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, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County
Flowers, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir 2007 The cherries combine with forest floor and a touch of rubber in the nose. In the mouth, the cherries are enhanced by the acidity but there is also an uncharacteristic sense of astringency. P&B in Cazadero 13.4% $51.99 at...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 1, 2009 | California, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County
La Crema, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir 2007 Cherries and brown spices are out front in the nose with a sense of toastiness. The mouth features a supple carpet of black and red fruits, sweet-appearing in their ripeness and burnished with a kiss of oakiness – very...
by Ray Johnson | Feb 22, 2009 | California, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, Syrah
Tin Barn, Sonoma Coast, Coryelle Fields, Syrah 2004 The nose sports loads of oak while in the mouth the oak adds to the richness of this ripe, black fruit driven, supple Syrah. Managing Partner and Winemaker Mike Lancaster 14.2% $28 at the winery Tin Barn...
by Ray Johnson | Jan 29, 2009 | California, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County
James Family, Sonoma Coast, Stony Point Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2007 The nose features sweet fruit, earthiness and a little warmth while the mouth is a delicious combination of red fruits, earthiness and brown spices. P&B by the James Family in Sebastopol from the...
by Ray Johnson | Jan 15, 2009 | California, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
De La Montanya, Sonoma Coast, Flying Rooster Ranch 2005 This wine shines with sweet smells. There’s candied fruit and perfume overlayed with earthiness. The mouth features a boatload of fruit framed by ample acidity and a rising note of brett that adds...
