by Ray Johnson | Nov 23, 2009 | Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Sparkling Dry
Pommery, Champagne, Brut Royal nv Sweet flowers greet the nose when you smell this wine, with citrus and candy. In the mouth you taste fresh fruit, with a complementary dosage, roundness and lingering candy – nice. The primary grapes behind this wine are...
by Ray Johnson | Nov 23, 2009 | Chardonnay, Macabeo, Parellada, Penedes, Spain, Sparkling Dry, Xarel.lo
This flight features two methode traditionnelle sparklers from Spain. Parxet, Cava, Cuvee 21, Brut nv This Cava smells of herbs with a chemical note while in the mouth it tastes of green apples and there is quite an astringency – unfortunate. The grapes behind...
by Ray Johnson | Nov 22, 2009 | California, Chardonnay, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Spragia Family Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley – Sonoma County, Home Ranch, Chardonnay 2007 This is a rich style of Chardonnay that strikes the balance between fruit, acidity, butteriness and oak. We always dissect these components in the classroom, looking at them...
by Ray Johnson | Nov 18, 2009 | California, Carneros, Chardonnay, Sparkling Dry
Domaine Carneros, Carneros, Brut, Blanc de Blancs, Le Reve 2002 There is the typical sweetness to this wine with a smokiness and an uncharacteristic herbaceous note. The grapes are Chardonnay with the possibility of some Pinot Blanc and the wine was aged for 6 years,...
by Ray Johnson | Nov 18, 2009 | Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Dry
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Champagne, La Grande Dame, Brut 1998 The nose features an evolving medley of dried fruits and nuttiness. In the mouth it is quite acidic, tasting of oranges and brown spices. The unfortunate thing about this particular bottle is the cork...
by Ray Johnson | Nov 18, 2009 | Anderson Valley, California, Carneros, Chardonnay, Clarksburg, Gewurztraminer, Mendocino County
The Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers hosted a seminar and tasting yesterday to showcase the passing of the torch in California’s winegrowing families. Featured speakers included Warren Bogle, whose family has been farming in...
