by Ray Johnson | Aug 12, 2009 | California, Napa Valley, Rosé
Fleury Estate Winery, Napa Valley, Rose 2008 This is a rose with no shortage of colour. The nose is clean, showing red fruits and perfume. In the mouth the wine is broad, a rather big-bodied rose with the flavor of cherries and a complement of acidity. Proprietors...
by Ray Johnson | Aug 12, 2009 | Arroyo Seco, California, Central Coast, Monterey County, Riesling
Claiborne & Churchill, Central Coast, Dry Riesling 2007 Fortunately I had the opportunity to try this wine again after the corked bottled discussed previously. In the nose are stone fruits, flintiness and a bit of the petrol character we associate with Riesling....
by Ray Johnson | Aug 11, 2009 | California, Sparkling sweet
Ballatore, California, Rosso Spumante nv The nose explodes with sweet red fruits. In the mouth it is quite fruity, tasting of cherries and strawberries in a light-bodied format with plenty of sweetness. The dosage is 76 grams per litre. The bottle tasted was released...
by Ray Johnson | Aug 11, 2009 | California, Chardonnay, Flora, Mendocino County, Napa Valley, North Coast, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Lightly Sweet
Schramsberg, North Coast, Cremant, Demi-Sec 2004 There’s sweet tropical fruit in the nose, with flowers and perfume. In the mouth this wine is lightly sweet, with a fruity core and a little bitterness. The grapes are 84% Flora, 9% Chardonnay, 6% Pinot Noir and...
by Ray Johnson | Aug 11, 2009 | Anderson Valley, California, Chardonnay, Mendocino County, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Dry
Roederer Estate, Anderson Valley, L’Ermitage, Brut 2002 The nose opens with fresh biscuits, citrus and stone fruits, also calling to mind a freshly baked fruit tart. In the mouth this wine is very concentrated and full of the flavor of green apples in all of...
by Ray Johnson | Aug 11, 2009 | California, Carneros, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Dry
Gloria Ferrer, Carneros, Vintage Reserve, Royal Cuvee, Brut 2002 Let this open up a bit and after 10 minutes the fruit will start to show. There are apples both red and green and refreshing acidity in this light-bodied sparkler. Tasted again in July ’10, the...
