by Ray Johnson | Jul 21, 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Spring Mountain District
Pride Mountain Vineyards, Napa Sonoma, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 In the nose there is a sense of Bordeaux, with cigar box and sweet pipe tobacco to augment the black fruit. In the mouth you find plenty of structure in a ripe way, tannic but not green, approachable now...
by Ray Johnson | Jul 21, 2009 | California, Merlot, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Paloma, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District, Merlot 2006 Sweet liquer-like fruit fills the glass. In the mouth, the expression of fruit is dynamic and kissed by oak. Also, there is the acidity lacking in many of Merlot’s flabby cousins – a treat....
by Ray Johnson | Jul 21, 2009 | California, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc
Duckhorn Vineyards, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Bright citrus marks the nose and repeats in the mouth. There’s plenty of the acidity that you would expect as well as a richness as in the previous vintage, owing to some barrel fermentation, Semillon and a...
by Ray Johnson | Jul 18, 2009 | Albariño, California, Carneros, Napa Valley
Havens, Napa Valley, Carneros, Albarino 2008 This wine is a fully concentrated expression of lime, boasting great acidity and length – delicious. P&B in Napa 12.5% $18.99 at Bottle Barn Havens
by Ray Johnson | May 13, 2009 | California, Carneros, Napa Valley, Pinot Noir
Fleury Estate Winery, Napa Valley, Carneros, Pinot Noir 2007 The smell is sweet, as of cherries and cream. In the mouth,the taste is reminiscent of cherry pie, with some brown spices and the texture is silky perfection. We tasted this at the winery on Saturday and...
by Ray Johnson | May 6, 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley
von Strasser, Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 The sense of the mountain comes through in this wine, structured and able to age. The palate is chewing (I meant to say chewy, didn’t I – though it is interesting to think of the...
