by Ray Johnson | May 8, 2009 | California, Late Harvest White, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County, White Dessert
Trecini, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Late Harvest, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 This wine offers the pleasure of Sauternes at a good price – honey, complexity and zippy lemons. The grapes for this wine were harvested at 44 brix, 11 degrees higher than the...
by Ray Johnson | May 8, 2009 | Bordeaux Style Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Petite Sirah, Rockpile, Sonoma County
Rockpile Winery, Rockpile, Buck Pasture, Red Wine 2005 The nose is rather closed upon first opening this wine, with hints of Cassis and new oak. The mouth shows demonstrable acidity and lots of fresh oak to accent the black currants. I don’t have the varietal...
by Ray Johnson | May 8, 2009 | California, Rockpile, Sonoma County, Syrah
JC Cellars, Rockpile, Rockpile Vineyard, Haley’s Reserve, Syrah 2005 This is a sweet smelling Syrah, like candy with a little spike of spirit. The mouth is quite dense, with vanilla overlapping the fruit. The texture is plush and refined, displaying just a...
by Ray Johnson | May 8, 2009 | California, Chardonnay, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain
Kistler, Sonoma Mountain, Athearn Estate, McCrea Vineyard, Chardonnay 2006 The nose is full-on butter and bread dough with flinty notes, a sense of minerality. In the mouth the richness quadruples, with boatloads of butter and hints of lemon and green apple coming...
by Ray Johnson | May 8, 2009 | California, Green Valley, Pinot Noir, Sonoma County
Orogeny, Green Valley of Russian River, Pinot Noir 2006 The nose is brimming with sweet black fruit, liquer-like, maybe pie-like as well. The mouth features berries in a jammy way. The acidic frame balances the wine and drives the flavor for a long time – very...
by Ray Johnson | May 8, 2009 | California, Green Valley, Pinot Noir, Sonoma County
Iron Horse, Green Valley of Sonoma County, Estate, Pinot Noir 2006 The nose features plenty of cherries and a sense of the forest floor. In the mouth, the cherries repeat with some cola, warmth, tart acidity and a bit of astringent grip. Grown, Produced & Bottled...
