by Ray Johnson | May 10, 2011 | California, High Valley, Lake County, Pinot Noir
Brassfield, High Valley Appellation, High Serenity Ranch Vineyard, Pinot Noir The nose sports fresh cherries and strawberries. In the mouth it is light-bodied, equally showy with red fruit and silky smooth – nice. Estate Grown, produced and bottled in Clearlake Oaks...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 21, 2011 | Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Zinfandel
Clif Family Winery, California, The Climber, Red Wine 2009 This is abundantly fruity, with a profound sense of blackberries, plums and I’m not sure what else. This recalls a recent discussion among with a group of colleagues who write and teach about wine....
by Ray Johnson | Apr 21, 2011 | California, Carneros, Chardonnay, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
Viansa, Carneros – Sonoma Valley, Reserve, Chardonnay 2009 This is a rich style of Chardonnay, with the smell of apple pie – think of the freshly baked crust sprinkled with brown spices. In the mouth the theme of richness continues with butter and oaky...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 18, 2011 | Australia, Margaret River, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Western Australia
Leeuwin Estate, Margaret River, Siblings 2009 This vintage has 62% Sauvignon Blanc and 38% Semillon in the mix. The nose features a combination of grass, citrus and gooseberry. In the mouth the citrus is pronounced, as if eating very ripe grapefruit sprinkled with...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 17, 2011 | Australia, Clare Valley, Riesling, South Australia, Watervale
Kilikanoon, Clare Valley, Watervale, Mort’s Block, Riesling 2009 The nose displays fresh flowers, apricots and a note of petrol. In the mouth, the concentration is intense, with lots of minerality, lots of acidity and great length – very nice. This wine...
