by Ray Johnson | Oct 18, 2008 | California, Dry Creek Valley, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
Taft Street, Sonoma Coast, Rose of Pinot Noir 2007 Mild but muted strawberries and an astringent profile. Unfortunately this wine has a sub-threshold level of TCA that’s blocking the fruit. The grapes come from the Pasta King, Art Ibletto. P&B in Sebastopol...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 18, 2008 | California, Chardonnay, Dry Creek Valley, Pinot Gris and Grigio, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County
Clarbec, Sonoma County, Pinot Gris 2007 There’s fresh tropical fruit and subtle oak in the nose. The fruit comes through in the mouth with a caress of acidity and a little bit of richness – very nice. The grapes were sourced from the Lila Lane and Clarbec...
by Ray Johnson | Aug 30, 2008 | Anderson Valley, California, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Hunter Valley, Lodi, Mendocino County, Mendocino Ridge, New South Wales, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Semillon, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain, Sonoma Valley, Zinfandel
When Vacu-Dry ceased operations in Sebastopol, California, many bemoaned the continuing decline of the apple industry in Sonoma’s West County region. Yet from those ashes many a high-flying phoenix has taken flight. The large and rather dingy industrial complex...
by Ray Johnson | Jul 1, 2008 | California, Sardon de Duero, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, Spain
Abadia Retuerta, Sardón de Duero, Seleccion Especial 2004 Herbaceous notes like in Cab Franc in the nose. The mouth is full-bodied with acid and ripe tannins at the time of the original post with an oaky backcurrent. A year later the tannins are drying out and...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 11, 2007 | Burgundy, California, Gevrey-Chambertin, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County
This flight features Pinot all day. The first wine won Best of Class and went onto win the big award. The second is a red Burgundy from a top producer. Wines 3 and 4 were in the running for the BOC that De La Montanya won. De La Montanya Sonoma Coast Christine’s...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 24, 2007 | Italy, Pinot Gris and Grigio, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County
Zenato Delle Venezie IGT Pinot Grigio 2006 This regionally-labeled bottling has been a good value high-acid white. The 2005 emphasized citrus notes. The 2006 tasted in this class showed fruits ranging from citrus to tropical. There is a new world freshness, with a...
