by Ray Johnson | Oct 18, 2009 | Bennett Valley, California, Sonoma County, Syrah
Grey Stack, Bennett Valley, Dry Stack Vineyard, Marie’s Block, Syrah 2007 This Syrah brings a sense of the northern Rhone to Sonoma County. There’s tar on top of the black fruit in the nose, with meatiness and a floral component like lavender. In the mouth...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 18, 2009 | California, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Tandem, Russian River Valley, Porter-Bass Vineyard, Chardonnay 2005 With 4 years since the harvest this wine is developing some nice complexity. The nose sports wet stones, toastiness, tropical fruits, hay and lanolin. In the mouth there is a richness of texture, an...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 15, 2009 | California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Ancien, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir 2006 The nose speaks of sweet cherries sprinkled with brown spices. In the mouth this is a supple Pinot with polished oak in the background to enhance the fruit – very nice. The majority of the fruit is sourced from 2...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 12, 2009 | California, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Graton Ridge, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Paul Family Vineyard, Estate, Pinot Noir 2007 There’s a lovely cherry pie essence in the nose, a sweet expression of fruit and oak. In the mouth there is vanilla, caramel and cherries baked in the oven, with a...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 10, 2009 | California, Dry Creek Valley, Late harvest red, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley, Zinfandel
Hart’s Desire, Russian River Valley, Ponzo Vineyard, Late Harvest, Zinfandel 2008 The nose features candied black fruit. In the mouth it is a blackberry jam, in a liquid form – with an acidic streak for balance – delicious. 7% RS after 35 degrees brix at...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 10, 2009 | California, Dry Creek Valley, Petite Sirah, Sonoma County
Mazzocco, Dry Creek Valley, Aguilera, Reserve, Petite Sirah 2005 We picked this as our BOC Petite in the recent Harvest Fair. The competition was strong with many a great Petite. The beauty of this Petite is that the structure we associate with this grape is matched...
