Schramsberg, North Coast, Blanc de Blancs Brut 2006 There are very pretty floral notes in the nose, with fresh pears and apples and a bit of bread dough. In the mouth the fruit continues with some pastry richness and the zip of green apples - very...
Mumm Napa, Napa Valley, Brut Rose nv The house style is fruit-forward. A noticeable dosage amplifies the red fruit character with a complementary sweetness. The process is methode traditionnelle. P&B in Napa 12.5% purchased for $17.79 at Bottle...
Chateau Climens, Barsac 2005 What is wonderful about this wine is the amount of fruit that shows, from citrus to the tropical notes of pineapple. Sure, there is the expected richness of honey and appropriate volatility, but the coupling of the...
Chateau Giscours, Margaux 2006 The nose of this wine features a strong whiff of smoky oak and leather with red fruits and sweet tobacco. In the mouth, the fruit comes alive, with fresh berries and dried cranberries and the accent of earth and...
These wines were first tasted during a visit with Alan Viader at the estate on April 30. I bought two of my favorites to share with the UC Berkeley class in San Francisco on May 12. The notes below are a combination of observations from the two...
Stryker Sonoma, Rockpile, Rockpile Vineyard, Cabernet Franc 2007 The nose features sweet vanilla, cedar, cherries and pencil shavings. The mouth shows a rich texture, quite plush with the essence of nuttiness and caramel wrapped around a dark...
Chateau La Conseillante, Pomerol 2007 Toasty, smoky oak meets blueberries and crushed leaves in the nose. In the mouth you'll find an approachable wine, with ripe tannins, lots of black fruit, complementary leather and lingering acidity - very...
Brokenwood, Hunter Valley, Oakey Creek Vineyard, Semillon 2004 Give this just 10 minutes in the glass to blow off a bit of sulfur. Then the toasty character comes on, quite a complex wine with nuttiness and a bit of spicy flowers. In the mouth it...
Kendall-Jackson, Knights Valley, Highland Estates, Trace Ridge, Red Wine 2006 Unfortunately this bottle is corked. The grapes behind this wine are 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot. The wine was aged for 19 months in French...
Abrente, Napa Valley, Albarino 2009 The fruit in the nose is vibrant, running from citrus through tropical notes. In the mouth the flavor is that of fresh oranges, light-bodied and fresh, with long lingering acidity. The grapes are sourced from the...