by Ray Johnson | Oct 11, 2007 | California, Dry Creek Valley, Petite Sirah, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Syrah
Stark Russian River Valley Cuvee Julian Syrah 2004 This is Syrah that is not afraid to be tannic with lots of alcohol showing in the nose and the mouth. There’s 2% Viognier in the final blend and the fruit is sourced 63% from Bill and Betsy’s Alegria...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 10, 2007 | Albariño, Dry Creek Valley, France, Grenache, Rhône, Santa Barbara County, Santa Ynez Valley, Sonoma County
The red wines from the Southern Rhone follow a recipe that emphasizes Grenache. The wines of this flight highlight this underdog grape. Unti Dry Creek Valley Grenache 2005 Pretty funky at first opening but after an hour, the smell improved to show the Grenache fruit....
by Ray Johnson | Oct 5, 2007 | Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
This flight features 3 dry Zins and one for dessert that were each big winners at the recent Harvest Fair in Sonoma County. Francis Ford Coppola Presents Dry Creek Valley Director’s Cut Zinfandel 2005 The clear favorite of the flight. This wine is loaded with...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 30, 2007 | California, Dry Creek Valley, Lodi, Primitivo, Puglia, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley, Zinfandel
Gran Sasso, Puglia, Primitivo IGT 2005 Tasted in May ’08 this wine was blooming with brett and would repulse most consumers. A bottle tasted later in the summer proved to be a different animal. Oaky and earthy with new world fruit, an appropriate amount of acid...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 21, 2007 | California, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
Wilson Winery Dry Creek Valley Sawyer Vineyard Zinfandel 2005 This is definitely jammy with a healthy dose of black pepper. In the mouth the same jammy fruit and black pepper come through in a structured, tannic package. You might remember the big prizes that the...
