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: Dry Creek Valley
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
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
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
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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Sonoma County Zinfandel 2007
Wilson Winery, Dry Creek Valley, Tori Vineyard, Estate, Zinfandel 2007 The nose expresses sweetness, from the oak to the jammy fruit, with a dusting of black pepper. This then continues on the palate, with some structure to frame the black … Continue reading
Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley, Zinfandel
Tagged Rosenblum, Wilson
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California Zinfandel
Sobon Estate, Amador County, Old Vines, Zinfandel 2008 Here’s a light-bodied Zin that is quite fruity and ready to quaff. There’s a little sweetness working in the background (about 3 grams per litre) along with a light touch of eucalyptus … Continue reading
Posted in Amador County, California, Dry Creek Valley, Sierra Foothills, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
Tagged Sobon Estate, Wilson Winery
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Sbragia Andolsen Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Spragia Family Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Andolsen Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 The nose features Cassis and a touch of the forest floor, a light green element adding complexity and a nice dash of vanilla. In the mouth it is muscular … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Tagged Spragia Family Vineyards
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Peterson Sauvignon revisited
Peterson, Dry Creek Valley, Timbercrest Farms, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 During my visit at Peterson earlier in 2009 I was enamored with the ’08 Sauvignon and purchased a case. In May I wrote the following post: This wine is vibrant with … Continue reading
Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County
Tagged Peterson Winery
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Wilson Petite Sirah 2005
Wilson Winery, Dry Creek Valley, Ellie’s Vineyard, Petite Sirah 2005 The nose is earthy and peppery while in the mouth the wine is chewy, possessing the structure you’re looking for with that prime rib. Proprietors Ken and Diane Wilson, GP&B … Continue reading
Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Petite Sirah, Sonoma County
Tagged Earthquake, Wilson Winery
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Sbragia Home Ranch Chardonnay 2007
Spragia Family Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley – Sonoma County, Home Ranch, Chardonnay 2007 This is a rich style of Chardonnay that strikes the balance between fruit, acidity, butteriness and oak. We always dissect these components in the classroom, looking at … Continue reading
Dry Creek Fume Blanc 2008
Dry Creek Vineyard, Sonoma County, Fume Blanc 2008 This Sauvignon is light and steely, smelling of freshly cut oranges and crisp with acidity. It is a regular favorite, garnering awards annually at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. Production is all … Continue reading
Mill Creek Sauvingnon Blanc 2008
Mill Creek, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Estate Vineyard, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 The nose shows off notes of citrus and tropical fruits like banana. In the mouth it is full of orange and grapefuit,with plenty of acidity and a little … Continue reading
Sonoma County Harvest Fair 2009 sweet stars
Hart’s Desire, Russian River Valley, Ponzo Vineyard, Late Harvest, Zinfandel 2008 The nose features candied black fruit. In the mouth it is a blackberry jam, in a liquid form – with an acidic streak for balance – delicious. 7% RS … Continue reading
Mazzocco Petite 2005
Mazzocco, Dry Creek Valley, Aguilera, Reserve, Petite Sirah 2005 We picked this as our BOC Petite in the recent Harvest Fair. The competition was strong with many a great Petite. The beauty of this Petite is that the structure we … Continue reading
Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Petite Sirah, Sonoma County
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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
Provisor Syrah 2002
Provisor, Dry Creek Valley, Syrah 2002 This wine, almost 7 years on is showing quite nicely, with dried fruits and a supple texture. The wine was aged in new and older French oak for 16 months. This was the first … Continue reading
Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Syrah
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Wilson Sawyer Zin 2006
Wilson Winery, Dry Creek Valley, Sawyer Vineyard, Zinfandel 2006 This wine just oozes with jammy berry pie and vanilla in the glass. In the mouth it is a supple and slightly warm expression of the same – yummy. You might … Continue reading
Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
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Leo Steen Chenin 2008
Leo Steen, Dry Creek Valley, Saini Farms, Chenin Blanc 2008 Fresh limes and perfume greet you when you lift the glass. This is poignantly refreshing with loads of acidity yet filled out across the palate, lighting every available taste bud. … Continue reading
Posted in California, Chenin Blanc, Dry Creek Valley
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Peterson Sauvignon 2008
Peterson, Dry Creek Valley, Timbercrest Farms, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 This wine is vibrant with citrus and accentuated by oakiness. The fermentation began in stainless. To add complexity the lees were stirred and the wine finished in French oak, 20% of … Continue reading
Dashe Late Harvest Zinfandel 2007
Dashe, Dry Creek Valley, Late Harvest Zinfandel 2007 Candied berries in a glass, leaping out to greet your nose! The mouth repeats this theme in a very luscious, super-fruity way – brilliant. The grapes measured 40 degrees brix at harvest … Continue reading
Amphora Zin 2006
Amphora, Dry Creek Valley, Zinfandel 2006 There’s a healthy dose of black pepper in the nose along with jammy fruit. This Zin is very polished in the mouth, very dense and full of fruit. P&B by Hutchinson Wines in Healdsburg … Continue reading
Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
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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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Quivira Rose 2008
Quivira, Dry Creek Valley Wine Creek Ranch, Grenache, Rose 2008 In the nose the fruit is ever so fresh, featuring citrus and strawberries. In the mouth there’s plenty of acidity, a little phenolic grip and a sense of the alcohol … Continue reading
Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Grenache, Mourvedre, Rosé, Sonoma County
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Michel-Schlumberger Pinot Blanc 2007
Michel-Schlumberger, Dry Creek Valley, Pinot Blanc “La Bise” 2007 This wine consistently smells of the ripe tropical fruits of a sun-drenched land – very fresh. In the mouth, this wine shows the fruitiness of Pinot Blanc in a light-bodied, refreshing … Continue reading
Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Pinot Blanc, Sonoma County
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Raymond Burr Port 2003
Raymond Burr Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Estate Port 2003 The smell is a mix of dark chocolate, raisins, molasses and earthiness. In the mouth, the sweetness comes through with a chocolately essence and an appropriate sense of the fortifying alcohol. … Continue reading
Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Port, Sonoma County
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Dry Creek Vineyard Merlot 2005
Dry Creek Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, Merlot 2005 Plums and brambles mark the nose. The fruit is framed by acidity in the mouth which carries the flavor of this light-bodied wine a long way – elegant wine. P&B in Healdsburg … Continue reading
Posted in Dry Creek Valley, Merlot, Sonoma County
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Bella Late Harvest Zinfandel 2004
Bella, Dry Creek Valley, Late Harvest, Zinfandel 2004 If you can imagine drying some blackberries and dusting them with black pepper, that’s what this wine smells like. The jammy fruit really pops in the mouth and is beautifully sweet. P&B … Continue reading
Collier Falls Vineyards
Barry Collier has created a paradise for his grapes above the Dry Creek Valley. If you were a grape, you would want to be planted under his care. The hillside vineyards are steep and the views are incredible. The highest … Continue reading
Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Petite Sirah, Primitivo, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
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Rhone Rangers Seminar 11/08
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 … Continue reading
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