by Ray Johnson | Apr 28, 2009 | California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County
I had an opportunity to visit with Paul and Kathryn Sloan of Small Vines Wines on Sunday, during their open house at the winery in Santa Rosa. We retasted the ’06 Russian River and ’06 Sonoma Coast which I reviewed back in the fall of ’08. These two...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 17, 2009 | California, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Patz & Hall, Russian River Valley, Dutton Ranch, Chardonnay 2006 The nose speaks buttery richness from the get go, with toastiness and apples. The mouth is full-on thick with butter yet balanced by acidity – very concentrated. Proprietors Donald &...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 17, 2009 | California, Russian River Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County
Hanna, Russian River Valley, Estate Grown, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Notes back through the 2004 vintage show a consistent thread of bright citrus and high acidity. The ’08 repeats that scenario with tropical notes as well. Give it a bit of air upon opening to blow...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 15, 2009 | California, Dolcetto, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Acorn, Russian River Valley, Alegria Vineyards, Dolcetto 2006 There’s a great complexity of smells working in the nose, including fresh and stewed fruits, green herbs and eucalyptus as well as a sense of oakiness. In the mouth, Bill has worked the tannin into...
by Ray Johnson | Mar 16, 2009 | California, Cucamonga Valley, Rockpile, Russian River Valley, San Bernardino County, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
We recently visited with Carol and Mitch at their winery in Santa Rosa. Carol makes Zin from grapes sourced throughout the state of California. One of the gems that we tasted was sourced from San Bernardino County while two others hailed from nearby in Sonoma County....
by Ray Johnson | Feb 5, 2009 | California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Dehlinger, Russian River Valley, Goldridge Vineyard, Estate Bottled, Pinot Noir 2006 This wine is all about warm and concentrated sweet fruit. P&B in Sebastopol 14.8% $59.99 at Bottle Barn Dehlinger Winery
