Spragia Family Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Home Ranch, Merlot 2006 The nose features a strong blast of fresh oak. In the mouth that note carries through, with plummy fruit, a little warmth and a supple texture. V&B in St. Helena 15.6% $19.99 at Bottle Barn Sbragia Family
Charles Creek, Alexander Valley, East Soda Rock Vineyard, Malbec 2007 It was a pleasure to see a number of very nice wines made from this grape at the competition. We chose this one as the Best of Class. It is full of black fruit, oaky and possesses a thickness in the mouth and great length. It is wonderful in that it combines richness of texture with long acidity – very nice. V&B in Graton 14.9% $15.99 at Bottle Barn Charles Creek
Murphy-Goode, Alexander Valley, All In, Claret 2005 Unfortunately this wine is corked. V&B in Geyserville 14.5% $35.99 at Bottle Barn Murphy-Goode Winery
Mazzocco, Sonoma County, Matrix 2004 We chose this as our Best of Class Bordeaux Blend over $25. My notes at the preliminary round show bright liqueur-like fruit in the nose and a mouth that combined suppleness, with concentrated fruit over top of structure.
Unfortunately the bottle we have today is corked – ugh. Winemaker Antoine Favero V&B in Healdsburg 14.8% $33.99 at Bottle Barn Mazzocco Winery
deLorimier, Alexander Valley, Crazy Creek Vineyard, Estate Bottled, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 There is vanilla and cherries in the nose while the mouth features a light-bodied, approachable, easy drinking profile. The wine was aged in French oak for 36 months. P&B in Geyserville 14.3% $33.69 at Bottle Barn deLorimier Winery
Dry Creek Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, Endeavor, Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 This Cab shows its ties across the Atlantic to Bordeaux, where cedar combines with cassis. In the mouth it is structured, chewy and substantial with a nice sense of cassis and complexity; grab a steak if you have to drink it now. P&B in Healdsburg 13.9% $44.99 at Bottle Barn Dry Creek Vineyard
Hauck Cellars, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley, Red Grav Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 There’s a lot of spiciness in the nose, with pine and bay leaves. In the mouth it is still quite tight, just a baby, gripping with lots of oak on top. The grapes are 96% Cab with 4% Merlot and the wine is aged for 22 months in all new oak, both French and American. Proprietors Greg and Jennifer Hauck. Bottled in Hopland 14.5% $38.99 at Bottle Barn Hauck
Imagery Estate Winery got a gold for it’s Cab Franc at this Harvest Fair, it should be worth a mention.