by Ray Johnson | Apr 19, 2010 | Barbera, Barbera d'Asti, Italy, Piemonte
Michele Chiarlo, Barbera d’Asti, Superiore, Le Orme 2007 This vintage features a fair amount of black fruit interspersed with some horse blanket. In the mouth it is mildly oaky and rich, supple and sparked by acidity – nice. 13.5% $12.69 at Bottle Barn Michele...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 19, 2010 | Campo De Borja, Grenache, Spain, Tempranillo
Bodegas Borsao, Campo de Borja DO 2008 As in the previous vintage, the fruit just leaps out of the glass and has a candy element to it with a bit of black pepper. This is exactly what I smelled the last time around. In the mouth this wine is light-bodied, tasting of...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 19, 2010 | Blush, California, White Zinfandel, Zinfandel
Beringer, California, California Collection, White Zinfandel 2009 Watermelon and strawberries fly from the glass with a sense of candy and sweet flowers. The mouth displays sweetness and strawberry with balancing acidity – nice. 3 hours of skin contact provide...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 19, 2010 | Cotes du Rhone, France, Grenache, Rosé, Syrah
Domaine de la Mordoree, Cotes-du-Rhone, La Dame Rousse, Rose 2009 In the nose you’ll find red fruits, like cherries and a bit of strawberry that carries through on a broad, lowish acid palate. The grapes behind this pink wine are 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10%...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 18, 2010 | Alexander Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Before moving to California, I worked in a flash French restaurant back in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This was the mid-eighties and all of the staff were died in the wool Francophiles, disdaining New World wine while seldom ever tasting it. Local wine critic Peter...
