by Ray Johnson | Oct 8, 2007 | California, France, Rhône, Roussanne, Santa Barbara County, Santa Ynez Valley, Viognier
Verget du Sud Vin de Pays du Vaucluse Roussanne 2006 Jean-Marie Guffens’ impressive work with the grapes of Burgundy continues with grapes sourced further south, in this case from the Vaucluse, a department on the east side of the river Rhone which encompasses...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 30, 2007 | California, Dry Creek Valley, Lodi, Primitivo, Puglia, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley, Zinfandel
Gran Sasso, Puglia, Primitivo IGT 2005 Tasted in May ’08 this wine was blooming with brett and would repulse most consumers. A bottle tasted later in the summer proved to be a different animal. Oaky and earthy with new world fruit, an appropriate amount of acid...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 30, 2007 | California, Napa Valley, Paso Robles, Zinfandel
This flight features 5 Zinfandel from 2001 to 2005 sourced from Napa and Paso Robles. Eberle Paso Robles Zinfandel 2005 Like eating a sweet cherry pie, this wine combines rich fruit, glycerol and oak into a viscous delight. Even with the high number, the alcohol is...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 21, 2007 | California, Port
Meyer Family California Port nv This wine was described by one of the students as tasting like a ‘rum raisin chocolate bar’. I can’t improve on that. This wine has complexity, some palpable alcohol as in these wines from the Douro and the silky...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 21, 2007 | California, Mendocino County, Primitivo, Zinfandel
This flight features two Mendo wines, one Zinfandel and the other Primitivo. Chiarito Mendocino Estate Bottled Zinfandel 2004 Quite structured with concentration of berries to keep up – a little warm. There’s 11% Petite Sirah in the final blend. Aging was...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 21, 2007 | California, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
The Russian River is known best around the world as the home of great New World Pinot Noir. But we can’t count out the Zin. There are old vineyards delivering concentrated flavors and wines that can be known for their elegance and acidity, descriptors that...
