Sonoma County

• Alexander Valley
• Bennett Valley
• Best of Sonoma
• Dry Creek Valley
• Fort Ross/Seaview
• Moon Mountain
• Pine Mountain - Cloverdale Peak
• Russian River Valley
• Sonoma Coast
• Sonoma Mountain
• Sonoma Valley
• Knights Valley

Chalk Hill celebrated 50 years in 2022. One way to celebrate is with this 2020 Chardonnay. Comprised of nine different Chardonnay clones, the result is a creamy, smooth wine with a wonderful viscosity that fills the palate with notes of crème brûlée, honeysuckle, poached pair, red delicious apple, vanilla, light resin, and lime meringue. Though aged in oak for a scant 10 months only 35% of that oak was new, so that you still have a moderate classic oaky butter quality, but not over the top. This is a very enticing Chardonnay. ORIGIN: Russian River Valley. ALCOHOL: 15%

This is my personal favorite of the Zinfandels in the Carlisle lineup.  It seems a bit softer yet plenty of fruit and depth.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, black raspberries, char and spice.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black cherries and spice.  Great texture.  Good balance.  Long finish.  Drink over the next eight to ten years.  Great on its own, this is a nice match with a (Veggie) Burger.  

Very nice showing for this wine.  It has long been a steakhouse restaurant favorite yet its fans remain consistent and loyal.  It was a pleasure to drink this and it had been some time since enjoying this wine.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose is nice with cassis, cherries, cedar and spice.  It has a nice sinewy texture.  Softer with light tannins.  On the palate, there is some depth/complexity with cassis and char.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue to drink well for another eight to twelve years.  It drinks well on its own, and would certainly work we

Like any good cuvée, this blend of Pinot Noir clones 115, 667, 777, Calera and Mt. Eden showcases how a blend can exceed its individual components. A mix of fruit and earthy notes, this cuvée showcases Sonoma’s premier Pinot region, the Russian River Valley. There is subtle black cherry, red raspberry, rhubarb, cola, green tea leaf, boysenberry,  and firm tannins and an almost subversive acidity. The oak program is judicious and still allows the fruit to shine through while the oak provides some structure for the wine on the mid-palate and concentrated finish. 486 cases.

A delicious cooler climate Syrah.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, slight bacon fat and black olives.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is going strong.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with some black pepper.  Good balance.  Long finish.  Drink over the next eight to ten years.  Nice on its own, but works well with food.  It went well with a vegetarian sausage casserole.  

Ladera launched in 1998 and has consistently produced impressive wines. For their 2020 Chardonnay, they aged the grapes sur lie in new French oak barrels for 15 months (58% of which were new), which means this definitely offers a creamier style, however it is well balanced so you get a classic Chardonnay, but a silky smooth one. This offers light pear, lemon chiffon, lime meringue, candied almond, slight resin, and hints of guava. This is a lovely, tactile wine that drinks beautifully with, or without food. 289 cases. ORIGIN: Russian River Valley.  ALCOHOL: 14.1%

This is made from grapes on the terrace just south of the winery.  At age 21, it is drinking beautifully.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cassis and spice.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate black cherries and cassis.  Clean.  Nice complexity.  Long finish. This should drink well for another five to eight years.  It will work well with Lasagna.  

Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is very nice with black cherries, cassis, slight spice and slight black olives.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is still fresh and vibrant.  Tasty.  Some depth and complexity as it unwinds in the glass.  Great balance.  Good finish.  Drinking well now, it should go another five to seven years with no trouble.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  It worked well with eggplant parmigiana.  

There’s a certain comfort in knowing that when you open a Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc, regardless of vintage, it will always be excellent. I have had many vintages of this wine and the consistency of its excellence is borderline improbable – and yet they nail it year after year. The ’21 offers that beautiful crisp nose of lemon meringue, lime kefir, honeysuckle, guava and red delicious apple. That follows through on the palate along with light plum, crème brulee, toasted brioche and Asian pear.

Gary Farrell has always produced interesting Pinot’s – meaning, not the typical California strawberry driven kind. And this 2020 is no exception. Pulled from seven different vineyards, the art is in the blending. Upfront there is pomegranate, plum, green apple, then it turns to black tea, black raspberry, mild strawberry, dried tobacco, light cola and coriander. The acidity is solid and the tannins appropriate to the task. This is what comes from the art of the blend.