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: Sierra Foothills
Noceto Nutz! 2008
Tutti I Giorni, Amador County, Nutz! 2008 The nose features cherries and tar with a bit of brambles. In the mouth it is light-bodied and refreshingly acidic with a bit of grip. As in Chianti, this wine is a blend … Continue reading
Noceto Sangiovese 2007
Noceto, Amador County, Sangiovese 2007 Cherries are on display in the nose. In the mouth they follow through with plenty of acidity and a light-bodied, smooth mouthfeel – nice. P&B in Plymouth by Suzy and Jim Gullett 14% purchased for … Continue reading
California Zinfandel
Sobon Estate, Amador County, Old Vines, Zinfandel 2008 Here’s a light-bodied Zin that is quite fruity and ready to quaff. There’s a little sweetness working in the background (about 3 grams per litre) along with a light touch of eucalyptus … Continue reading
Posted in Amador County, California, Dry Creek Valley, Sierra Foothills, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
Tagged Sobon Estate, Wilson Winery
Leave a comment
Chatom Sauvignon 2007
Chatom Vineyards, Calaveras County, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 In the nose this Sauvignon features flowers and green herbs while in the mouth it is soft and viscous. Grown, produced and bottled in Douglas Flat 14.8% $16 at the winery, a gift … Continue reading
St. Amant Vintage Port 2006
St. Amant Winery, Amador County, Vintage Port 2006 This is well-done California vintage style of port with plenty of black fruit, thickness of texture and a spiritous undertone. The wine is dedicated to founder Tim Spencer who died in 2006. … Continue reading
Posted in Amador County, California, Fortified dessert, Port, Sierra Foothills
Leave a comment
California Zinfandel 2006
Terra d’Oro, Amador County, Deaver Vineyard, Zinfandel 2006 The nose features stewed fruits, raisins, caramel and brown spices. In the mouth the wine is warm, with sweet, pruny fruit. The vines were planted in 1881. P&B Plymouth 15.5% $30 at … Continue reading
Posted in Amador County, California, Paso Robles, Sierra Foothills, Zinfandel
Leave a comment
Easton Late Harvest Zinfandel 2006
Easton, Fiddletown, Rinaldi Vineyard, Late Harvest, Zinfandel 2006 In the nose you’ll find baked red and black fruits. In the mouth the fruit really comes alive. There’s a gripping astringency on the palate and a conservative amount of residual sugar, … Continue reading
Posted in California, Fiddletown, Late harvest red, Sierra Foothills, Zinfandel
Leave a comment
Sobon Primitivo 2007
Sobon Estate, Amador County, Rezerve, Primitivo 2007 The black pepper is not shy in the nose of this wine. In the mouth the blackberries come to the fore along with ripe tannins. All the grapes were grown organically. Grown, produced … Continue reading
Posted in Amador County, California, Primitivo, Sierra Foothills
Leave a comment
Sobon Viognier 2008
Sobon Estate, Amador County, Viognier 2008 The tropical notes are such that this wine reminds me of the banana popsicles that I enjoyed as a boy. There’s also a layer of richness as well, making this wine slippery smooth. Besides … Continue reading
Posted in Amador County, California, Sierra Foothills, Viognier
Leave a comment
Shenandoah Zin 2007
Shenandoah Vineyards, Amador County, Special Reserve, Zinfandel 2007 This is an easy quaffer that delivers the fruit of Zin in a light-bodied format. The grapes were organicaly grown in California’s gold country. P&B in Plymouth 14.4% $7.99 at Bottle Barn … Continue reading
Posted in Amador County, California, Sierra Foothills, Zinfandel
Leave a comment
Calstar, Alta Zin 2006
Calstar Cellars, El Dorado County, Cardanini Estate, Zinfandel, Alta Zin 2006 This is certainly a jammy wine, light-bodied and fruity with the weight of the alcohol underlying it. Owner and Winemaker Rick Davis. P&B in Sebastopol 15.1% $18.75 at the … Continue reading
Posted in California, El Dorado County, Sierra Foothills, Zinfandel
Leave a comment
From SF head east
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 … Continue reading
Driving for Zin
Neyers, Contra Costa County, Pato Vineyard, Zinfandel 2005 Stewed and raisiny fruit. P&B in St. Helena 15.6% $24.49 at Bottle Barn Neyers Z, Amador County, Massoni Ranch, Zinfandel 2005 Sweet oak multiplied by sweet fruit – plush. Z is Jeff … Continue reading
Mountain Port 2
Renwood Sierra Foothills Vintage Port 2003 Sweet and slathered in oak essence – a class favorite. 5 traditional Portuguese grapes made this wine, Tinta Cao, Alvararhao, Souzao, Bastardo and Touriga. Aged in neutral American oak for 2 years, 7.9% RS. … Continue reading
Posted in California, Port, Sierra Foothills
Leave a comment
Mountain Port
Macchia Amador County Linsteadt Vineyard Dangerous Port 2004 In the house style of ripeness and richness with integrated alcohol. The grapes are a combo of Barbera and Zinfandel. P&B in Lockeford 20.1% $25 at the winery Macchia
Posted in Amador County, California, Port, Sierra Foothills
Leave a comment
Pizza time
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico DOCG 2004 The previous vintage showed some herbaceousness and tannic grip, as well as cherry, fresh and evolving with complexing earthiness. Here again with the 2004 there is a rusticity and astringency. 85% Sangiovese, 10% … Continue reading
Posted in Amador County, California, Sangiovese, Sierra Foothills
Leave a comment
Gold Country Zinfandel
This flight features a range of vintages of Gold country wine, from 2000 to 2003. Karly Amador County Buck’s Ten Point Zinfandel 2000 Evolving, sweet raisined fruit – a very supple wine that is warm and complex. At its peak … Continue reading
Posted in Amador County, France, Sierra Foothills, Zinfandel
Leave a comment
English