Azelia Barolo Margheria 2004
Azelia, Barolo, Margheria 2004 In the nose there is black licorice, fresh black fruits and raisins. This highly structured wine is made to age yet the ripeness would allow you to drink it now with a dense chunk of cheese - delicious. Estate bottled...
d’Arenberg Dead Arm 2006
d’Arenberg, McLaren Vale, The Dead Arm, Shiraz 2006 This wine is dense all around, from the color to the palate. Black fruits combine with hints of eucalyptus. The mouth is taught, just a baby yet the tannins are ripe with no astringency. Aged in...
Alto Moncayo 2006
Bodegas Alto Moncayo, Campo De Borja DO 2006 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...
Castellare Chianti Classico 2005
Castellare, Chianti Classico 2005 This estate has traditionally shown an Old World expression in their wines from Tuscany. There is a combination of cherry fruit and earthiness in the nose. The mouth showcases lean and tart cherry flavors - right...
Karthauserhof Auslese Trocken “S” 2007
Karthauserhof, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Eitelsbacher, Karthauserhofberg, Riesling, Auslese, Trocken "S" 2007 There is a bevy of sweet flowers to smell in this wine. In the mouth, there is electric acidity and just a touch of RS in this very concentrated,...
Weinbach Cuvee Theo Riesling 2006
Domaine Weinbach, Alsace, Cuvee Theo, Riesling 2006 The petrol elements are coming through in the nose. In the mouth, the wine is mineral-driven, hard and still a baby, quite dry and tasting of lime. Mis en bouteille par the Faller family, Colette,...
Deux Montille Puligny La Garenne 2005
Deux Montille, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru, “La Garenne” 2005 As in the Montagny tasted previously, Burgundy’s minerality comes through and this time with a shower of oak. This wine is rich with nuttiness and doughiness but has a razor of...
Sauvignon Republic Stellenbosch Sauvignon 2007
Sauvignon Republic, Stellenbosch, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 This wine is no slouch in its intensity, with the grassier side of herbaceousness on display. Back in November we tasted this bottling along with the Marlborough and the Russian River...
Grgich Hills Chardonnay 2006
Grgich Hills, Napa Valley, Estate Grown, Chardonnay 2006 January notes: In the nose there is citrus and toasty notes. The mouth is quite crisp, as it traditionally is. In July the toasty character and nuttiness have increased, adding complexity....
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Comp Sweepstakes
There were 6 big winners, the Sweepstakes Sparkling, White, Pink, Red and Dessert. That looks like 5 but we had a tie for the red honors this year. Check out the winners and I'll post my notes on the wines at a later date. Sweepstakes Winners