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

Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has cherries, slightly sour and sandalwood.  On the palate, sour cherries with slight root beer note.  This is a big wine and ageing pretty slowly.  There is still a ton of fruit and the alcohol is in check, so I suspect this will continue to develop.  It will be interesting to see how much complexity it gains.  Like many wines that lean far to one style, if you didn't like this young, you probably won't like it old (and visa-versa).  There is some slight heat on the finish but that settled down with some air.  

This has really improved in the last 6 months.  This has some oak on it which may be a question for some, but if you like this style, it is impressive.  Deep golden in color.  The nose has vanilla and lemon cream.  Slight fesh lumber.  On the palate, there is a lovely oily texture.  Very lemony with a bit of sawdust as well as vanilla.  Very nice acidity.  Worked just find with some cheeses.  Still on the young side and plenty of fruit to hold up as the oak integrates.  It is delicious right now.  

This is such a tremendous value.  Around $30.  Purple in color.  The nose is great with raspberries, dark cherries, spice, bramble and char.  On the palate, what a great texture.  Juicy and full.  Lots of fruit, mostly raspberries, blackberries but also some sandalwood notes.  Great balance.  DELICIOUS.   Long finish.  I think these will age for a decade if only I could keep my hands off of them.  

Drinking quite well right now.  Perhaps a bit earlier than prior vintages.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is great with sour cherries, cherries, slight black licorice and baking spice.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Great texture; a bit soft and a bit velvety.  Lots of sour cherry and black cherry fruit.  It unwinds in the glass showing layers of fruit and damp forest floor.  Great acidity.  Nice finish.  There is some upside potential on this as it will continue to mature for a few years.  

Purple in color.  Opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, cedar, spice, slight fresh turne loam and bit of chocolate.  On the palate, this has ripe but not overtly ripe fruit.  Plenty of depth.  Very nice, lush texture.  Long finish.  This is still young and has a way to go before peak but it is absolutely delicious today.  

Great showing for this.  Still quite youthful.  Purple in color, to the rim.  On the nose, this has black raspberries, slight black pepper, hints of roasted meats and slight charcoal.  Grat rich texture.  Pure black raspberry fruit with great intensity.  Layers of fruit with earth.  Long finish.  Just a fantastic wine with at least a decade or two left.  

Excellent wine and in a young, but good place right now.  It does have a decade or two left.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has dust, cassis, cherries, slight sandalwood and cigar box.  On the palate, this drinks like a riper Bordeaux wine.  Dark cherries, cassis, slight earthy funk.  Great texture, almost seamless.  Long finish.  This is a very pretty feminine wine but certainly hasw all the structure it needs.  Great wine.  

This is there luxury cuvee.  It was pop and pour which did this a disservice as it was quite tight.  Purple in color.  The nose is deep with cassis, coffee and slight peppery notes.  On the palate, this is quite tannic and tight.  It is delicious.  Plenty of cassis fruit.  Depth.  It slowly unwinds in the glass. The future is very bright for this. Around $125 per bottle is not inexpensive, but it is an excellent wine.  

An outstanding Sonoma Cabernet.  At $50, this is certainly priced in the ball park.  it is very tight right now, so it needs some cellaring or air before serving.  Purple in color.  The nose has sweet cassis fruit, some dark cherries and tobacco with spice.  On the palate, there are firm tannins.  Pretty black cherry fruit.  Nice finish.  

Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice; earthy with cherries.  On the palate, this is bigger in style with cherries and slight sour cherries.  Nice texture.  Plenty of depth.  Should improve with some short term cellaring.  Very nice.