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: California
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
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
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 Murphy-Goode
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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
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
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
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 Roederer Estate
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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
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 Scharffenberger
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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 Clos Du Val
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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
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
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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
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
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
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
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
Swanson Pinot Grigio 2008
Swanson, Napa Valley, Pinot Grigio 2008 The nose features a mix of citrus and tropical fruits with a bit of green herbs. In the mouth it is fresh and fruity, showing the essence of orange and grapefruit with ample acidity … Continue reading
Unti Grenache 2007
Unti, Dry Creek Valley, Grenache 2007 There’s a lovely, candy-like fruitiness to this Grenache. It’s also not a flabby one, but rather a red wine with structure, reminiscent of its Old World roots yet kissed by New World sunshine. The … 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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Mirassou Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Mirassou, California, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 The nose features Cassis, candied berries and some mintiness. In the mouth it is quite fruity and soft, with perhaps a bit of residual sugar amplifying the fruit and adding weight and viscosity to the … Continue reading
Noceto Nutz! 2008
Tutti I Giorni, Amador County, Nutz! 2008 The nose features cherries and tar with a bit of brambles. In the mouth it is light-bodied and refreshingly acidic with a bit of grip. As in Chianti, this wine is a blend … Continue reading
Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel 2007
Pedroncelli, Dry Creek Valley, Mother Clone, Zinfandel 2007 The nose features sweet jammy fruit, like a bit of raspberry and blackberry rolled into a crumble for dessert. In the mouth it is spicy and warm, a little viscous and focused … Continue reading
Pahlmeyer Red 2006
Pahlmeyer, Napa Valley, Red Wine 2006 In the nose the fruit is quite sweet and ripe, reminiscent of Cassis accented with vanilla and brown spices. In the mouth this Bordeaux-style blend is ripe and approachable, quite silky and ready to … Continue reading
Hartford Court Four Hearts Chardonnay 2007
Hartford Court, Russian River, Four Hearts Vineyards, Chardonnay 2007 This is a large Chardonnay, big, rich and mouth-filling. There’s plenty of butter and oak to please those in search of a full-on California Chard yet there is also a core … Continue reading
Posted in California, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
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Foppiano Rose 2009
Foppiano, Russian River Valley, Estate Bottled, Rose 2009 The nose features flowers, candied red fruits and a bit of bubble gum. In the mouth the fruit shows nicely, the acidity is mild and the palate is broad. It is reminiscent … Continue reading
Posted in California, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Rosé, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Tagged Foppiano
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Sonoma County Zinfandel
Robert Rue, Russian River Valley, Wood Road, Reserve, Zinfandel 2007 Sweet and jammy fruit exudes in the nose with the spiciness of black pepper. In the mouth you’ll find a structured Zin, lightly tannic, with plenty of acidity and lastly … Continue reading
Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
Tagged Wilson
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Quady Electra 2009
Quady, California, Orange Muscat, Electra 2009 This wine features much of the taste of fresh Muscat with petillance and acidity to balance the thickness. RS is in the range of 16- 17% and the wine is bottled under Stelvin. This … Continue reading
Noceto Sangiovese 2007
Noceto, Amador County, Sangiovese 2007 Cherries are on display in the nose. In the mouth they follow through with plenty of acidity and a light-bodied, smooth mouthfeel – nice. P&B in Plymouth by Suzy and Jim Gullett 14% purchased for … Continue reading
Ceago Vinegarden Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Ceago Vinegarden, Clear Lake, Kathleen’s Vineyard, Estate Grown, Sauvignon Blanc 2009 In the nose the fruit shows the character of peaches with notes of tropical fruit as well – absolutely vibrant. In the mouth, the fruit is also on full … Continue reading
Posted in California, Clear Lake, Lake County, Sauvignon Blanc
Tagged Ceago Vinegarden
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