Prairie Berry, South Dakota, red ass rhubarb nv This wine sports a great balance of sweetness and acidity while tasting as if you have the live fruit in your mouth - delicious! The fruit behind this wine is 90% rhubarb grown in South Dakota and 10%...
Trione, Russian River Valley, River Road Ranch, Pinot Noir 2008 In the nose you'll find sweet red fruit with pastry notes, think cherry pie, warm and aromatic. In the mouth you'll find a supple expression of that cherry pie, absolutely luscious....
Blandy’s, Madeira, 5 Year Old, Verdelho nv The flavor profile puts together the best of Amontillado from Spain with a splash of sweetness. You'll find a woody, nutty essence with warmth and dried oranges. This is a weighty aperitif that celebrates...
Keuka Spring, Finger Lakes, Gewurztraminer 2008 The nose features spicy floral notes, like roses and very pretty at that. In the mouth it is round, with a little RS, lots of lychee fruit, and a brightness that eludes many of the same grape -...
The final round of judging in the 2010 Pinot Noir Shootout was held today at Bistro Boudin on Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. I was asked to join about 30 other judges to pick the best of the best from over 250 entries across the world. It was...
Francois Chidaine, Montlouis sur Loire, Clos Habert 2007 This wine was a tremendous disappointment after my experience with the previous vintage, reviewed earlier. First it was worrisome that the colour was quite golden. Smelling the wine was a...
This morning I visited with Henry Tennenbaum of KRON-TV 4. During our segment we sprinted through a tasting of these four Judges' Choice Winners. My notes are just a brief snapshot from memory so pick up a bottle of each yourself and luxuriate in a...
The Results are coming tomorrow - online first at SFGate. It's been a grueling week in Cloverdale at the top end of Sonoma County. Chris Sawyer is one of over 60 judges who lent a palate to help evaluate 4,913 wines this year. Our team has been...
Peterson, Dry Creek Valley, Timbercrest Farms, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 During my visit at Peterson earlier in 2009 I was enamored with the '08 Sauvignon and purchased a case. In May I wrote the following post: This wine is vibrant with citrus and...
This flight provides a nice contrast of Sauvignon styles. You have the same winery, same county, same grape, same vintage, 2 vineyards and 2 takes on how to handle this grape in the winery. Both are great but as you'll see in the notes, you might...