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: Mendocino County
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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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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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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Bonterra Riesling 2009
Bonterra, 88% Lake County, 12% Mendocino County, Riesling 2009 There’s a medley of fruits in the nose, including lime, pears and peaches, accented by lots of freshly picked sweet and spicy flowers. In the mouth the citrus and stone fruits … Continue reading
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
Navarro Edelzwicker 2008
Navarro Vineyards, Mendocino Table Wine, Edelzwicker 2008 The flowers are vibrant when you smell this wine – really delightful. In the mouth the fruit combines nicely with the sweetness. You’ll also pick up a sense of the Gewurz and its … Continue reading
Posted in California, Gewurztraminer, Mendocino County, Muscat, Pinot Gris and Grigio, Riesling
Tagged Navarro Vineyards
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Carol Shelton Rendezvous Rose 2008
Carol Shelton, Mendocino County, Rendezvous Rose 2008 The nose is vibrantly fruity, evocative of fresh raspberries and herbs. In the mouth it is dry and fruity, with a little warmth. The RS adds some weight, filling our the wine and … 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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Husch Renegade Sauvignon 2007
Husch, Mendocino, Renegade, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 This is a rounder style of Sauvignon with the enhancement of oak. The wine takes its name from the ‘renegade’ yeasts that are allowed to ply their craft without the help of their cultured … Continue reading
Posted in California, Mendocino County, Sauvignon Blanc
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Navarro Chenin 2008
Navarro, Mendocino, Chenin Blanc 2008 This dry, high acid Chenin is bursting with the taste of green apples and lime – very nice. Tasting a second bottle in December I have to reiterate the refreshing, tangy character of this wine, … Continue reading
Posted in California, Chenin Blanc, Mendocino County
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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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Navarro grape juice 2008
Navarro, Mendocino, Gewurztraminer, Grape Juice 2008 This has long been a personal favorite of mine and during our trip to Mendo in March we were treated to a new way to enjoy it. At Cafe Beaujolais the juice was made … Continue reading
Posted in California, Gewurztraminer, Grape juice, Mendocino County
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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
Schramsberg Cremant 2004
Schramsberg, North Coast, Cremant, Demi-Sec 2004 There’s sweet tropical fruit in the nose, with flowers and perfume. In the mouth this wine is lightly sweet, with a fruity core and a little bitterness. The grapes are 84% Flora, 9% Chardonnay, … 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
Schramsberg Mirabelle Rose
Schramsberg, North Coast, Mirabelle, Brut Rose nv There’s a red-fruited sweetness in the nose, reminiscent of the cherries jubilee that I used to whip up table side back in the day. In the mouth the fruity theme continues with moderate … Continue reading
Ceago Vinegarden
Like Rosenblum Cellars on the San Francisco Bay, you can literally arrive by boat when you visit Ceago Vinegarden. The estate takes its name from a Pomo Indian word and is pronounced in the same way as Diego. It is … Continue reading
Posted in California, Chardonnay, Clear Lake, Lake County, Mendocino County, Merlot
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Edmeades Piffero 2005
Edmeades, Redwood Valley, Piffero Vineyard, Zinfandel 2005 The fruit has taken on a sweet character, seemingly combining fresh and dried cherries. The wine fills out the entire palate with flavor in a supple way – delicious. P&B in Geyserville 15.5% … Continue reading
Posted in California, Mendocino County, Redwood Valley, Zinfandel
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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
Husch Chenin Blanc 2008
Husch, Mendocino, Chenin Blanc 2008 Perfume and ripe tropical fruit mark the nose while the mouth features a subtle amout of RS at 1.4%. GP&B in Ukiah 13% $7.99 at Bottle Barn Husch
Posted in California, Chenin Blanc, Mendocino County
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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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Carol Shelton Rose 2007
Carol Shelton, Mendocino County, Rendezvous Rose 2007 This wine is redolent of strawberries – just bountiful! In the mouth this rose is truly dry yet with plenty of fruit it comes across as quite concentrated. I bought a 6 pack … Continue reading
Posted in California, Carignane, Mendocino County, Rosé
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Copain Viogner 2007
Copain, Mendocino County, ‘Tous Ensemble’, Viognier 2007 It’s a pleasure to find a tasty Viognier under 14% and this one delivers with the classic peaches and flowers – fresh and delicious. P&B in Healdsburg 13.7% $17.99 at Traverso’s Copain Wines
Posted in California, Mendocino County, Viognier
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Kimmel Chardonnay 2007
Kimmel, Mendocino, Chardonnay 2007 The tropical notes on this wine are explosive. It’s as if there’s a banana Popsicle hiding in the glass. Joining with the fruit there are brown spices and a sense of freshly-split oak. In the mouth … Continue reading
Posted in California, Chardonnay, Mendocino County
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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
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