Cline, Contra Costa County, Ancient Vines, Mourvedre 2007 Give this some air as it is a little reductive upon first opening. In the mouth the black fruit is apparent with ample acidity and light body. P&B in Sonoma 15% $10.99 at Bottle Barn...
JC Cellars, Santa Barbara County, Fess Parker's Vineyard, Syrah 2006 This Syrah features boatloads of oak through and through. The mouthfeel is supple and the oak adds a sweet vanilla appearance, enriching the wine further. Winemaker Jeff Cohn....
Alain Graillot, Crozes Hermitage 2007 In the nose you sense the classic black pepper along with a meatiness and herbal character, perhaps hinting at rosemary and thyme. In the mouth this is a structured Syrah, acidic and tannic, delicious and long....
Scheid Vineyards, Monterey, Estate Grown, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 This wine features a nice burst of grapefruit, moderate concentration and a little warmth. 90% of the wine was produced in stainless while the remaining 10% was aged in three year-old...
Grey Stack, Bennett Valley, Dry Stack Vineyard, Marie's Block, Syrah 2007 This Syrah brings a sense of the northern Rhone to Sonoma County. There's tar on top of the black fruit in the nose, with meatiness and a floral component like lavender. In...
Tandem, Russian River Valley, Porter-Bass Vineyard, Chardonnay 2005 With 4 years since the harvest this wine is developing some nice complexity. The nose sports wet stones, toastiness, tropical fruits, hay and lanolin. In the mouth there is a...
This summer we met with proprietor Peter Prager at the family winery in St. Helena. If you haven't been there you must stop by for a visit if you're a fan of the wines of the Douro. The Pragers have specialized in Port since they started the winery...
We met with Greg Burns and his gracious mom this summer, during a visit to Lodi with our class from the SRJC. We tasted through the wines and learned about their long history of growing grapes in the region. Some of the vines look absolutely...
Navarro, Mendocino, Chenin Blanc 2008 This dry, high acid Chenin is bursting with the taste of green apples and lime - very nice. Tasting a second bottle in December I have to reiterate the refreshing, tangy character of this wine, long lasting and...
Honig, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 I've long been a fan of Honig's wines and the fairness of their pricing. This Cabernet has structure to hold up the fruit, showing California ripeness with the a chewiness and long acidity - very nice. 3%...