The wine that keeps on giving
Small Vines, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir 2006 This is a wine of dense concentration from biodynamically farmed grapes. Upon first pouring the nose is quite tight so give it some time to open. The mouth is packed with red fruit flavors, framed...
Sauvignon that sings
Dutcher Crossing, Dry Creek Valley, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 This Sauvignon smells of sweet and ripe tropical fruit. The fresh fruit continues on the palate where there is a softer, rounder feel than with many Sauvignon. Don't get me wrong, I love an...
Steen
Sebeka, Western Cape, Chenin Blanc 2008 This is a softer version of Chenin than you might expect from South Africa. While the Chenin produced at Mulderbosch and Thelema have electrifying acidity, this has a softer touch of the acid hand and 6.5g/l...
Urbane class and Dry Creek Valley
Downtown Healdsburg has become a destination for luxurious wine and food experiences. One of the venues in which to indulge, just off the square, is the tasting room of Williamson Wines. The beauty of the tasting that Bill and Dawn Williamson...
Almost to Spain
Les Clos de Paulilles, Banyuls Rimage 2005 There are stewed fruits and raisins to smell while the mouth is a supple presentation of evolving fruit and moderate sweetness that is crying out for dark chocolate. The grapes are 100% Grenache Noir....
Superstar
Meo-Camuzet, Morey-Saint-Denis 2004 At Les Grands Jours in the spring we were treated to a few of the domaine wines which were everything the reputation leads one to expect. With this wine we taste a bottle from the negociant line from a difficult...
Their regional wine
Robert Groffier, Bourgogne, "Pinot Noir" 2005 The house style does not oppose earthiness and the bit of brett I picked up earlier in the spring is a bit more in the horse blanket zone now. In the mouth the earthiness comes through with tart...
Beau
Louis Jadot, Beaujolais-Villages 2007 Clean berry and cherry fruit with a little minerality. The mouth is fruity with a light body, characteristic acidity and just a hint of tannic greenness - an easy picnic quaff. Eleve et mis at 71570 in France...
North of Beaune
William Fevre, Chablis, Champs Royaux, 2007 There's a sense of stones and wet pavement in the nose. There are tangy green apples in the mouth that go on for a long time - very refreshing. Champs Royaux is a special selection from assorted parcels....
Value Chardonnay
Verget, Macon-Vergisson, "La Roche" 2006 Lots of fresh ripe red apples in the nose - you can taste them in your mouth with a nice tang of acidity in this light-bodied wine. From Jean-Marie Guffen, whose Chardonnays have been a spot-on value. 13%...