by Ray Johnson | Oct 17, 2008 | California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Lynmar, Russian River Valley, Rose of Pinot Noir 2007 Again, the pale side of Pinot is truly worth the departure from its more opaque cousin. Like the Williams Selyem, there is the quintessential smell and taste of strawberries. There is also a sense of creaminess...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 17, 2008 | California, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County
Dry Creek Vineyard, Sonoma County, Fume Blanc 2007 There’s plenty of citrus and herbaceous notes to smell. In the mouth the acidity stands out as well as a sense of lemon peel. This wine has been a good standard for a budget Sauvignon and they just took the...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 16, 2008 | Alsace, Alto Adige, California, Italy, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Grigio
Cantina Terlano, Alto Adige DOC, Pinot Bianco 2007 This wine has been consistently fresh and aromatic and the ’07 is on form. Estate Bottled in Terlano 13% $19.99 at Traverso’s and $15.99 at Bottle Barn Terlano McManis Family Vineyards, California, Pinot...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 8, 2008 | Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Dry Creek Valley, France, Haut-Medoc, Merlot, Sonoma County
Chateau Sociando-Mallet, Haut-Medoc 2004 The smells are a mix of earth, cedar, toasty oak and a fitting amount of the barnyard. The mouth if full of plummy fruit with grip. This is definitely leaner and tighter than the ’05 which is quite seductive already. Give...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 7, 2008 | California, Napa Valley, Zinfandel
Storybook Mountain Vineyards, Napa Valley, Eastern Exposures, Estate, Zinfandel 2005 This is not a wimpy Zin for the structure is there to accentuate the fruit. The grapes for this wine are a selection of mountain grown fruit on the property. Estate grown, produced...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 7, 2008 | California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
Ray D’Argenzio continues making great wine from his location just across the highway from the Santa Rosa Junior College. He’s in the second year of his Amarone project, drying grapes from the ’08 harvest. Breanna, back from a year of study in...
