Spragia Family Vineyards, Sonoma Valley, Monte Rosso Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 In the nose there is a blend of cedar, vanilla and black fruits. In the mouth there is a spot on integration of oak and fruit in a supple package, the structure of Cabernet behind the scenes, supporting the wine, while the edges are [...]

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Muscardini Cellars, Sonoma Valley, Monte Rosso Vineyards, Rosato di Sangiovese 2008 This is a zippy rose, a clean expression of Sangiovese’s cherry character with refreshing acidity – very nice. The wine was fermented and aged in neurtal French oak for 5 months. Proprietor and winemaker Michael Muscardini. Vinted and bottled in Kenwood 13.8% $22 at [...]

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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 after 35 degrees brix at harvest Bottled in Geyserville 14.2% $17.99 at Bottle Barn for [...]

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Taft Street, Russian River Valley, Pinot Gris 2008 The glass is filled with perfume and cotton candy – a very pretty Pinot Gris.  In the mouth it is moderately acidic and tastes of citrus overlaid with flowers. P&B in Sebastopol 14.1% $11.99 at Bottle Barn Taft Street
Kunde Estate, Sonoma Valley, Destination Series, Gewurztraminer 2008 This [...]

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Haywood, Sonoma Valley, Los Chamizal Vineyard, Estate, Zinfandel 2006 The nose puts together many facets of Zin.  There’s pruniness, black pepper and a sense of Port. In the mouth, this is a structured Zin, supporting plenty of fruit and a long finish. Grown, produced and bottled in Sonoma 14.6% $30 at the winery Haywood Winery

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Bedrock Wine Co., Sonoma Valley, Ode to Lulu, Rose of Mourvedre 2008 This is a broader style of rose reminiscent of the south of France with hints of brick to see a little added weight on the palate. The grapes for this wine came from vines planted in 1888. After crushing, the grapes were allowed [...]

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Canzona Vineyards, Sonoma Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 There are sweet smells of caramel and vanilla, bright cherry fruit, cassis and a hint of cigar box. The mouthfeel is supple. Certainly the structure of Cabernet is there to experience, but the tannins are ripe and velvety, making this is an elegant Cabernet, a pleasure to drink [...]

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Rosenblum Cellars, Sonoma Valley, Maggie’s Reserve Zinfandel 2005
This wine is very sweet smelling, with a sense of pastry dough dabbed with vanilla. The mouth is quite rich, full of sweet-appearing fruit – just luscious. Some of the vines that gave us the grapes for this wine hail from 190. P&B in Alameda 14.8% $35.49 at [...]

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Berthoud, Sonoma Valley, Pagani Ranch, Chasselas Dore 2007 There’s a flinty character in the nose and the mouth is austere. The fruit is sourced from 100 year-old vines grown in the vineyard known for its very old Zinfandel. P&B in Sonoma 12% $19.99 at Traverso’s Berthoud Winery

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Mayo Family Winery, Sonoma Valley, Laurel Hill Vineyard, Methode Champenoise, Brut 2003 There’s plenty of green apple and tart cherry as well as a little toastiness. P&B in Lower Lake 12.5% $27.99 at Bottle Barn Mayo

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When Vacu-Dry ceased operations in Sebastopol, California, many bemoaned the continuing decline of the apple industry in Sonoma’s West County region. Yet from those ashes many a high-flying phoenix has taken flight.
The large and rather dingy industrial complex that used to house Vacu-Dry has been turned into a rabbit warren of artisan winemakers, each with [...]

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There’s a broad spectrum to what is considered dry white wine, as we see in these two examples from California.
Kunde Estate Sonoma Valley Magnolia Lane Sauvignon Blanc 2007
This is an exciting wine of floral and citrus notes, high acidity and light body. G, P & B in Kenwood 13.8% $9.49 at Bottle Barn Kunde
Cambria Santa [...]

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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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Nelson Estate Sonoma Valley Bennett Valley Vineyard Malbec 2004
The nose is oak city and the palate is very supple with moderate acidity and a long finish. I think that many will find this wine agreeable and readily approachable. Aged in Fr oak for 18 mos. C&B in Healdsburg 13.6% $21.99 at Bottle Barn Nelson [...]

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D’Argenzio Sonoma Valley D’Alfonso Sangiovese 2005
I had an opportunity to taste this wine twice in the past 2 weeks, once at the sweeps round and again during the D’Arenzio Harvest Party at the winery on Cleveland Avenue. This wine sports fresh red fruits in a light-bodied package where the acidity is in balance and there [...]

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Kunde Estate Sonoma Valley Grenache Rose 2006
A clean wine with parfum and strawberries framed by great acidity. We awarded this wine a Gold Medal and it won best of Class of the 10 pink wines tasted. The wine also showed well during the sweepstakes round. Unfortunately pink wines never have a chance to win sweepstakes [...]

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Gran Sasso, Puglia, Primitivo IGT 2005
Tasted in May ‘08 this wine was blooming with brett and would repulse most consumers. A bottle tasted later in the summer proved to be a different animal. Oaky and earthy with new world fruit, an appropriate amount of acid to brighten the wine and some tannin. Thus it lacked [...]

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