Fleury Estate Winery, Napa Valley, Carneros, Pinot Noir 2007 The smell is sweet, as of cherries and cream. In the mouth,the taste is reminiscent of cherry pie, with some brown spices and the texture is silky perfection. We tasted this at the winery on Saturday and tonight it’s a delight to taste it again. Proprietors [...]

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von Strasser, Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 The sense of the mountain comes through in this wine, structured and able to age. The palate is chewing (I meant to say chewy, didn’t I - though it is interesting to think of the image, since we’re always speaking of wine as a livning [...]

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Crossbarn, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
The fruit is lovingly on display in this wine - think cassis with a hint of tobacco for complexity. In the mouth it is a delight, ripe yet with a polished structure. This label is the second wine from Hobbs. P&B by Paul Hobbs Winery in Sebastopol 14.5% $42.99 at [...]

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Elyse, Napa Valley, Morisoli Vineyard, Zinfandel 2006 Brown spices jump out in the nose while the mouth is supple and densely fruity. The grapes are sourced from Morisoli in Rutherford, west of Highway 29 at the base of Mount St. John. Cellared and bottled in Oakville 15.2% $26.49 at Bottle Barn Elyse

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Fleury Estate Winery, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, Merlot 2006 This wine reminds us that Merlot need not be flacid. Acidity enhances the plumminess of Merlot and makes it all the more food-friendly. At the same time, the fruitiness and plush texture makes this wine accessible on its own. P&B in St. Helena 14.5% $100 at [...]

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Carter, Napa Valley, Oakville, Beckstoffer Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon 20009 Almost 9 years on this wine is hitting its stride. The nose shows the bottle bouquet development of exotic spices like sandelwood. There’s a healthy mix of dried fruits and herbs, cinnamon and orange, all speaking the sweet-appearing smells that develop with time. In the mouth, [...]

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Grgich Hills, Napa Valley, Estate Grown, Chardonnay 2006 In the nose there is citrus and toasty notes. The mouth is quite crisp, as it traditionally is. There’s no ML for this Chardonnay. Estate Grown, P&B in Rutherford 14.3% $42 at Traverso’s Grgich

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Heitz Cellar, Napa Valley, Ink Grade Vineyard, Port nv Prunes mixed with chocolate and a sense of the fortifying spirit. The grapes behind this wine are the traditional Portuguese suspects of Touriga National, Sauzao, Tinta Cao, Tinta Amarells, Tinta Madeira and Bastardo. The latest bottling was released in 2006 and combines fruit from the [...]

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Duckhorn Vineyards, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Ripe citrus and floral notes dazzle your nose when you smell this wine. In the mouth, it is round and softer than many SBs, with ripeness of fruit and a little warmth. When we visited the winery in the summer, Matt said that 25% of the grapes are [...]

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Bouchaine, Napa Valley - Carneros, Estate, Chardonnay 2006 The nose combines freshly split wood, vanilla, toast and stone fruits. The mouth is full-on with oak essence and butter layered over peaches and green apples. The wine received all of the bells and whistles from the winemaker, including battonage  as well as ML for 50% of [...]

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Schramsberg, North Coast, Reserve 2001 The nose is very smoky and toasty, with a sense of freshly buttered pastry. In the mouth, the wine is reminiscent of a fresh pastry made with lemon and custard and topped with lots of lime cordial - a sweet-tart essense that is quite long. This wine is very rich, [...]

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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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Voss, Napa Valley, Rutherford Estate Vineyard, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Today on the first of April, 2009 the citrus is holding steady and the wine retains its freshness - bravo! In the fall of ‘08 I noted:  there’s a sense of gooseberries, candied tropical fruits and a little bell pepper. The fruitiness comes through even more [...]

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Heitz Cellar, Napa Valley, Grignolino Port 2004 It’s like cranberries marinated in brandy when you lift the glass. In the mouth it is light-bodied for a Port-style wine with a little acidic zing, sweetness and an alcoholic kick. This has been a consistent good value in California’s take on Port. P&B in St. Helena, 18.5% [...]

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Benessere, Napa Valley, Estate, Sangiovese 2005 You can smell sweet, candied cherries and vanilla in the glass while the mouth is a supple showcase of the same with Sangiovese’s textbook acidity.

The house style is one of polished wines. 12 different clones of Sangiovese went into the making of this one. The wine was aged in [...]

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Storybook Mountain Vineyards, Napa Valley, Eastern Exposures, Estate, Zinfandel 2005 This is not a wimpy Zin for the structure is there to accentuate the fruit. The grapes for this wine are a selection of mountain grown fruit on the property. Estate grown, produced and bottled in Calistoga 14.9% $35.99 at Bottle Barn Storybook

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Ghost Pines, Sonoma Napa and Monterey Counties, Winemaker’s Blend, Chardonnay 2006 Tropical fruits and toasty oak make up the nose. The oak follows through in the mouth without being overbearing and the little bit of butteriness enhances the mouth rather than making it clunky. It’s definitely driven more by the winemaking than the fruit in [...]

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Artesa, Carneros, Estate Reserve, Pinot Noir 2006 Artesa has been making some great wines and has shown greater success with their still wine program. This is a light-bodied, red fruit expression of Pinot with the warmth of alcohol. Winemaker David Dobson. P&B in Napa, 14.3% $50 at the winery Artesa
David Bruce, Santa Rita Hills, Pinot [...]

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Rombauer, California, Zinfandel 2006 This has always been on the very rich end of Zin styles with perceptible residual sugar - nonetheless a crowd-pleaser. This vintage follows the same path. The fruit is 59% Amador, 24% Napa, 11% lake and 6% El Dorado Counties. V&B in St. Helena 15.5% $27.99 at Traverso’s Rombauer
Van Ruiten, Lodi, [...]

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Charles Creek, Napa County Carneros, Chardonnay, Por Favor 2006 There’s minerality and a touch of cheese in the nose and a bracing taste of stone fruits with some creaminess in the mouth. This Chardonnay is fermented in stainless and aged in neutral oak. V&B in Graton 14.7% $24.99 at the winery Charles Creek
Jean-Marc Brocard, Chablis [...]

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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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Here are two wines from the Napa Valley that have a common thread of acidity and a shared and fabled character, who stunned the world at the Judgement of Paris.
Grgich Hills, Napa Valley, Estate Grown, Fume Blanc 2006 The profile is acidic with a subtle grassiness, a sense of the herhaceous without feeling like you’re [...]

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Rocca di Montegrossi, Chianti Classico DOCG, 2004 Screaming acidity and light body. 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo, aged in French oak for 12 months. Estate bottled in Gaiole 13.5% $22.99 at Traverso’s
Valdicava, Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2003 Appropriate earthiness and some richness in the mouth that balances Sangiovese’s acidity - very nice. The Winemaker Vincenzo [...]

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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 of RS in the background. Different animals and I like them both.
Roederer Estate, Anderson Valley, [...]

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Monticello, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District, Estate Grown, Syrah 2005 Lush and graced by black fruits and a bit of black pepper. P&B in Napa 14.5% $ at the winery Monticello
Trinafour, Mendocino County, Niemi Vineyard, Carignane 2006 There’s ample acidity to give this wine some tang and the tannins are ripe and refined. Sourced from [...]

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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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Christian Moueix Bordeaux Merlot 2003
From the Petrus folks, a value-oriented red from the land of very expensive wine. This is on the earthy side with fruit that is evolving in a raisin direction; it’s light-bodied and acidic. Mis en bouteille par Jean-Pierre Moueix a Libourne 13% $11.99 at Beverages & more!
Selene Napa Valley Frediani Vineyard [...]

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Clarendon Hills Clarendon Brookman Merlot 2005
Roman Bratasiuk pulls no punches with his opulent wines. This Merlot features ripe fruit and the cigar box characters we often associate with Bordeaux. The texture is oh so plush. P&B in Blewitt Springs 14.5% $60 suggested retail in the United States Clarendon Hills
Geyser Peak Alexander Valley Reserve Alexandre Meritage [...]

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Salomon Undhof Hochterrassen Gruner Veltliner Trocken Qualitatswein 2007
The fruit for this wine comes from hillside terraces along the Danube by the towns of Krems and Stein in the region of Kremstal. This wine features laser-like acidity and concentrated citrus. Erzeugerabfullung in Stein 12% $14.49 at Bottle Barn Salomon
McKenzie-Mueller Napa Valley Estate Bottled Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Unfortunately [...]

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Mumm Napa Napa Valley Devaux Ranch Methode Traditionnelle 2002
There’s lots of citrus with a hint of the zest and a touch of alcohol. The grapes are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and the wine was aged 3 years on the lees. P&B in Rutherford 12.5% $30 at the winery Mumm
Gloria Ferrer, Carneros, Vintage Reserve, Royal Cuvee, [...]

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