Greco
Mastroberardino, Greco di Tufo DOCG, Nova Serra 2006 There's a nice toasty character in the nose . In the mouth there's a nuttiness along with lemon peel and lemony acidity. This wine offers complexity without being clunky. 100% Greco grown in the...
Silver in Santa Rosa
Ray D'Argenzio continues making great wine from his location just across the highway from the Santa Rosa Junior College. He's in the second year of his Amarone project, drying grapes from the '08 harvest. Breanna, back from a year of study in...
Be wise
This week I had an opportunity to visit with Joseph Otos to talk about his winemaking philosophy and the brands that he is putting on the map, Willowbrook and Owl Ridge. Both brands are crafted in Sebastopol's rabbit warren of entrepreneurship that...
The contrasting flavors of white wine
Angeline, Russian River Valley, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 In the nose there are the competing smells of citrus, candy, flowers and a bit of mown grass. You taste the citrus with a sense of the lemon zest as well. There's a frame of acidity as well to...
The structure of California
Bogle Vineyards, California, Petite Sirah 2006 With notes back to 2001 this wine has been a favorite for showing some tannin in an affordable package. The prices has been steady as well. In October '08 this '06 sported sweet smells of vanilla and...
Candy in a bottle
Bodegas Alto Moncayo, Campo De Borja DO 2005 The previous vintage was like what it would be like to drink candy - supple and rich, sweet-appearing as well. The '06 is even more so with tons of oak on top. This is 100% Garnacha aged in new French...
Rose only
Château du Ségriès, Tavel 2007 The '06 was a solid, fruity wine and the 07 repeats that performance. The nose is clean and full of red fruits. The mouth is full-bodied and a little warm. You also get a sense of red wine with a bit of grip on the...
Ever fashionable, it begins with a V
Domaine de Triennes, Vin de Pays du Var, Sainte Fleur, Viognier 2006 The '05 was a bit alcoholic, though that is often tolerated in Viognier. This bottle, the '06 has some sense of that in the mouth but more than enough vivacious fruit to offset...
A sense of citrus
Lillet, White nv There's a beautiful sense of citrus peel - very aromatic with alcohol in the background. It's sweet but not too much so. Serve it over a few ice cubes. This latest bottling in 2010 is vibrantly fresh and the best I've ever...
Dessert
Falesco, Lazio IGT, Pomele 2003 Lots of raisined fruit and alcohol in the nose and fresh sweet berries in the mouth - perfect for a lightly sweet berry dessert as there is refreshing acidity to balance the residual sugar. 100% Aleatico from the...