Staying ahead of flaws in the cellar and quantifying perceptual differences and consumer preferences are critical to a winery’s bottom line. Following our return from New Zealand, Sonoma State’s Wine Business Institute will partner with VESTA to...
Alexander Valley Vineyards, Cyrus 1998 14 years on this wine is looking youthful in the glass, with hues of red and just a hint of orange at the edge. In the nose an oaky expression entices with an expectation of richness. On the palate the wine...
Reata, Carneros, Chardonnay 2010 The nose features freshly baked biscuits dabbed in butter topped with peaches - you get a sense of the fruit accentuated by the winemakers touch. In the mouth the texture is luscious, buttery with the freshness of...
Lucien Albrecht, Cremant d’Alsace, Brut, Blanc de Blancs nv In the nose there are fresh fruits like pears and yellow apples. In the mouth this wine is fruit-forward, moderately acidic with some creaminess, like one finds with the domaine's rose –...
We spent the morning at Kokomo Winery today, putting the final touches on the first release from Sonoma State Cellars. If you’re in Dry Creek Valley on Saturday, join the party that we’re throwing at Timber Crest Farms. Bastille Day is a fitting...
Bollinger, Champagne, La Grande Annee, Brut 2000 The nose is nutty, featuring dried fruits, oranges with brown spices and a note of mushrooms sauteed in butter. In the mouth this vintage is elegant, with subtle orange and apple flavors, and long,...
During a trip to Italy and Slovenia we had the opportunity to sample a number of delicious wines while in the care of BA. First up was a tasting of 2 bubblies in the lounge at Heathrow. Pol Roger, Champagne, Extra Cuvee de Reserve 1999 In the nose...
Falesco, Umbria IGT, Vitiano 2005 This wine is showing nicely at a point in its evolution over 6 years since the grapes were harvested. It is light-bodied as expected, as it was in bottles tasted early on. Yet what we have now is complexity beyond...
Bonterra, Mendocino County, Chardonnay 2010 The nose features fresh stones fruits and a splash of new oak. In the mouth the fruit expression is quite lively, citrus, apricots, peaches and the freshness of summer sunshine. Besides the Chardonnay,...
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,...