by Ray Johnson | Oct 30, 2009 | Cabernet Franc, California, Napa Valley
McKenzie-Mueller, Napa Valley, Estate Bottled, Cabernet Franc 2005 The black fruit in the nose is very sweet smelling, with notes of pencil shavings and cedar. In the mouth it is light to medium-bodied with a sense of vanilla and chalky tannins in the background....
by Ray Johnson | Oct 30, 2009 | California, Carneros, Chardonnay, Napa Valley
V. Sattui Winery, Napa Valley, Los Carneros, Chardonnay 2007 The oak is quite prominent in the nose, freshly split, with notes of tropical fruit, bananas and coconut. In the mouth the oak continues, with a healthy dash of butter on top of the tropically-themed fruits....
by Ray Johnson | Oct 30, 2009 | California, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc
The Seventy-Five Wine Company, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 The nose on this wine packs some punch. Give it a bit of air to blow off the reductive character and then you can focus on the gooseberries, freshly mown grass and citrus. In the mouth it is quite...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 29, 2009 | California, Dry Creek Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County
Mill Creek, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Estate Vineyard, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 The nose shows off notes of citrus and tropical fruits like banana. In the mouth it is full of orange and grapefuit,with plenty of acidity and a little warmth. Grown, produced and...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 28, 2009 | Anderson Valley, California, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir
Esterlina, Anderson Valley, Estate Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2007 The fruit is quite expressive in the nose – an explosion of red and black fruits with a smoky note for complexity. In the mouth the fruit shines again with plenty of acidity and a supple texture. Warm...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 27, 2009 | California, Rosé, Sangiovese, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
Muscardini Cellars, Sonoma Valley, Monte Rosso Vineyards, Rosato di Sangiovese 2008 This is a zippy rose, a clean expression of Sangiovese’s cherry character with refreshing acidity – very nice. The wine was fermented and aged in neurtal French oak for 5...
