by Ray Johnson | Aug 21, 2008 | Amador County, California, El Dorado County, Lake County, Napa Valley, Sierra Foothills, Zinfandel
Rombauer, California, Zinfandel 2006 This has always been on the very rich end of Zin styles with perceptible residual sugar – nonetheless a crowd-pleaser. This vintage follows the same path. The fruit is 59% Amador, 24% Napa, 11% lake and 6% El Dorado Counties....
by Ray Johnson | Aug 15, 2008 | California
Hillebrand, Ontario VQA, Artist Series, Gamay Noir Rose 2006 There’s a scent of toffee and candied fruit that leads an expectation of sweetness yet there’s plenty of acidity to make this dry rose refreshing. Vinted in Niagara-on-the-Lake 12% $11.95...
by Ray Johnson | Aug 12, 2008 | California, Contra Costa County, Mourvedre
Jade Mountain, Contra Costa County, Evangelho Vineyard, Mourvedre 2005 There are some reductive notes in the nose to accompany the black fruit. In the mouth there’s a fair amount of acidity, light body and a sense of the alcohol’s warmth. The vineyard was...
by Ray Johnson | Aug 7, 2008 | California, Pinot Gris and Grigio
Twisted PiG, California, Pinot Grigio 2006 There’s almost nothing to smell and the mouth is akin to water with a little citric acid and alcohol thrown in. It’s not bad in an offensive way, it’s just so lacking in any redeeming way. Best salvaged with...
by Ray Johnson | Aug 6, 2008 | California, Clarksburg, Petite Sirah, Santa Barbara County, Sylvaner
Rancho Sisquoc, Santa Barbara County, Sylvaner 2007 There’s a bit of flintiness in the nose. Sylvaner isn’t typically an aromatic daredevil so that’s OK. In the mouth there’s a very grapy flavor, almost like a native labrusca, very hard to...
by Ray Johnson | Aug 5, 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon, California
Wine Cube, California, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 It’s definitely easier to maintain one’s self-delusional status by not talking about or tasting or drinking wine from a box. Yet we have to speak out when the wine is serviceable and the carbon footprint of...
