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, [...]

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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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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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So many of us enjoy dry white wine. Yet what is dry is not one thing, as we see in the case of these two dry white wines.
Benziger Sonoma Valley MacLeod Family Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2006
This is crisp citrus in a bottle. The Benziger family is a leaders in sustainable practices and encourages a similar [...]

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Mumm Napa Napa Valley Grande Annee 2001
Lots of citrus fruit in the sparkler of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. A lighter-bodied sparkling that is fruit driven, rounded and possessing some floral/minty characteristics. P&B in Rutherford 12.5% $30 at the winery Mumm

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Tonight we taste 8 different bubblies on the pink side, from Spain, north to Burgundy and Champagne and finally back home to California.
Codorniu Cava Pinot Noir Brut nv
Earthy and coarse - a real disappointment. All Pinot Noir fermented in the bottle tasted, as in methode champenoise. Elaborador in Saint Sadurni d’Anoia in the Penedes 12% [...]

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