by Ray Johnson | Sep 9, 2008 | California, Chardonnay, Monterey County, Napa Valley, Sonoma County
Ghost Pines, Sonoma Napa and Monterey Counties, Winemaker’s Blend, Chardonnay 2006 Tropical fruits and toasty oak make up the nose. The oak follows through in the mouth without being overbearing and the little bit of butteriness enhances the mouth rather than...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 8, 2008 | California, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
J. Keverson, Dry Creek Valley, Hales Vineyard, Old Vine, Zinfandel 2006 There’s lost of sweet oak, cloves and cinamon in the nose. There’s a taste of strawberries and brown sugar in this elegant style of Zinfandel, with oaky notes adding a sweet character;...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 8, 2008 | California, Monterey County, Roussanne, San Antonio Valley
Line Shack, San Antonio Valley California, Roussanne 2006 There are faint smells of stone fruit and some perfume. This is a light-bodied wine, a bit thin but not offensive with lowish acidity. C&B in Santa Maria 13.5% $18 at the winery but sold out Line...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 5, 2008 | California
Terry Theise, one of the world’s leading experts on German and Austrian wines, was in San Francisco recently. He showcased 4 estates from Europe during a panel discussion and tasting with the proprietors. Hiram Simon of the Vienna Wine Company imports and...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 3, 2008 | California, Chenin Blanc, France, Loire Valley, Vouvray
Domaine Le Peu de la Moriette (Domaine Pichot), Vouvray 2007 This wine embodies the sweet and tart character that Chenin can show so well when there’s a bit of residual sugar. Unfortunately our latest bottle in May of ’09 is a bit corked. The grapes are...
by Ray Johnson | Aug 31, 2008 | California, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
I’ve often been guilty of asserting that Zinfandel doesn’t last. I’ve opened too many aging Zins to find them falling apart, so much so that I had given up aging them. And honestly, it’s not so bad drinking them when they are young and full of...
