Grgich Hills, Napa Valley, Estate Grown, Merlot 2004 There's lots of plummy fruit in the nose. In the mouth you'll find the characteristic Merlot suppleness, with nice density, a healthy kiss of oak and a lingering creaminess. The grapes for this...
Exploring the World with Ray Johnson
Bell Sauvignon 2007
Bell, Lake County, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 This wine speaks of grapefruit, crisp and refreshing. The grapes are all Sauvignon Blanc grown in the Rosenthal Vineyard in southern Lake. The wine was made exclusively in stainless. Cellared and bottled in...
Copain Tous Ensemble Rose 2008
Copain, Anderson Valley, ‘Tous Ensemble’, Rose 2008 This rose has developed a rather rustic character. With 12 hours the funkier smells have blown off. The fruit, however, is receding and the alcohol is showing more of itself, with a sense of...
Ancien Russian River Pinot 2006
Ancien, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir 2006 The nose speaks of sweet cherries sprinkled with brown spices. In the mouth this is a supple Pinot with polished oak in the background to enhance the fruit - very nice. The majority of the fruit is...
Royal Tokaji 5 2005
The Royal Tokaji Company, Tokaji, Aszu, 5 Puttonyos 2005 As always this wine is a pleasure to taste, melding a sugary, thickness to an acidity zing, making this wine last so long after you swallow - brilliant. 328 g/l sugar at harvest and 148 g/l...
embruix de Vall Llach 2005
Vall Llach, Priorat DOQ, Embruix 2005 The nose features a sweetness, black fruits with blackberry jam. In the mouth the sweet theme continues, with very ripe, jammy fruit, density yet suppleness, warmth, a bit of tannin and lowish acidity, a sense...
Navarro grape juice 2008
Navarro, Mendocino, Gewurztraminer, Grape Juice 2008 This has long been a personal favorite of mine and during our trip to Mendo in March we were treated to a new way to enjoy it. At Cafe Beaujolais the juice was made into a spritzer with soda...
McWilliam’s Chardonnay 2007
McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate, South Eastern Australia, Chardonnay 2007 In the nose there is plenty of fruit, from pear to tropicals like papaya. In the mouth the freshness of the fruit is front and center, accentuated by just enough acidity, with a...
Graton Ridge Pinot Noir 2007
Graton Ridge, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Paul Family Vineyard, Estate, Pinot Noir 2007 There's a lovely cherry pie essence in the nose, a sweet expression of fruit and oak. In the mouth there is vanilla, caramel and cherries baked in the...
Soalheiro Vinho Verde 2008
Soalheiro, Vinho Verde, Moncao, Alvarinho 2008 In the nose you'll find lime and stones. In the mouth the lime really shows, with plenty of tart character, long acidity, good concentration and a bit of petillance - very refreshing. I know you've had...