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

There are lots of reviews for Maybach Cabs on this site, but not as many for other varietals so it was nice to get a chance to enjoy this Chardonnay.  At age 5, this is still young, but showing a bit of maturity and very enjoyable.  Golden in color with slight green hues, clear and bright.  On the nose, this is a big wine.  Lots of red apples, some grapefruit, with lots of vanilla and oak and some floral notes.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a great, viscous texture.  Flavors of lemons, lemon candy and baking spice.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  If you like oak, this is your wine, b

This is 95% Zinfandel with 5% Petite Sirah from Sonoma County.  15,3% abv.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has raspberries, black raspberries, slight bramble, and smoke.  Full bodied.  On the palate, raspberries, black raspberries and black pepper with some char.  As Zins go, this is middle of the road in style.  Delicious.  This drinks nicely on its own and will work well with a burger or pizza.  Drink over the next couple years.  

Green gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has slight grapefruits and baking spices.  Light bodied.  Thin.  On the palate, slight grapefruits with no oak showing.  Clean.  Refreshing.  A bit clipped on the finish.  This is solid with no faults but not particularly exciting.  However, an RRV Chardonnay at this price point is rare.  It drinks better on its own.  Drink over the next year.  

This was a new wine for me.  Purple in color, magenta at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is cassis, char and dist.  Light tannins.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, cassis with slight herbs.  This is an easy drinking Cab that seems to be at peak.  It drinks well on its own and would work well with pulled pork.  Drink over the next five years.  

This was a couple of steps better than the 2017.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, some raspberries, a bit of bramble and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is drinking youthfully but delicious.  Light tannins.  Black cherries and some cherry fruit with a bit of baking spice and a bit of black pepper on the finish.  Great on it own, this would work well with grilled meats or fowl.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

Ruby with  purple swirls.  The nose is peppery with black cherries, and char.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries and char.  Some warmth on the finish.  This is a very nice, easy drinking Zin that is middle of the road (between Claret and Fruit Bomb) in style.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  This will work well with ribs or a burger.  

This is a 100% Pinot Noir from California's Russian River Valley.  It is designated as a "Reserve" although there doesn't appear to be any such designation on the label.  The way to tell is that it does say Russian River Valley on the label.  Either way, this is an outstanding Pinot Noir and more than fairly priced for the quality.  Deep ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has fresh cherries with slight cherry pie filling, licorice and slight cola notes.  While not a delicately styled Pinot, it is also not huge.  More middle of the road for a California Pinot.  Medium to full bodied.

This is a field blend (mostly Zinfandel) from Sonoma.  Of course, 2011 was a difficult vintage.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, flat.  The nose is dusty with black cherries.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is somewhat surprisingly ripe.  Black cherries and cherries with some prune notes.  There is some depth and complexity.  A long finish.  This is probably better on its own but would work with pizza.  Drink up over the next few years. 

This winery has since been sold, but they went out with a bang producing some very highly rated Cabernets.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, slight graphite, black cherries, baking spices and slight char.  Full bodied.  Delicious.  Depth.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherries and cassis with underlying char and slight spice.  It unwinds nicely in the glass.  This drinks great on its own and will work well with food such as braised short ribs or roasted vegetables. Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  

Nice to revisit this (last tasted in 2017) as it showed good if not up to expectations.  This was a much better showing for whatever reason.  Pale golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is smoky with lemons and bigger than expected.  On the palate, this has medium body with good acidity.  Lemons and lemon cream.  Nice minerality.  A long finish.  This is drinking well if fully mature.  It should continue to drink well for another eight to twelve years.  It drinks well on its own and would work well with grilled trout or other fish.