Category Archives: Russian River Valley

Small Vines Russian River Pinot Noir 2008

Small Vines, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir 2008 This wine is a star. In the nose the fruit has a liqueur-like character, showing off its ripeness. In the mouth there is again that straddling of the Old and New Worlds … Continue reading

Posted in California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County | Tagged | 1 Comment

Hartford Court Four Hearts Chardonnay 2007

Hartford Court, Russian River, Four Hearts Vineyards, Chardonnay 2007 This is a large Chardonnay, big, rich and mouth-filling. There’s plenty of butter and oak to please those in search of a full-on California Chard yet there is also a core … Continue reading

Posted in California, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County | 3 Comments

Foppiano Rose 2009

Foppiano, Russian River Valley, Estate Bottled, Rose 2009 The nose features flowers, candied red fruits and a bit of bubble gum. In the mouth the fruit shows nicely, the acidity is mild and the palate is broad. It is reminiscent … Continue reading

Posted in California, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Rosé, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County | Tagged | Leave a comment

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 | 1 Comment

Pinot Noir Rose 2009

Domaine Charles Audoin, Marsannay Rose 2009 The nose features stone fruits and minerality, with a bit of earthiness and a whiff of a dairy note. In the mouth there is an austerity and a bit of warmth and grip. Drink … Continue reading

Posted in Burgundy, California, Marsannay, Rosé, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Foppiano Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Foppiano, Russian River Valley, Estate Bottled, Sauvignon Blanc 2009 The nose is clean and expresses ripe citrus, as in fresh oranges. Add to that an accent of tropical fruit, a whiff of bananas and floral notes, of the sweet and … Continue reading

Posted in California, Russian River Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County | Tagged | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County | 1 Comment

Syrah from California and Cote-Rotie

This flight of Syrah takes us from the freshness of new fruit in California, to the development of bottle bouquet in wines from 2003 – excellent all around, featuring different expressions of the same grape over time and over both … Continue reading

Posted in California, Cote-Rotie, Russian River Valley, Santa Barbara County, Santa Ynez Valley, Sonoma County, Syrah | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Jordan Chardonnay and Cabernet

Before moving to California, I worked in a flash French restaurant back in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This was the mid-eighties and all of the staff were died in the wool Francophiles, disdaining New World wine while seldom ever tasting it. Local … Continue reading

Posted in Alexander Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County | Tagged | 2 Comments

Acorn Sangiovese 2007

Acorn, Russian River Valley, Alegria Vineyards, Sangiovese 2007 This wine delivers the acidity of Sangiovese with the ripeness of California – very nice. The grapes for this wine are 98% Sangiovese (7 different clones), 1% Canaiolo and 1% Mammolo. Winegrowers … Continue reading

Posted in California, Russian River Valley, Sangiovese, Sonoma County | Tagged | Leave a comment

Hanna Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Hanna, Russian River Valley, Estate Grown, Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Notes back through the 2004 vintage show a consistent thread of bright citrus and high acidity. The current ’09 couples the citrus with freshly cut grass. A bit of petillance adds … Continue reading

Posted in California, Russian River Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County | Tagged | Leave a comment

Korbel Natural 2007

Korbel, Russian River Valley Champagne, Natural’ Méthode Champenoise 2007 In the nose you’ll find green apples and strawberries while in the mouth it is acidic, with a sense of apples that have been baked with brown sugar. 65% Pinot Noir, … Continue reading

Posted in California, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Sparkling Dry | Tagged | Leave a comment

Chronicle Zinfandels 2006

Proprietor Mike Hengehold was on hand at ZAP today in San Francisco to showcase his Zin portfolio. He is sourcing fruit from vines that were planted in the Russian River long before I was born. The fruit hangs well into … Continue reading

Posted in Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Zinfandel | Tagged | 1 Comment

Trione Sauvignon Blanc 2006

I hope you don’t think that I’m on the payroll at Trione ’cause here is another review of a super wine. At the Chronicle judges’ dinner last week we were each given a gift-wrapped bottle of a wine to take … Continue reading

Posted in California, Russian River Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County | Tagged | Leave a comment

Trione new releases

Trione, Russian River Valley, River Road Ranch, Pinot Noir 2008 In the nose you’ll find sweet red fruit with pastry notes, think cherry pie, warm and aromatic. In the mouth you’ll find a supple expression of that cherry pie, absolutely … Continue reading

Posted in California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Syrah | Tagged | Leave a comment

Wines of the 2010 Pinot Noir Shootout

The final round of judging in the 2010 Pinot Noir Shootout was held today at Bistro Boudin on Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. I was asked to join about 30 other judges to pick the best of the best from … Continue reading

Posted in Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Santa Barbara County, Santa Maria Valley, Sta. Rita Hills | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sonoma County Pinot Noirs 2007

Balletto, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Estate Bottled, Pinot Noir 2007 Sweet, ripe fruit fills the glass, a blend of cherries and raspberries. In the mouth there is also a touch of caramel, light body, smooth texture and long acidity … Continue reading

Posted in California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Sonoma County Sauvignons 2007

Rancho Zabaco, Russian River, Reserve, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 There’s a nice spot of grassiness in the nose, with green peppers and grapefruit zest. In the mouth the grapefruit comes through with a nice level of refreshing acidity. Produced & bottled … Continue reading

Posted in California, Russian River Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Tandem Porter-Bass Chard 2005

Tandem, Russian River Valley, Porter-Bass Vineyard, Chardonnay 2005 With 4 years since the harvest this wine is developing some nice complexity. The nose sports wet stones, toastiness, tropical fruits, hay and lanolin. In the mouth there is a richness of … Continue reading

Posted in California, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County | 1 Comment

Ancien Russian River Pinot 2006

Ancien, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir 2006 The nose speaks of sweet cherries sprinkled with brown spices. In the mouth this is a supple Pinot with polished oak in the background to enhance the fruit – very nice. The majority … Continue reading

Posted in California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County | Leave a comment

Graton Ridge Pinot Noir 2007

Graton Ridge, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Paul Family Vineyard, Estate, Pinot Noir 2007 There’s a lovely cherry pie essence in the nose, a sweet expression of fruit and oak. In the mouth there is vanilla, caramel and cherries baked … Continue reading

Posted in California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County | Leave a comment

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

Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Late harvest red, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley, Zinfandel | 1 Comment

Davis Family Pinot 2007

The Davis Family brand has stood for great Pinot and you see that in the latest crop of wines which garnered honors at this year’s Harvest Fair in Sonoma. Davis Family, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir 2007 Sweet caramel combines … Continue reading

Posted in California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County | 1 Comment

Sonoma County Zinfandel

J. Keverson, Russian River Valley, Alton Lane Vineyard, Zinfandel 2007 The fruit is very bright in the nose and graced by a healthy dose of black pepper. In the mouth the fruit is framed by acidity. This is one of … Continue reading

Posted in Alexander Valley, California, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Zinfandel | Leave a comment

DeLoach Chardonnays 2007

DeLoach, Sonoma Coast, Golden Coast, Chardonnay 2007 The nose features plenty of fresh oak. In the mouth there is more of the same with green apples and warmth. The wine was barrel fermented and the lees were stirred. P&B in … Continue reading

Posted in California, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County | 1 Comment

Carol Shelton Sweet Caroline 2006

Carol Shelton, Russian River Valley, Fanucchi Vineyard, Sweet Caroline, Trousseau Gris 2006 This is a light-bodied dessert wine from a grape that makes some very acidic table wines. There’s actually a grapy character to this wine that I associate with … Continue reading

Posted in California, Late Harvest White, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Trousseau Gris, White Dessert | Leave a comment

Rodney Strong Reserve Pinot 2006

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 … Continue reading

Posted in California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County | Leave a comment

Woodenhead Buena Tierra Pinot 2006

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

Posted in California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County | Leave a comment

Acorn Sangiovese 2006

Acorn, Russian River Valley, Alegria Vineyards, Sangiovese 2006 Cherry and vanilla mark the nose while the mouth features cherry fruit, Sangiovese’s characteristic acidity, a light dusting of tannin and a bit of creaminess – nice. The grapes for this wine … Continue reading

Posted in California, Russian River Valley, Sangiovese, Sonoma County | Tagged | Leave a comment

Balletto Rose 2008

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

Posted in California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County | Leave a comment