by Ray Johnson | Apr 1, 2009 | Amador County, Barbera, California, Sierra Foothills
R (Jeff Runquist), Amador County, Cooper Vineyard, Barbera 2007 There is a sweet, liquer-like sense to the nose, with plenty of vanilla. The fruit drives the flavors in the mouth with a heavy wack of oak for richness and the characteristic acidity of Barbera to keep...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 1, 2009 | California, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County
La Crema, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir 2007 Cherries and brown spices are out front in the nose with a sense of toastiness. The mouth features a supple carpet of black and red fruits, sweet-appearing in their ripeness and burnished with a kiss of oakiness – very...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 1, 2009 | Arroyo Grande Valley, California, Chardonnay, San Luis Obispo County
Talley, Arroyo Grande Valley, Estate Bottled, Chardonnay 2007 Like the ’06 there is a balance between freshness and richness, this time with more accent on the rich. There’s loads of butter in the nose and the mouth is quite viscous. Yet underneath is a...
by Ray Johnson | Mar 31, 2009 | Chianti Rufina, Italy, Sangiovese, Tuscany
Marchesi de Frescobaldi, Chianti Rufina, Nipozzano, Riserva DOCG 2005 The nose is toasty, charred and sweet smelling. In July ’09 the brett is starting to show itself yet still in a complexing way. In the mouth, the intense acidity of Sangiovese is tamed into a...
by Ray Johnson | Mar 31, 2009 | Italy, Montalcino, Sangiovese, Tuscany
La Rasina, Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2005 There are cherries and green herbs in the nose. In the mouth the cherries are vibrant and tart with some tannic grab. Estate bottled by Marco Mantengoli in Montalcino 13.5% $22.49 at Bottle Barn La Rasina
