by Ray Johnson | Oct 18, 2008 | California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley, Sparkling Dry
Mayo Family Winery, Sonoma Valley, Laurel Hill Vineyard, Methode Champenoise, Brut 2003 There’s plenty of green apple and tart cherry as well as a little toastiness. P&B in Lower Lake 12.5% $27.99 at Bottle Barn Mayo
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 | Jun 25, 2008 | California, Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County, Santa Maria Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
There’s a broad spectrum to what is considered dry white wine, as we see in these two examples from California. Kunde Estate Sonoma Valley Magnolia Lane Sauvignon Blanc 2007 This is an exciting wine of floral and citrus notes, high acidity and light body. G, P...
by Ray Johnson | Jun 23, 2008 | California, Carneros, Chardonnay, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
So many of us enjoy dry white wine. Yet what is dry is not one thing, as we see in the case of these two dry white wines. Benziger Sonoma Valley MacLeod Family Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2006 This is crisp citrus in a bottle. The Benziger family is a leaders in...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 11, 2007 | Alexander Valley, Bennett Valley, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Style Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Carneros, France, Malbec, Margaux, Merlot, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
Nelson Estate Sonoma Valley Bennett Valley Vineyard Malbec 2004 The nose is oak city and the palate is very supple with moderate acidity and a long finish. I think that many will find this wine agreeable and readily approachable. Aged in Fr oak for 18 mos. C&B in...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 11, 2007 | Barbera, California, Rosé, Sangiovese, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley, Zinfandel
D’Argenzio Sonoma Valley D’Alfonso Sangiovese 2005 I had an opportunity to taste this wine twice in the past 2 weeks, once at the sweeps round and again during the D’Arenzio Harvest Party at the winery on Cleveland Avenue. This wine sports fresh red...
