Whitehaven, Marlborough, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 This is full-throttle gooseberries and herbaceousness with loads of acidity - a delicious mouthful of citrus fruit and green peppers. Our friends Chuck and Barbara brought over the '06 version to share...
Jade Mountain, Contra Costa County, Evangelho Vineyard, Mourvedre 2005 There are some reductive notes in the nose to accompany the black fruit. In the mouth there's a fair amount of acidity, light body and a sense of the alcohol's warmth. The...
Twisted PiG, California, Pinot Grigio 2006 There's almost nothing to smell and the mouth is akin to water with a little citric acid and alcohol thrown in. It's not bad in an offensive way, it's just so lacking in any redeeming way. Best salvaged...
Rancho Sisquoc, Santa Barbara County, Sylvaner 2007 There's a bit of flintiness in the nose. Sylvaner isn't typically an aromatic daredevil so that's OK. In the mouth there's a very grapy flavor, almost like a native labrusca, very hard to...
Wine Cube, California, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 It's definitely easier to maintain one's self-delusional status by not talking about or tasting or drinking wine from a box. Yet we have to speak out when the wine is serviceable and the carbon...
Bogle, California, Chenin Blanc 2005 This back vintage was lingering in the cellar. There's a sense of candied tropical fruits, roundness in the palate augmented by a touch of RS and braced by an appropriate amount of acidity. It's all stainless...
J. Keverson, Mendocino County, Janes Vineyard, Sangiovese 2005 If you like your New World Sangiovese heavy on the oak, this is your wine. There's loads of sweet-oaky essence all over this supple wine. The moderate acidity will feel a disappointment...
Gunderloch, Rheinhessen, Jean-Baptiste, Riesling, Kabinett QmP 2002 This wine goes on after 6 years since the harvest, despite evidence of leaking and a then newish screwcap seal that appears to not have been perfect. There are notes of lanolin and...
J, Russian River Valley, cuvee 20 nv Clean, fresh, fruit, tasted at the winery in May. This wine has the zip of fresh green apples. The base wine is from a recent vintage with 25% oak-aged reserves adding to the final blend. The wine is aged for 3...
Husch, Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir 2006 Cherries and earth in a light-bodied package - a little rustic and a touch bitter. Aged for 9 months in French oak. P&B in Philo 13.9% $22.99 at Traverso's Husch Navarro, Anderson Valley Mendocino,...