Husch, Mendocino, Renegade, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 This is a rounder style of Sauvignon with the enhancement of oak. The wine takes its name from the 'renegade' yeasts that are allowed to ply their craft without the help of their cultured cousins....
Belo, Napa Valley, Vintage Tawny Port, Tinta Isabella 1996 The nose is pruny and spirtitous with some volatility. The mouth shows lots of caramel and nuttiness, like crunching up some almonds, wrapping them in milk chocolate and basting them with...
Etude, Carneros, Estate Grown, Pinot Noir 2007 This is sweet smelling Pinot with caramel and an almost jammy fruit character. The mouth is very concentrated with ripe tannins, punchy acidity and that sweet caramel on top of the black fruit - very...
Paul Hobbs, Carneros, Napa Valley, Hyde Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2007 The nose features ripe black fruits, a bit of earthiness, cola and a toasty note. In the mouth you'll find the characteristic mouthfeel that I find over and over again with Paul...
Fotinos, Carneros, Napa Valley, Pinot Noir 2005 The nose features very sweet brown spice notes, with ashes of the campfire. In the mouth there's a fair amount of grip. Produced and bottled in Sonoma 14% $35 at the winery, a gift to the class from...
Saintsbury, Carneros, Pinot Noir, Garnet 2008 This has always been a light and elegant Pinot and the '08 is on target. By light I don't mean thin and the creaminess enhances the mouthfeel. There's a screw cap top for added protection. Cellared and...
Chateau Montelena, Napa Valley, Chardonnay 2007 In the nose there's a sense of brioche while the mouth sports green apple, with a patina of silkiness and very long acidity - very nice and always a personal favorite. P&B in Calistoga 13.7%...
Pomelo, California, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 The nose sports citrus and freshly mown grass. In the mouth you'll find lemon with a sense of both its juice and pith. The wine is soft, clean and light with a bit of petillance and moderate acidity....
Grey Stack, Bennett Valley, Dry Stack Vineyard, Grenache 2007 Grenache's candy-like character comes through in the nose, sweet smelling and ebulliently fruity. In the mouth there is structure to match the fruit, a vision of Chateauneuf, where...
Chateau de Pibarnon, Bandol 2005 The nose is quite spicy, borrowing both brown and green entries from the spice rack. In the mouth this wine is quite substantial, big in structure and acidity that drives the flavor for a long time. This is just a...