by Ray Johnson | Jun 21, 2009 | California, Sauvignon Blanc
Clif Family Winery, California, The Climber, White Wine 2008 The fruit is dazzling when you pour this in the glass. There’s lots of ripe citrus with floral and tropical notes. The focus on fruit continues on the palate, where the acidity is crisp, framing the...
by Ray Johnson | May 24, 2009 | California, Lake County, Sauvignon Blanc
Six Sigma, Lake County, Rooster Vineyard, Sauvignon Blanc 2006 This wine is amazingly fresh for an ’06 California Sauvignon. There’s plenty of citrus in the nose as well as some freshly mown grass. In the mouth, the acidity is dazzling and there is a bit...
by Ray Johnson | May 22, 2009 | Alexander Valley, California, Late Harvest White, Muscat, Semillon, Sonoma County, White Dessert
deLorimier, Alexander Valley, Estate Bottled, Late Harvest, Lace 2006 This is rich and tropical with a lovely sense of dried apricots and balancing acidity. The botrytised grapes behind the wine are 55% Muscat Blanc and 45% Semillon, harvested at 29.9 degrees brix....
by Ray Johnson | May 22, 2009 | California, Late Harvest White, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Trousseau Gris, White Dessert
Carol Shelton, Russian River Valley, Fanucchi Vineyard, Sweet Caroline, Trousseau Gris 2006 This is a light-bodied dessert wine from a grape that makes some very acidic table wines. There’s actually a grapy character to this wine that I associate with labrusca...
by Ray Johnson | May 22, 2009 | California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley, Zinfandel
Haywood, Sonoma Valley, Los Chamizal Vineyard, Estate, Zinfandel 2006 The nose puts together many facets of Zin. There’s pruniness, black pepper and a sense of Port. In the mouth, this is a structured Zin, supporting plenty of fruit and a long finish. Grown,...
by Ray Johnson | May 22, 2009 | California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Rodney Strong, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Reserve, Pinot Noir 2006 The nose is shut down and the mouth is fairly astringent. I suspect a low level of TCA is cloaking the true nature of this wine. Tom Klein owner and Rick Sayre winemaker P&B Healdsburg...
