by Ray Johnson | Apr 1, 2009 | Amador County, Barbera, California, Sierra Foothills
R (Jeff Runquist), Amador County, Cooper Vineyard, Barbera 2007 There is a sweet, liquer-like sense to the nose, with plenty of vanilla. The fruit drives the flavors in the mouth with a heavy wack of oak for richness and the characteristic acidity of Barbera to keep...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 1, 2009 | California, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County
La Crema, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir 2007 Cherries and brown spices are out front in the nose with a sense of toastiness. The mouth features a supple carpet of black and red fruits, sweet-appearing in their ripeness and burnished with a kiss of oakiness – very...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 1, 2009 | Arroyo Grande Valley, California, Chardonnay, San Luis Obispo County
Talley, Arroyo Grande Valley, Estate Bottled, Chardonnay 2007 Like the ’06 there is a balance between freshness and richness, this time with more accent on the rich. There’s loads of butter in the nose and the mouth is quite viscous. Yet underneath is a...
by Ray Johnson | Mar 27, 2009 | California, Santa Barbara County, Santa Ynez Valley, Syrah
Fess Parker, Santa Barbara County, The Big Easy, Syrah 2005 The nose features stewed black fruits, prunes and a heavy wack of oak. In the mouth, the wine is soft, oaky, lowish in acidity and warm. There’s a sense of eating a chocolate caramel bar with a touch of...
by Ray Johnson | Mar 27, 2009 | California
I’ve been teaching with a focus on the business side of wine since returning from the sensory seminar with VESTA in Missouri – thus the silence on the wine review front. The Marketing class at the SRJC and the Wine Entrepreneurship class at Sonoma State...
by Ray Johnson | Mar 18, 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
Carter, Napa Valley, Oakville, Beckstoffer Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon 20009 Almost 9 years on this wine is hitting its stride. The nose shows the bottle bouquet development of exotic spices like sandelwood. There’s a healthy mix of dried fruits and herbs,...
