by Ray Johnson | May 8, 2012 | California, Lake County, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel
Bell Hill, Lake County, Merlot 2005 When first tasted in July 2009, I wrote: the nose features sweet notes of vanilla and cherries while the mouth repeats with ripe tannins, just to let you know they are there – very nice. Tasted again in May 2012, the tannins have...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 21, 2011 | Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Zinfandel
Clif Family Winery, California, The Climber, Red Wine 2009 This is abundantly fruity, with a profound sense of blackberries, plums and I’m not sure what else. This recalls a recent discussion among with a group of colleagues who write and teach about wine....
by Ray Johnson | Dec 3, 2010 | California, Dry Creek Valley, Napa Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
Stryker Sonoma, Dry Creek Valley, Zinfandel 2007 Tim Hardin hits another home run with this opulently fruity, sweet-smelling Zin. In the mouth the theme continues, with a lush texture and a little warmth. Produced and bottled under a screw cap closure in Geyserville...
by Ray Johnson | Nov 3, 2010 | Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, St. Helena, Zinfandel
While the Napa Valley’s St. Helena AVA speaks the language of Cabernet and its red wine Bordeaux brethren, there are other grapes making delightful wines as well. Thus this showcase of wines begins with a Bordeaux colleague in the white wine family and ends with...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 27, 2010 | Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Lake County, Zinfandel
Six Sigma, Lake County, Cuvee Pique-Nique 2007 As the name implies, this wine is fruity and immediately accessible, light-bodied and quaffable, with underlying acidity to make it refreshing and some earthiness to give it complexity. Proprietors Else and Kaj Ahlmann....
by Ray Johnson | Jul 26, 2010 | California, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Zinfandel
Pedroncelli, Dry Creek Valley, Mother Clone, Zinfandel 2007 The nose features sweet jammy fruit, like a bit of raspberry and blackberry rolled into a crumble for dessert. In the mouth it is spicy and warm, a little viscous and focused on the fruit – nice. 11%...
