by Ray Johnson | Apr 15, 2009 | Alexander Valley, Barbera, California, Sonoma County
Seghesio Alexander Valley, Barbera 2007 The new vintage of this wine smells as fetching as ever, exploding with a freshness of fruit as if still in the making at the winery. There’s also a sense of the rather immense alcohol showing itself before you even put it...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 8, 2009 | California, Grenache, Lake County, Tempranillo
Tejada Vineyards, Lake County, Tempranillo 50% Grenache 50% 2004 The spiritous character is starting to get ahead of the fruit in the nose. In the mouth the alcohol peeks out again, yet it works. There’s a great balance of fruit and structure. The acidity frames...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 8, 2009 | California, Tempranillo
I paid a visit to Quady while returning from a trip to the mountains just south of Yosemite. The pilgramage to Quady is one that I have long wanted to make yet it is a drive from Sonoma County. This time the stars were aligned and time was on my side before returning...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 7, 2009 | Alsace, California, France, Riesling
Domaine Weinbach, Alsace, Riesling, Reserve Personnelle 2007 Stone fruits meld with floral notes in the nose. The mouth displays Riesling’s minerality with ample acidity and a roundness and depth of flavor – nice. Mis en bouteille par the Faller family,...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 6, 2009 | California, Muscat, White Dessert
Quady, California, Orange Muscat, Electra 2007 This wine features an abundance of citrus in a very fresh way, as if you were cutting open an organge. There’s plenty of sweetness to pair this with a fresh fruit tart or just the fruit if you’re living life...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 1, 2009 | California, Muscat, Paso Robles
Robert Hall, Paso Robles, Margaret’s Vineyard, Orange Muscat 2008 This is sweet smelling perfume in a bottle. This is the lighter side of dessert wine with an RS level that is just above what we might call semi-sweet table wine – very fresh. The 2007 version...
