Rodney Strong, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Reserve, Pinot Noir 2006 The nose is shut down and the mouth is fairly astringent. I suspect a low level of TCA is cloaking the true nature of this wine. Tom Klein owner and Rick Sayre winemaker P&B Healdsburg 15.2% $50 at the winery Rodney Strong

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Woodenhead, Russian River Valley, Buena Tierra Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2006
There’s liqueur-like black fruit in the nose and a supple, ripe mouthful of berries.P&B in Forestville 14.5% $55 at the winery Woodenhead

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Balletto, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Estate Bottled, Pinot Noir 2008 Fruity and dry rose for the upcoming heat! P&B by Laguna Oaks Vineyards & Winery in Santa Rosa 13.6% $10.99 at Bottle Barn Balletto

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Egly-Ouriet, Champagne, Grand Cru, Brut Tradition nv In the nose there is citrus, bruised apples and brown spices as in an apple pie. In keeping with the house style, the acidity is quite profound. This wine is quite tight, very long, very much just a baby at this point. The grapes are sourced from vines [...]

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Sparkling Pointe, North Fork of Long Island, Brut Seduction 2000 In the nose there are fresh and browned apples.  In the mouth there is also a sense of citrus, with pastry richness and note of custard. This is an elegant bubbly - very nice. It took the big award at the Chronicle Competition in January. [...]

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Charles Heidsieck, Champagne, Brut Reserve nv This wine has developed toastiness, nuttiness and a sense of bread dough. The texture is lovely, creamy yet refreshingly acidic. This new bottling was disgorged in 2008 and given a hefty price increase over the previous batch on the market which sold for just under $30 retail.
The base wine [...]

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Louis Bouillot, Cremant de Bourgogne, Perle de Vigne, Grande Reserve, Brut nv There’s a moderate level of concentration and a good deal of complexity for the price which I swear was about $15 but alas the price tag has vanished. The concentration is rather moderate though and not The grapes behind this methode traditionnelle are [...]

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Korbel, Russian River Valley Champagne, Natural’ Méthode Champenoise 2006 As in previous vintages, there’s a nice sense of green apples through and through, making this arguably Korbel’s best and most refreshing sparkler. 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay; styled instigated at Korbel by Adolf Heck in 1962, .7% dosage, P&B Guerneville. 12.5% $10.69 at Bottle [...]

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Hirsch Vineyards, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir 2006 There’s lots of sweet vanilla, loads of oak. This is very ripe, the essence of berries in the mouth with a supple texture. P&B in Cazadero 14.5% $59.99 at Bottle Barn Hirsch Vineyards

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Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards, Sonoma Coast, Armagh Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2006
This is a sweet smelling Pinot, full of cherry liqueur. The mouth is driven by cherries as well, with plenty of acidity. This is a light-bodied wine with a bit of grip as well. The previous vintage of this wine won big at the Chronicle Wine Competition. [...]

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Domaine de Montille, Corton, Clos du Roi, Grand Cru 2005 The nose is a bit closed yet but you can see the concentration in the mouth. There’s plenty of structure and a core of red fruit and an underlying note of oak to add complexity. This is from the famous family of Volnay. 13% $114.99 [...]

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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

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Deux Montille, Chambolle-Musigny, “Les Babilleres” 2006 This is a very refined Burgundy, showing the charm associated with the appellation and the skillful winemaking of Alix. The acidity is a hallmark, encasing the cherry fruit along with an elegant mouthfeel. The grapes for this wine were sourced from Les Babilleres, situated between Les Charmes and the [...]

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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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Siduri, Santa Lucia Highlands, Pisoni Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2007 The smell combines berries and the forest floor. In the mouth, the fruit is almost a bit liqueur-like, very ripe and a little warm. P&B in Santa Rosa 14.1% $47.99 at Bottle Barn Siduri Wines

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Orogeny, Green Valley of Russian River, Pinot Noir 2006 The nose is brimming with sweet black fruit, liquer-like, maybe pie-like as well. The mouth features berries in a jammy way. The acidic frame balances the wine and drives the flavor for a long time - very nice.  P&B in Santa Rosa 14.1% $27.99 at Bottle [...]

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Iron Horse, Green Valley of Sonoma County, Estate, Pinot Noir 2006 The nose features plenty of cherries and a sense of the forest floor. In the mouth, the cherries repeat with some cola, warmth, tart acidity and a bit of astringent grip. Grown, Produced & Bottled in Sebastopol 14.5% $32.49 at Bottle Barn
Iron Horse

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I had an opportunity to visit with Paul and Kathryn Sloan of Small Vines Wines on Sunday, during their open house at the winery in Santa Rosa. We retasted the ‘06 Russian River and ‘06 Sonoma Coast which I reviewed back in the fall of ‘08.
These two wines are carrying on beautifully.  They capture the [...]

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Flowers, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir 2007 The cherries combine with forest floor and a touch of rubber in the nose. In the mouth, the cherries are enhanced by the acidity but there is also an uncharacteristic sense of astringency. P&B in Cazadero 13.4% $51.99 at Bottle Barn Flowers Winery

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Louis Latour, Marsannay, Rouge 2006 There’s a mix of cherries and a light greenish character in the nose. In the mouth the acidity is quite sharp and the red fruits are overlayed with astringency. While the fruit must not have been fully ripe, it does come through enough for the price. Mis en bouteille a [...]

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La Crema, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir 2007 Cherries and brown spices are out front in the nose with a sense of toastiness. The mouth features a supple carpet of black and red fruits, sweet-appearing in their ripeness and burnished with a kiss of oakiness - very nice. Winemaker Melissa Stackhouse. P&B in Windsor 13.9% $19.99 [...]

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Penet-Chardonnet, Champagne, Grand Cru, Grande Reserve, Extra Brut nv There is a light golden color in the glass and the biscuit notes are quite developed in the nose - very complex. Besides the biscuits there are browned apples, cherries and toasted nuts. The mouth is electric with acidity, tasting of granny smiths and cranberries. This [...]

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Foley, Sta. Rita Hills, Rancho Santa Rosa, Pinot Noir 2007 There is ripe candied fruit in the nose while the mouth is supple and elegant with oak working in a supportive role in the backgound. P&B in Lompoc 14.3% $35.99 at the Wine Merchant Foley
Jayer-Gilles, Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Nuits 2005 The nose is quite reductive [...]

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Frederic Magnien, Vosne-Romanee, Vielle Vigne 2005 The nose of this wine features earth and rubber, some Band-Aid as well as reductive notes. In the mouth, the wine is tight and tannic, with obvious brett. I’ve had some other Magnien wines that showed nicely with age and I’ve had others that were tough wines like this [...]

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Domaine de Montille, Bourgogne 2005 Mint combines with vibrant red fruits in the nose. The mouth is quite concentrated, full of acidity and a tannic veneer. Lay this down for a few years. This is from the famous De Montille family. Mis en bouteille a Volnay. 13% $34.99 at the Wine Club
Domaine Robert Arnoux, Nuits-Saint-Georges, [...]

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Belle Glos, Monterey County, Santa Lucia Highlands, Las Alturas Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2006 There’s smoke, liquer-like fruit and dusty cedar in the nose while the mouth follows through with warmth and earthiness on a supple blanket. Winemaker Joseph Wagner of the Caymus empire. Produced and bottled in Rutherford 15.1% $49.99 at Bottle Barn Belle Glos [...]

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Maison Ambroise, Corton, Le Rognet Grand Cru 1997
Quite youthful at this point, with nuttiness and cedar, earthiness and fruit on the ground. In the mouth this wine is still packed with flavor and the structure is still vivid. There’s great length and I expect some years of enjoyment to come. Vinified and mis en bouteille [...]

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Dehlinger, Russian River Valley, Goldridge Vineyard, Estate Bottled, Pinot Noir 2006 This wine is all about warm and concentrated sweet fruit. P&B in Sebastopol 14.8% $59.99 at Bottle Barn Dehlinger Winery

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Domaine des Croix, Beaune, Les Bressandes 1er Cru 2005 There’s earthiness, cinnamon and cloves in the nose, maybe a note of licorice as well. The mouth is quite structured, framing great concentration of flavor in a very young Burgundy. Mis en bouteille in Beaune 13% $?? a gift from one of the class
Bouchard Pere et [...]

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Paul Hobbs, Russian River Valley, Lindsay Estate Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2006
This wine delivers full concentration in the signature polished style of Hobbs. P&B in Sebastopol 14.8% $79.99 at Bottle Barn Paul Hobbs

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Ken Wright Cellars, Yamhill-Carlton District, Shea Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2007
The nose is all sweetness - liquer-like fruit with the richness of vanilla. The mouth is supple with earthiness for complexity. The previous vintage was the hands-down star of its flight. This guy makes stellar Pinot. P&B in Carlton 13.5% $45.99 at Bottle Barn
Ken Wright

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Siduri, Sta. Rita Hills, Cargasacchi Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2007 The nose features lots of fresh, candied fruit. The mouth captures the same essence, fruit driven and ready to drink. P&B in Santa Rosa 14.1% $47.49 at Bottle Barn Siduri Wines
Laetitia, Arroyo Grande Valley, Estate, Pinot Noir 2006 Unfortunately corked. Winemaker Eric Hickey. Estate grown, produced [...]

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