Ray Johnson’s Wine Blog

  • Home
  • About
  • Contributors

V for Vernaccia

Posted in October 23rd, 2008
by Ray in Italy, Tuscany, Vernaccia

Casa Alle Vacche, Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, I Macchioni, 2007 There is a New World ripe expression of fruit in the nose, along with perfume, green herbs and some minerality. In the mouth there is ample acidity with some thick, fleshy fruit as well to fill it out. There is a little phenolic grip, [...]

read more from this topic.....

No Comments

Across Italy

Posted in October 21st, 2008
by Ray in Chianti Classico, Italy, Langhe, Nebbiolo, Piemonte, Sangiovese, Tuscany

Vietti, Langhe DOC, Nebbiolo, Perbacco 2005 Spot on with black licorice and a wallop of tannin. Estate Bottled in Castiglione Falletto 13.5% $26.99 at Traverso’s Vietti
Badia a Coltibuono, Chianti Classico DOCG 2005 There is a pleasant combo of earth, cherries and a hint of varnish which adds to the complexity. The acidity is matched by [...]

read more from this topic.....

No Comments

Golden wine

Posted in September 23rd, 2008
by Ray in Italy, Rufina, Tuscany, Vin Santo

Selvapiana, Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina DOC 2001 Raisins and a spiritous character in the nose. The mouth features caramel and toffee and a subtle sweetness that would make it best consumed by itself after dinner in the cold of winter in front of that roaring fire. Estate bottled in Rufina 13.5% $46.99 at Bottle [...]

read more from this topic.....

No Comments

Tuscan sea to famed hilltop

Posted in September 23rd, 2008
by Ray in Bolgheri, Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Sangiovese, Tuscany

Tenuta Argentiera, Bolgheri DOC Poggio Al Ginepri 2006 There’s a light earthiness and a sense of brambles in the nose. The mouth is soft and easy drinking with leather, a moderate amount of tannic grip and acidity. Estate bottled in Castagneto Carducci 14% $25.95 at Traverso’s Argentiera
Casanova della Spinetta (La Spinetta), Toscana IGT, Il Nero [...]

read more from this topic.....

No Comments

Italian classics

Posted in August 19th, 2008
by Ray in Chianti Classico, Italy, Langhe, Nebbiolo, Piemonte, Sangiovese, Tuscany

Castello della Paneretta, Chianti Classico DOCG 2005 There’s loads of acidity and the taste of cherries. The grapes behind this wine are 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo. Estate bottled in Barberino val d’Elsa 13% $17.99 at Traverso’s Paneretta
Andrea Oberto, Langhe, Nebbiolo DOC 2005
Recent bottles of this estate’s Dolcetto and Barbera have been well-made and affordable. [...]

read more from this topic.....

No Comments

The expressions of Sangiovese

Posted in July 17th, 2008
by Ray in California, Chianti Classico, Montalcino, Napa Valley, Sangiovese, Super Tuscan, Tuscany

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 [...]

read more from this topic.....

No Comments

Tuscan hit parade

Posted in July 2nd, 2008
by Ray in Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, Italy, Montalcino, Sangiovese, Tuscany

2 great producers and 2 classic wines.
Fonterutoli Chianti Classico DOCG 2004
There’s some appropriate barnyard notes tied into the tart cherry and lightly tannic palate. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot, 2% Malvasia Nera and 2% Colorino, aged for one year in small oak barrels. Bottled by the Mazzei family in Castellina in Chianti 13.5% $27.95 at Traverso’s [...]

read more from this topic.....

No Comments

Tuscan M&Ms

Posted in May 2nd, 2008
by Ray in Italy, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Tuscany

Poliziano Rosso di Montepulciano DOC 2005
This has been a stalwart good value in a modern style, though the price has crept to the border of $20. The ‘05 vintage is light-bodied, accessible and subtly laced with a bit of tannin. Estate bottled by Federico Carletti in Montepulciano 13% $19.50 at Traverso’s Poliziano
Argiano Rosso di Montalcino [...]

read more from this topic.....

No Comments

Tuscan classic

Posted in April 22nd, 2008
by Ray in Chianti Classico, Italy, Sangiovese, Tuscany

Castellare Chianti Classico 2004
This estate has traditionally shown an Old World expression in their wines from Tuscany. This wine is spot-on again, showing the lean and acidic style of Sangiovese with a touch of green character. The grapes are mostly Sangiovese followed by Canaiolo. The wine was feremented in stainless and aged in French oak. [...]

read more from this topic.....

No Comments

Runs with Boar

Posted in November 10th, 2007
by Ray in Italy, Tuscany

Campo di Sasso Insoglio del Cinghiale IGT 2005
Last weekend I tasted the 2004 vintage of this wine and it was supple, warm and loaded with oak. The 2005 is a similar animal - very approachable and more New World in style than the traditional Italian wines against which it was tasted. Of 4 wines [...]

read more from this topic.....

No Comments

Brunello

Posted in November 10th, 2007
by Ray in Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Sangiovese, Tuscany

Altesino Brunello di Montalcino 2001
Earlier in the year one bottle was corked while the second was fine. That bottle was very complex, silky and evolved with a little less acidity than I expected, making it ready to drink without delay. Today we opened three bottles, one of which was corked. Of the two that [...]

read more from this topic.....

No Comments

Sangiovese at Home and Abroad

Posted in September 30th, 2007
by Ray in Chianti Classico, Sangiovese, Tuscany, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Isole e Olena Chianti Classico DOCG 2003
Tonight’s bottle showed some herbaceousness and tannic grip, as well as evolving fruit. The bottle opened earlier in the year showed classic cherry fruit and complexing earthiness with some evolution and stewed fruit. 85% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo and 4-5% Syrah and other grapes. Estate bot in Barberino Val [...]

read more from this topic.....

No Comments

V Squared

Posted in September 30th, 2007
by Ray in Italy, San Gimignano, Sardegna, Tuscany, Vermentino, Vernaccia

This flight pairs two of Italy’s well-known white grapes. Vernaccia from Tuscany and Vermentino from the island of Sardegna. Classically the Vernaccia has been described as crisp and full of minerality while the Vermentino was known for its broader, almost flat feel on the palate. Yet with better viticulural practices, reductive winemaking [...]

read more from this topic.....

No Comments

Recent Entries

  • Gloria Ferrer Carneros Cuvee 1998
  • Jacquesson Cuvee No.732
  • Tarlant Brut Zero
  • La Spinetta Moscato d’Asti 2007
  • Mas Blanc Banyuls 2006
  • Fontanel Rivesaltes Ambre 1998
  • La Caminade Cahors La Commandery 2004
  • Cedre Heritage 2004
  • Fonsainte Corbieres 2006
  • Bunan Cotes de Provence

Recent Comments

  • AJ in La Spinetta Moscato d'Asti 2007
  • AJ in Cedre Heritage 2004
  • Collier Falls V… in Collier Falls Vineyards
  • Anne Gros Bourg… in Anne Gros Bourgogne Chardonnay 2001…
  • Ray in Rhone Rangers Seminar 11/08
  • Kate Jones in Rhone Rangers Seminar 11/08
  • Rhone Rangers S… in Rhone Rangers Seminar 11/08
  • Tablas Creek Es… in Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel 2…
  • Ray in Candy in a bottle
  • AJ in Candy in a bottle

Social Network

  • Subscribes to feed
  • Stumble this site main post
  • Add to my Technorati favourite
November 2008
M T W T F S S
« Oct    
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930

Translators

French German version Spanish version Italian version

Categories

  • Abruzzo
  • Aglianico
  • Albariño
  • Aleatico
  • Alexander Valley
  • Aligote
  • Alsace
  • Alto Adige
  • Amador County
  • Amarone della Valpolicella
  • Andalucia
  • Anderson Valley
  • Aperitif
  • Arneis
  • Arroyo Seco
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Bandol
  • Banyuls
  • Barbaresco
  • Barbera
  • Bardolino
  • Barolo
  • Barossa
  • Barossa Valley
  • Beaujolais
  • Bennett Valley
  • Blanc de Noirs
  • Blush
  • Bolgheri
  • Bordeaux
  • Bordeaux Style Blends
  • Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Nuits
  • Bourgogne Passetoutgrain
  • Bourgueil
  • Bouzeron
  • Brachetto
  • Brachetto d'Acqui
  • British Columbia
  • Brunello di Montalcino
  • Bual
  • Burgundy
  • Cabernet Franc
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Cahors
  • Calatayud
  • California
  • Campania
  • Campo De Borja
  • Canada
  • Carignane
  • Carneros
  • Casablanca Valley
  • Castelli Romani
  • Castilla y Leon
  • Cava
  • Cayuga White
  • Central Coast
  • Central Otago
  • Chablis
  • Chambolle-Musigny
  • Champagne
  • Chardonnay
  • Charente
  • Chassagne-Montrachet
  • Chateauneuf-du-Pape
  • Chenin Blanc
  • Chianti Classico
  • Chile
  • Chinon
  • Cider
  • Cinsault
  • Clare Valley
  • Clarksburg
  • Cole Ranch
  • Colli Euganei
  • Colli Orientali del Friuli
  • Collioure
  • Colombard
  • Contra Costa County
  • Coonawarra
  • Corbieres
  • Cortese
  • Corvina
  • Cote Chalonnaise
  • Cote de Beaune
  • Cote de Nuits Villages
  • Cote-Rotie
  • Coteaux du Languedoc
  • Coteaux-du-Tricastin
  • Cotes de Castillon
  • Cotes de Provence
  • Cotes du Luberon
  • Cotes du Rhone
  • Cremant de Bourgogne
  • Cremant de Limoux
  • Crozes-Hermitage
  • Cucamonga Valley
  • Della Venezie
  • Diamond Mountain District
  • Dolcetto
  • Douro
  • Dry Creek Valley
  • Eden Valley
  • Edna Valley
  • El Dorado County
  • Entre-Deux-Mers
  • Finger Lakes
  • Fortified dessert
  • France
  • Franciacorta
  • Frascati
  • Friulano
  • Furmint
  • Galicia
  • Gamay
  • Gard
  • Garganega
  • Gavi di Gavi
  • Germany
  • Gevrey-Chambertin
  • Gewurztraminer
  • Gigondas
  • Graves
  • Greco di Tufo
  • Green Valley
  • Grenache
  • Grenache Blanc
  • Grignolino
  • Grillo
  • Gruner Veltliner
  • Guenoc Valley
  • Haut-Medoc
  • Hawke's Bay
  • Hermann
  • Hungary
  • Hunter Valley
  • Idaho
  • Italy
  • Jacquere
  • Jerez
  • Kamptal
  • Knights Valley
  • Kremstal
  • Lagrein
  • Lake County
  • Lalande-de-Pomerol
  • Lambrusco
  • Langhe
  • Langhorne Creek
  • Languedoc
  • Late harvest red
  • Late Harvest White
  • Lazio
  • Les Baux de Provence
  • Lodi
  • Loire Valley
  • Lombardia
  • Macon
  • Macon-Vergisson
  • Macon-Villages
  • Madeira
  • Malbec
  • Malvasia
  • Marche
  • Margaret River
  • Margaux
  • Marlborough
  • Marsala
  • Marsannay
  • Marsanne
  • Martinborough
  • Maury
  • McLaren Vale
  • Melon
  • Mendocino County
  • Mendocino Ridge
  • Meritage
  • Merlot
  • Minervois
  • Minervois La Liviniere
  • Missouri
  • Monica
  • Montalcino
  • Montepulciano
  • Monterey County
  • Monthelie
  • Montlouis sur Loire
  • Morey-Saint-Denis
  • Mornington Peninsula
  • Moscato d'Asti
  • Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
  • Mount Veeder
  • Mourvedre
  • Mt. Harlan
  • Muscadelle
  • Muscadet
  • Muscat
  • Muscat Beaumes de Venise
  • Napa Valley
  • Navarra
  • Nebbiolo
  • Negroamaro
  • Nelson
  • Nero d'Avola
  • New South Wales
  • New York
  • New Zealand
  • North Coast
  • Norton
  • Nuits-Saint-Georges
  • Oak Knoll District
  • Okanagan Valley
  • Oregon
  • Organic grapes
  • Orvieto
  • Paestum
  • Palomino
  • Paso Robles
  • Pauillac
  • Penedes
  • Pessac-Leognan
  • Petit Verdot
  • Petite Sirah
  • Picpoul de Pinet
  • Piemonte
  • Pinot Blanc
  • Pinot Gris and Grigio
  • Pinot Meunier
  • Pinot Noir
  • Pinotage
  • Pomerol
  • Port
  • Portugal
  • Pouilly-Fume
  • Primitivo
  • Priorat
  • Prosecco
  • Provence
  • Puglia
  • Puligny Montrachet
  • Pyrenees
  • Quarts de Chaume
  • Red Mountain
  • Redwood Valley
  • Refosco
  • Rheinhessen
  • Rhône
  • Rhone Blend
  • Rias Baixas
  • Ribera del Duero
  • Riesling
  • Rioja
  • Ripasso
  • Rivesaltes
  • Roero
  • Rosé
  • Roussanne
  • Roussillon
  • Rufina
  • Rully
  • Russian River Valley
  • Rutherford
  • Rutherglen
  • Saint Veran
  • Saint-Bris
  • Saint-Emilion
  • Saint-Julien
  • San Antonio Valley
  • San Gimignano
  • San Luis Obispo County
  • Sancerre
  • Sangiovese
  • Santa Barbara County
  • Santa Cruz Mountains
  • Santa Lucia Highlands
  • Santa Maria Valley
  • Santa Ynez Valley
  • Sardegna
  • Sardon de Duero
  • Saumur-Champigny
  • Sauternes
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Savennieres
  • Savigny-les-Beaune
  • Semillon
  • Sherry
  • Sicilia
  • Sierra Foothills
  • Soave
  • Sonoma Coast
  • Sonoma County
  • Sonoma Mountain
  • Sonoma Valley
  • South Africa
  • South Australia
  • South Eastern Australia
  • Spain
  • Sparkling Dry
  • Sparkling Lightly Sweet
  • Sparkling sweet
  • Spring Mountain District
  • Sta. Rita Hills
  • Stellenbosch
  • Super Tuscan
  • Sweet Sparkling
  • Sylvaner
  • Syrah
  • Taurasi
  • Tavel
  • Tempranillo
  • Tokaji
  • Touriga Franca
  • Touriga Nacional
  • Trebbiano
  • Tuscany
  • Umbria
  • Umpqua Valley
  • Uncategorized
  • Valladolid
  • Valpolicella
  • Var
  • Veneto
  • Veneto Red
  • Venezia Giulia
  • Verdelho
  • Verdicchio di Matelica
  • Vermentino
  • Vermouth
  • Vernaccia
  • Victoria
  • Vin de Pays d'Oc
  • Vin de Pays des Bouches du Rhone
  • Vin de Pays des Cotes de Gascogne
  • Vin de Pays Portes de mediterranee
  • Vin de Savoie
  • Vin Santo
  • Vinho Verde
  • Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
  • Viognier
  • Virginia
  • Volnay
  • Vosne-Romanee
  • Vouvray
  • Waipara
  • Walker Bay
  • Washington
  • Western Australia
  • Western Cape
  • White Dessert
  • White Zinfandel
  • Willamette Valley
  • Yarra Valley
  • Yorkville Highlands
  • Zinfandel

Archives

  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007

Pages

  • Home
  • About
  • Contributors

Blogroll

  • Able Grape - the wine information search engine
  • Anderson Valley - wineries and vineyards
  • California Wine Country - Sunset Field Guide
  • Mendocino County - wineries
  • Napa Valley - appellations
  • Santa Cruz Mountains - wineries

Meta

  • Log in
  • Valid XHTML
  • Valid CSS
  • WordPress
  • Virtual Internet Marketing Assistant
©2008 Ray Johnson’s Wine Blog
Powered by WordPress | Talian designed by VA4Business, Virtual Assistance for Business who's blog can be found at Steve Arun's Virtual Marketing Blog