vivacious and the tannins are quite ripe. This is the second wine of [...]

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Clos LaChance, Central Coast, Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Sourced exclusively from the winery’s vineyard in San Martin. You knew them first from the days in Saratoga 14.5% $30 at the winery LaChance

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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 by the oak. This is very long and has time to age. Proprietors Kevin & [...]

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Ramazzotti, Sonoma County, Raffinto, Red Wine 2005
This smells like a walk in the oak forest where some of the trees have been freshly felled - an intertwining of oak and earth.  The mouth is vivaciously fruity with the oak to match and a smooth texture. This is the winery’s Super Tuscan offering, blending 60% [...]

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Chateau Sociando-Mallet, Haut-Medoc 2004 The smells are a mix of earth, cedar, toasty oak and a fitting amount of the barnyard. The mouth if full of plummy fruit with grip. This is definitely leaner and tighter than the ‘05 which is quite seductive already. Give it at least 30 minutes to open up though the [...]

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This week I had an opportunity to visit with Joseph Otos to talk about his winemaking philosophy and the brands that he is putting on the map, Willowbrook and Owl Ridge.
Both brands are crafted in Sebastopol’s rabbit warren of entrepreneurship that I described during my August visit with Rick Davis and Greg La Follette. Joe [...]

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Corte Gardoni, Bardolino, DOC Le Fontane 2006 The previous vintage sported a Beaujolais-like character, in the Nouveau vein, a carbo-mac fruit bomb with very light body – ideal for lunch in the sun when you demand red wine. This current vintage was quite stinky at the outset, but the fruit popped out later, in a [...]

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Wine Cube, California, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 It’s definitely easier to maintain one’s self-delusional status by not talking about or tasting or drinking wine from a box. Yet we have to speak out when the wine is serviceable and the carbon footprint of all we eat and drink is a hot topic of conversation.
First the wine [...]

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Some heavyweights are elegant on their feet, others draw lots of money in their direction and some are quite big. This post explores famous names and rising stars across the price spectrum.
Quintessa, Rutherford Napa Valley, Red Wine 2004 There’s ample black fruit and subtle, integrated oak to smell. In the mouth the tannin is ripe [...]

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Chateau Sociando-Mallet Haut-Medoc 2005
Toasty oak, ripe tannins and black fruits - delicious. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc from vines at an average 30 years old. Mis au chateau par Jean Gautreau in St. Seurin de Cadourne 13% $54.99 at Beverages & more!
Sequoia Grove Rutherford Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
The last [...]

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Excitement and innovation from the south of France
Les Calades Vin de Pays d’Oc Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Very overt berries, very light-bodied and a little bit of an astringent edge. 13.5% $7.99 at Bottle Barn
Mas de Daumas Gassac Vin de Pays de L’Herault 2006
Lots of reduced sulfur smells of onion and garlic; there’s quite an astringent grip [...]

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Traditional appellation wine versus a modern blend from Piemonte.
Vietti Barolo DOCG Castiglione 2004
Brown spices and licorice on a very tannic frame that is balanced by acidity and extract. 100% Nebbiolo from the municipality of Castiglione Falletto. Estate Bottled in Castiglione 14% $38.99 at Bottle Barn Vietti
Braida Monferrato Rosso DOC Il Baciale 2005
Red and blackfruits, earthiness [...]

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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 certified organic vineyards. The wine is then aged for 10 months in French oak. Winemaker Chris Pisani. [...]

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