Line Shack, San Antonio Valley California, Roussanne 2006 There are faint smells of stone fruit and some perfume. This is a light-bodied wine, a bit thin but not offensive with lowish acidity. C&B in Santa Maria 13.5% $18 at the winery but sold...
Terry Theise, one of the world's leading experts on German and Austrian wines, was in San Francisco recently. He showcased 4 estates from Europe during a panel discussion and tasting with the proprietors. Hiram Simon of the Vienna Wine Company...
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie, Bourgueil Cuvée Alouettes 2006 The previous vintage of the Cuvee Beauvais showed the characteristic green of Cab Franc from the area with enough fruit to back it up. This wine is a bit reductive and tarry with black...
Francis Blanchet, Pouilly-Fume, Cuvee Silice 2006 Corked, so who will ever know what to think about this wine.This is all stainless Sauvignon produced across the river from Sancerre. Silice is sourced from an old vine parcel, laden with silex, just...
Regis Cruchet, Vouvray, Demi-Sec 1996 Then nose is quite evolved where there is a sense of varnish and nuttiness and a little lingering fruit. In the mouth though, there's tropical fruit and lime with just enough residual sugar to pair this with...
Domaine Le Peu de la Moriette (Domaine Pichot), Vouvray 2007 This wine embodies the sweet and tart character that Chenin can show so well when there's a bit of residual sugar. Unfortunately our latest bottle in May of '09 is a bit corked. The...
We taste lots of great wines in the many classes but we musn't overlook some other of the other beverages that delight the world. Eric Bordelet, Sidre, Brut Tendre 2006 Yes there is the smell and taste of apples in a fairly dry package with plenty...
Masi, Rosso Del Veronese Indicazione Geografica Tipica, Campofiorin, Ripasso 2005 Previous vintages, while not stunning or concentrated, have highlighted the sense that ripasso adds to the barer bones of straight Valpolicella, albeit at a budget...
Corte Gardoni, Bardolino, DOC Le Fontane 2006 The previous vintage sported a Beaujolais-like character, in the Nouveau vein, a carbo-mac fruit bomb with very light body – ideal for lunch in the sun when you demand red wine. This current vintage was...
Inama, Soave Classico, DOC 2006 This has been a solid producer though a little of the heat is showing. There's plenty of viscosity with the buttery richness in the mouth. All Garganega from vines 30+ years old, there is some skin contact time,...