by Ray Johnson | Oct 2, 2008 | California, Carneros, Chardonnay, Cole Ranch, Mendocino County, Riesling, Russian River Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County
Angeline, Russian River Valley, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 In the nose there are the competing smells of citrus, candy, flowers and a bit of mown grass. You taste the citrus with a sense of the lemon zest as well. There’s a frame of acidity as well to make this wine...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 20, 2008 | California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Small Vines, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir 2006 This is a wine of dense concentration from biodynamically farmed grapes. Upon first pouring the nose is quite tight so give it some time to open. The mouth is packed with red fruit flavors, framed by ample acidity and...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 12, 2008 | California, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Dutton Estate Every Friday through the end of September and most of October, Cynthia Newcomb at the Dutton Estate is creating a special dish to pair with one of the wines on offer in the tasting room. When I visited recently, she dazzled the guests with a Grilled...
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...
by Ray Johnson | Jun 30, 2008 | California, Chardonnay, Green Valley, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Sparkling Dry
Domaine Chandon, Sonoma County 62%, Napa County 38%, etoile, Rose nv The house style is one of forward fruit and a soft profile. Likewise with this wine in a copper color and an added zip of acidity. The fruit source for this wine is 62% from Sonoma and 38% from Napa....
by Ray Johnson | May 30, 2008 | California, Chardonnay, France, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Over the past few weekends I’ve had the opportunity to visit some of the wineries in Sonoma’s famed Russian River Valley. This region is rightfully known for its Pinot Noir, a red wine of suppleness coupled the food-friendly charm of acidity. Yet there are...
