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

This is a solid wine and a nice value in Sonoma Zinfandel.  A blend of 77% Zinfandel, 21% Petit Verdot & 2% Carignane.   Ruby in color with purple swirls.  The nose has raspberries, spice and dust.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is slightly brawny with red fruits.  Easy drinking.  Light tannins.  Best to drink now or in the next few years.  Works well with pizza or burgers.  A nice wine for a party.  Shop around as its MSRP is $26 but its widely available ranging from $15 and up.  

This is drinking quite well now.  A great example of a cooler climate Syrah from California.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, and slight bacon fat.  On the palate, this is very concentrated.  Boysenberry fruit with char underneath and a slightly meaty taste.  Medium to full bodied.  A wisp of tannins.  Nice acidity.  Long finish.  This is great with roasted veggies (and would be with meat or fowl) and would also work with Indian food.  No hurry, this should be good for another seen to ten years.  

This was purchased by me on release back when it was merely expensive.  Today, this is one of the top guns of the Kendal Jackson empire and the pricing has gotten prohibitive for the newer releases.  If trying this blind, a good guess might have been a 1999 Bordeaux, maybe Graves or maybe even 1998.  it was quite good and certainly just about at peak.  A 60/40 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.  Purple/ruby in color with just a hint of browning at the rim.  The nose has some brett but plenty of cassis, cherries and an earthy funk too.  On the palate, this is complex.  Layers of fruit (

This is one of the best Syrah's out of Sonoma County.  It is built for the long haul so make sure to let it rest in the cellar or give it plenty of air.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, roasted meats and slight root beer note which was interesting.  Full bodied.  On the palate, lots of black raspberry fruit starting to layer with a charred earthiness and slight bacon notes.  This still has medium tannins.  Great balance and energy.  Long finish.  This may yet improve, but is more likely about as good as it will get.  No hurry, this

Nice to revisit this wine.  It was quite rambunctious on release and while still more of a brawny Zin it has started the evolution to more claret in style.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose has raspberries, black cherries, some spice and black pepper.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Plenty of raspberries and cherries with some dry charred earthiness.  There is some warmth on the finish but not enough to be a concern.  There does seem to be enough fruit to last, so the question is what you are looking for in a Zinfandel.  If you want big and bold drink now, but if claret s

This is my favorite California Gruner Veltliner, and admittedly small sample size.  It really is an outstanding wine.  Light green/gold in color.  The nose has minerals, limes and is a bit steely.  On the palate the limes carry thru with minerals underneath.  Crisp yet a hint of viscosity.  Concentrated.  Long finish.  This does drink well on its own but is better with food.  Seafood or salads work well.  It will drink well for five to seven years most likely, but it will be interesting to watch.  

This did not seem like a proper bottle.  It was quite advanced for its age.  Most likely a cork issue? Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a slight oxidized note to it.  Also, butterscotch and vanilla.  No fruit on the nose.  On the palate, it is a bit cleaner with some lemon and some vanilla.  Clipped on the finish.  A shame as this should have been a bit fresher but it happens.  Drinkable depending on your aversion (or not) to oxidized wines.  I ten to not have as much an issue as most.  If I had to score it, maybe an 83?

Ceritas makes a wonderful lineup of Chardonnay's and I encourage everyone to sign up for their mailing list.  This one is no exception.  Light golden in color.

What a pretty Zinfandel.  Not a monster in any way.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  Rather light looking, just on appearance I would not have guessed Zinfandel.  On the nose, this has raspberries, slight cherries, a bit of bramble, black pepper and vanilla.  The label lists this as 17.3% Alcohol.  Whoa.  Not a trace on the nose or palate though.  Even the texture, which can be bolstered by alcohol, doesn't reveal the high level.  The palate does give cherries, slight Framboise, with underlying char.  There is depth and complexity here.  And deliciousness.  I would guess that this

Opened later in the night after a bunch of red wines, this really seemed fresh and lively.  It worked out great.  Light golden in color.  The nose has lemon chiffon with nice minerality.  Just a touch of vanilla.  Full bodied.  Crisp.  Delicious.  The lemon carries thru over a mineral bed.  Great on its own, this will work well with seafood, salads and certainly on its own.  It is very young now and worth drinking that way, but this should easily go another ten years and probably more as it matures.