Monthly Archives: April 2008

Bordeaux blends

Posted on April 30, 2008 by Ray

Justin Paso Robles Isosceles 2005 Lots of toasty oak and sour cherries with a thickness that lasts a long time. 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 7% Merlot. GP&B in Paso Robles 14.6% $47.99 at Bottle Barn Justin Chateau … Continue reading →

Posted in Bordeaux, Bordeaux Style Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Napa Valley, Paso Robles, Saint-Julien | Leave a comment

3 Cabernet all day

Posted on April 30, 2008 by Ray

Paul Hobbs Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Hobbs is truly the master at producing elegant, polished Cabernet. This wine has notes of the cigar box, a kiss of oak and ripe, supple tannins. P&B in Sebastopol 14.9% $74.99 at Bottle … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley | Leave a comment

Frankly Cab

Posted on April 30, 2008 by Ray

Frank Family Vineyards Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 This Alexander Valley Cab was made by the Napa winery known for its deft hand with the local fruit. Tonight we taste a wine from grapes sourced a little farther north. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Alexander Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, California | Leave a comment

Mountain Merlot

Posted on April 30, 2008 by Ray

Pride Mountain Vineyards Napa Sonoma Merlot 2001 Unfortunately this wines was corked, which is especially disconcerting at this price. Pride has always delighted with the lush feel of their red wines. This is sourced from their estate on the county … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Merlot, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District | Leave a comment

For your favorite chef

Posted on April 30, 2008 by Ray

Navarro Anderson Valley Chardonnay Verjus 2007 This is another non-alcoholic product from Navarro, but not for drinking but rather as an alternative in the kitchen. This is literally underripe grape juice, green juice, as it were that you might use … Continue reading →

Posted in Anderson Valley, California, Chardonnay | Leave a comment

Before there is wine, there is juice

Posted on April 30, 2008 by Ray

Perhaps the next best thing to wine; anyone who has made wine knows how delicious this is. Yes, I’m talking about freshly crushed grape juice. Navarro has longed shared this specialty with the rest of the world and tonight we … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Gewurztraminer, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir | Leave a comment

The lush life in Napa

Posted on April 30, 2008 by Ray

Dolce Napa Valley Late Harvest Wine 2003 This is the classic California Sauternes competitor, in flavor and in price. There’s a blend of pineapple and caramel with honey and minerality on a viscous palate where the flavor goes on and … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Late Harvest White, Napa Valley, Semillon | Leave a comment

Being Frank

Posted on April 25, 2008 by Ray

Frank Family Napa Valley Zinfandel 2006 Known for awesome Cabernet, tonight we sample their Zin. This wine smells of vanilla and other essences of dessert. There’s lots of extract, very jammy in black fruit and a healthy heft of tannin. … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Napa Valley, Zinfandel | Leave a comment

Rhone grapes here and there

Posted on April 25, 2008 by Ray

Les Restanques de Pibarnon Bandol 2003 This is a good value offering from Pibarnon, showing ripe fruit overlaid with ripe tannins. This wine gets better each time I taste it. The complexity is there and the edges are softening when … Continue reading →

Posted in Bandol, California, Central Coast, Cotes du Rhone, France, Grenache, Mourvedre, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Break out the saddle

Posted on April 25, 2008 by Ray

Bridlewood Central Coast Winner’s Circle Selection “Blue Roan” Syrah 2004 Just a few evenings ago we tasted another of the Winner’s Circle Selection Syrah and it was true to the the house style showing lots of oak essence wound into … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Central Coast, Syrah, Uncategorized | Leave a comment