by Ray Johnson | Apr 28, 2010 | California, Cote-Rotie, Russian River Valley, Santa Barbara County, Santa Ynez Valley, Sonoma County, Syrah
This flight of Syrah takes us from the freshness of new fruit in California, to the development of bottle bouquet in wines from 2003 – excellent all around, featuring different expressions of the same grape over time and over both sides of the Atlantic. Foxen,...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 27, 2010 | California, Mt. Harlan, San Benito County, Viognier
Calera, Mt. Harlan, Viognier 2008 The smell of this wine is rather entrancing. There’s the peachy fruit associated with Viognier, a nice sense of sweet flowers and enriching notes like vanilla and brown spices. In the mouth it is warm and displays a sensuous...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 26, 2010 | California, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Dry
Chandon, California, Blanc de Noirs nv This bubbly features cherries, both fresh and cooked, a little sweetness and a touch of bitterness. The grapes behind this wine are the classic black grapes from Champagne, viz., Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Production is...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 26, 2010 | California, Chardonnay, Colombard, Sparkling Dry
Korbel , California Champagne, Brut, Organically Grown Grapes nv The nose features flowers and freshly sliced red and green apples. In the mouth there is a vivid sense of green apples, clean and light with a touch of creaminess. The dosage combines with the creaminess...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 23, 2010 | California, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley, Zinfandel
Wilson Winery, Dry Creek Valley, Tori Vineyard, Estate, Zinfandel 2007 The nose expresses sweetness, from the oak to the jammy fruit, with a dusting of black pepper. This then continues on the palate, with some structure to frame the black fruit flavors – ripe...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 21, 2010 | California, Napa Valley, Petite Sirah
JC Cellars, Napa Valley, Frediani Vineyard, Petite Syrah 2005 The nose is spiritous yet in the mouth the fruit is liqueur-like. The expected tannic profile of Petite is there along with a sense of the alcohol. The cool thing is the added richness, a viscous extract...
