This is made from the Étraire de la Dhuy grape of which there are only 5 Hectares under vine in the World.  Country wines/IGP Coteaux du Grésivaudan is a designation that is east of Burgundy, south of Savoie and north of the Rhone and close to the Italian border to the east.  Obviously a different wine.  It was nice on day one but seemed very reticent so after drinking a glass, the cork was put back in and tried the following evening when it was much more open.  Ruby in color with some purple swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, slight sour cherries, slight ch

California is making some very nice Albarinos these days.  At four years from vintage it might be worrying but this was sealed with a screw cap and the wine inside from fresh and bright.  Light green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with apples, peach and a stony minerality.  Medium bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, this is more about fruit and some minerality than its crisper Spanish siblings.  It is filled with ripeness and body.  Flavors of red apples and peaches.  Good finish.  This works very nice on its own and would work well with lighter foods.  A nic

This is a blend of 86% Zinfandel with 14% other varietals from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma.  Of course, it is Mike Officer and Carlisle's home vineyard.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is energetic with black raspberries, black cherries, bramble, black pepper and spice (cloves?).  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is young but really opens with an hour or two air.  Plenty of depth.  Flavors of black raspberries, black cherries, char and spice.  Juicy.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its own and will work

The Santa Cruz Mountains are the home to many of my favorite Chardonnays and this is definitely one of them.  Light gold in color with some hay yellow swirls, clear and bright.  The nose is big but lovely with lemon peel, slight lime, slight apples, vanilla, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Creamy texture countered with crisp acidity.  On the palate, this is crisp, satisfying and delicious.  Deep and complex, it unwinds with a bit of air in the glass.  Flavors of lemon peel, slight vanilla, spice and char.  Long finish.  This is great on its own but better with food.  This would work so well

This continues to be my favorite Chardonnay!  It drinks great young and ages nicely.  With just a kiss of vanilla showing, there is some oak but not enough to be an issue even for many of the most oak adverse drinkers.  Light green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with lemon creme, a touch of vanilla, spice and slight char.  Full bodied.  Very light tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Great texture.  Flavors of lemons, slight cooked apples, vanilla and spice.  A bit of char on the long finish.  This drinks great on its own and will work well with

This is 100% Nebbiolo from the Piedmont in Italy.  This is a soft accessible version of Nebbiolo.  Ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries along with some mustiness, ash and mint.  Soft texture but firm tannins.  It comes alive on the palate with cherries and a hard cherry candy note along with a slight earthiness.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Very open and drinking well.  This was a hot vintage but the fruit is not raisined or under ripe.  It drinks well on its own but will be better with food.  A great choice for a weekday pasta or pizza night.  Drink over the nex

As temperatures rise, the Finger Lakes is positioned well to make very good Pinot Noir's on a more consistent basis.  The biggest challenge is having to deal with late spring frosts and early autumn hail.  This one is good if not great.  From what I have been told, this  was a cool, wet vintage in the Finger Lakes.  Light ruby in color, clear and bright.  It looks to already have some bricking.  The nose has cherries and a curious dandelion note.  Light to medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, a bit of cherry fruit with a fresh plantlike green streak.  It would undoubtedly work bet

Impressive Rosé from Provence.  It is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Tibouren.  Medium Salmon Pink with some orange swirls in color, clear and bright.  The nose is powerful with cherries, strawberries, pomegranate, and slight thyme notes.  It has a very nice texture.  Plush but firm with a slightly viscous feel.  On the palate, the wine is dry.  Flavors of cherries, strawberries, and slight blood orange.  There is also a minerality to this wine that is very nice.  Good finish.  This is a wine that flaunts its serious side.  It is nice on its own but also will work well

This is a very nice Rosé from Provence in the south of France.  It puts me in the mood for late spring and summer!  It is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Rolle, and Cinsault.

Another great consistent value wine.  This is Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley.  Light golden in color with some green hues, clear and bright.  The nose has nice minerality with a bit of peach.  Light to medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, mineral, and lemon with some peach coming out later especially on the finish.  This is tasty and easy drinking on its own but also very food friendly.  It would work nicely with Salade Niçoise.  Drink over the next three to five years.