Raymond Burr Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Estate Port 2003 The smell is a mix of dark chocolate, raisins, molasses and earthiness. In the mouth, the sweetness comes through with a chocolately essence and an appropriate sense of the fortifying...
Calstar Cellars, El Dorado County, Cardanini Estate, Zinfandel, Alta Zin 2006 This is certainly a jammy wine, light-bodied and fruity with the weight of the alcohol underlying it. Owner and Winemaker Rick Davis. P&B in Sebastopol 15.1% $18.75...
Dry Creek Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, Merlot 2005 Plums and brambles mark the nose. The fruit is framed by acidity in the mouth which carries the flavor of this light-bodied wine a long way - elegant wine. P&B in Healdsburg 13.5% $19 at the...
Moshin Vineyards, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir 2007 This wine has sweet cherry fruit and perfume in the nose while the mouth is a supple display of the same with a sweet kiss of oak. Rick Moshin is making great Pinot yet is still riding under the...
Stonestreet, Alexander Valley, Chardonnay 2006 The nose is toasty and oaky while the mouth combines red and green apples with silky, buttery richness. P&B in Healdsburg 14.5% $28 at the winery Stonestreet Wines
Ferrari-Carano, Sonoma County, Fume Blanc 2007 In the nose there is sweet tropical fruit and minerality along with a bit of cut grass. In the mouth this wine has a softer, creamier feel than many Sauvignon, displaying richness rather than...
Geographic diversity was on display when the Sweeptakes round was finished on Friday. We had a sparkling from Long Island and a Cab Franc from New Mexico take the two of the biggest awards. This underscores the importance of blind tasting....
This flight features a brand that specializes in under $10 sparkling. Currently the more widely available Brut and Extra Dry are on special at Beverages & more! for $6.99. These wines undergo their secondary fermentation in tank and the labels...
I've been on a hiatus but not a vacation. For almost 2 months we've been preparing for this past week, the judging of over 4,700 wines at the 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. This morning Gene Burns will be discussing this year's...
Mirassou, California, Merlot 2006 The smells are of sweet, jammy black fruits. In the mouth this wine is quite supple and slightly sweet, melting a sense of vanilla into the black fruits. A bit of Zinfandel and Syrah augments the Merlot. V&B in...