Joelle Santa Lucia Highlands Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006 Stony and warm with vanilla overtones. P&B in San Francisco 14.8% $44 at the winery Joelle Truckee River Winery Santa Lucia Highlands Garys' Vineyard 2005 Black fruits, cola,...
Handley Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2005 The reserve Pinot from Handley was a big hit last semester. This wine features sweet vanilla notes wrapped around supple cherry fruit - an extra silky texture. Winemaker Milla Handley. P&B in Philo 14.5%...
Vinum Cellars Clarksburg CNW Wilson Vineyards Chenin Blanc 2006 From the ABC crowd at Vinum, these guys are willing to bet on the 'other grapes'. Barrel fermented and aged 6 months in oak for complexity yet the bracing side of Chenin shines...
Bonterra 73% Mendocino 27% Lake Counties Viognier 2006 This has been a consistently fresh, aromatic wine across the vintages. The flowers and peaches are in full bloom followed by a lowish-acid fresh mouthfeel. All certified organically grown...
2 great producers and 2 classic wines. Fonterutoli Chianti Classico DOCG 2004 There's some appropriate barnyard notes tied into the tart cherry and lightly tannic palate. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot, 2% Malvasia Nera and 2% Colorino, aged for one...
Corteforte Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripassato 2004 The smell of raisins is definitely there in a silky, sweet-appearing palate. The wine is dry but the fruit is amped up so that it appears sweet, unless there is a touch of sub-threshold RS....
Pieropan Soave Classico DOC Estate Grown & Bottled 2006 In previous vintages this wine has been quite fresh and clean. Again it is this vintage with sweet floral and perfume and a light-bodied, dry palate. The grapes are 90% Garganega and 10%...
Abadia Retuerta, Sardón de Duero, Seleccion Especial 2004 Herbaceous notes like in Cab Franc in the nose. The mouth is full-bodied with acid and ripe tannins at the time of the original post with an oaky backcurrent. A year later the tannins are...
Unti has been doing some great work with varieties beyond the mainstream. Unti Dry Creek Valley Grenache 2006 The 2005 vintage showed the fruit that Grenache can deliver. This vintage features a perfume like baby powder and candied fruit. In the...
Mumm Napa Napa Valley Devaux Ranch Methode Traditionnelle 2002 There's lots of citrus with a hint of the zest and a touch of alcohol. The grapes are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and the wine was aged 3 years on the lees. P&B in Rutherford 12.5%...