Lustau, Sherry, Solera Reserva, Light, Manzanilla, Papirusa nv Classic bruised apples and freshness with lots of almonds. Grab the olives for this one. This Palomino-based wine is matured in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Bottling code: 7255 in Oct. '08,...
Fâmega Vinho Verde Denominação de Origem Controlada Vinho Branco 2006 Lean and green and pétillant – a great value example; petillance is gone with the second bottle in September but still the phenolic mineral grab and blazing acid are apparent....
Pahlmeyer Napa Valley Merlot 2004 This Merlot smells of blueberries. In the mouth the fruit is quite dense, there' a little warmth, moderate acidity, light body and a long finish. 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19 months aging in French oak, yet...
The barrel tasting at this year’s Wine Song struck a Rhône theme. Mendocino vintners sampled their latest bottlings and barrel samples from recent vintages. How they manage to juggle the concurrent harvest and pouring at this event amazes me. ...
Pedroncelli Dry Creek Valley Sonoma County Zinfandel Rosé 2005 Lightly fruity with moderate viscosity and sweetness. The Pedroncelli’s have been making Zin Rosé since 1954. This wine was sourced from estate and purchased fruit from Dry Creek...
Domaine de l’Arjolle Z de l’Arjolle vin de table Zinfandel Light berry fruit, ample acidity with some astringency and earthiness. The wine is rather lean for the price and begins to show alcoholic after a few hours. From a 250 acre estate near...
Elyse Napa Valley Red Wine Couzins 2005 Warm and plush, dry though possessing a sweet character of very ripe fruit. 47% Primitivo, 39% Zinfandel and 14% Petite Sirah harvested at brix levels spread from 23.6 to 27.7. The wine was aged 10.5 mos....
Rosenblum Cellars California Rosie Rabbit Late Harvest Zinfandel 2004 Sweet and brimming with nutty raspberry fruit, a very soft and low-acid style of dessert wine. Formerly sourced from the Rosie Rabbit vineyard in the Russian River Valley the...
Milliaire Sierra Foothills Vineyard Selections Clockspring Port 2004 About 80% Zinfandel with 3 Portuguese grapes as well, 19.5% P&B Murphys $28 at the winery www.milliairewinery.com
McManis California Petite Sirah 2005 An approachable Petite with lots of berry fruit and a taming of the tannins. 13.5% P&B Ripon, winemakers Jeff Runquist and Mike Robustelli, $9.99 at BevMo www.mcmanisfamilyvineyards.com Victor Hugo Paso...