by Ray Johnson | May 16, 2008 | California, Chardonnay, Napa Valley, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Dry
Mumm Napa Napa Valley Grande Annee 2001 Lots of citrus fruit in the sparkler of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. A lighter-bodied sparkling that is fruit driven, rounded and possessing some floral/minty characteristics. P&B in Rutherford 12.5% $30 at the winery...
by Ray Johnson | May 16, 2008 | Anderson Valley, California, Champagne, France, Mendocino County, Sparkling Dry
We’ve looked at different styles of brut sparkling before. This flight illustrates some more contrast in what this word can mean. Roederer Estate, Anderson Valley, Estate Bottled, Brut nv This wine is consistently the personification of green apples – lip...
by Ray Johnson | May 16, 2008 | California, Sparkling Lightly Sweet
Extra dry has always been the most confusing phrase on bottles of bubbly. Of course it is not really extra dry as the name implies. Rather it is drier than the sweetest styles of bubbly. Korbel California Champagne Extra Dry nv There’s 1.5% dosage for a touch of...
by Ray Johnson | May 15, 2008 | Blanc de Noirs, Burgundy, California, Carneros, Cava, Champagne, Chardonnay, Cremant de Bourgogne, France, Napa Valley, Penedes, Pinot Noir, Rosé, Sonoma County, Spain, Sparkling Dry
Tonight we taste 8 different bubblies on the pink side, from Spain, north to Burgundy and Champagne and finally back home to California. Codorniu Cava Pinot Noir Brut nv Earthy and coarse – a real disappointment. All Pinot Noir fermented in the bottle tasted, as...
by Ray Johnson | May 9, 2008 | Anderson Valley, Burgundy, California, Carneros, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
This flight of 5, charts 3 vintages and 4 appellations. See the ‘Focus on Arlaud’ for the last of this flight. Lost Canyon Russian River Valley Dutton Ranch Morelli Lane Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006 Raisins, evolving fruit and warmth show on the palate, with...
by Ray Johnson | May 8, 2008 | Burgundy, California, Edna Valley, France, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pinot Noir, San Luis Obispo County
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-St-Georges Clos des Porrets St.-Georges 1er Cru 2005 This is a monopole for Gouges, the legend from Nuits-St-Georges. The wine is quite tight, just a baby, packed with fruit and earthy notes with a tannic exterior. Lay this one down in the...
