California

• Amador County
  • Shenandoah Valley
• Carmel Valley
• Carneros
• Central Coast
  • Edna Valley
  • Mt. Harlan
  • Paso Robles
• Contra Costa County
• El Dorado County
• Lake County
• Lodi
• Mendocino
  • Anderson Valley
  • Yorkville Highlands
• Monterey
• Napa Valley
  • Atlas Peak
  • Best of Napa
  • Calistoga
  • Conn Valley
  • Diamond Mountain
  • Howell Mountain
  • Mt. Veeder
  • Oak Knoll
  • Oakville
  • Pope Valley
  • Rutherford
  • Spring Mountain
  • St. Helena
  • Stags Leap
  • Yountville
• North Coast
• Santa Barbara
  • Santa Lucia Highlands
  • Santa Rita Hills
  • Santa Ynez Valley
• Santa Cruz
• Santa Maria Valley
• Sierra Foothills
• 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 very nice white from the Bedrock stable of wines.  The vineyard was planted in 1954 as a field blend of Gewurztraminer, Trousseau Gris, Riesling, Roter Veltliner, and Chenin Blanc.  Light gold in color with some green hues, clear and bright.  The nose has minerality, peaches, and some grapefruit.  Light bodied.  On the palate, there is a nice complexity here.  Make sure it is not served too cold or that won't be as evident.  Notes of grapefruit, lemon and minerality swirl on the palate.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next few years.  This will work well with lighter

This is yet another wine made by Thomas Rivers Brown.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is intense with cassis, blueberries, floral (violets?) notes and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is concentrated and needs some time/air to unwind.  Lots of cassis and some blueberries with some underlying char and spice.  Long finish.  This will undoubtedly improve over the next five to seven years.  It should drink well for another ten to fifteen after that.  Drinks great on its own, this will require a big flavors to work with.  Roasts or grilled meats or veg

Great wine and an even better value.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black olives, black pepper and slight bacon fat.  Full bodied. On the palate, this is complex and deep.  Layers of black raspberry fruit, minerality, smoke and earthiness.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is delicious.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  It will work great on its own and works well with roasted meats or veggies.

This used to be a go to wine but it had been about 15 years since tried.  Still a very nice Cab for the money.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, nice cassis fruit.  Drink over the next couple of years.  A nice wine for a party or cook-out.  It works well on its own and will work nicely with burgers or other foods off the grill.  

This is a nice, inexpensive Chardonnay.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has lemons, some apples and spice.  On the palate, this is crisp with apples.  Nice finish.  Serve chilled.  This should be consumed in the next year or two.  It is very food friendly and would work well with sea food or lighter foods.  

This is the base Chardonnay from Rivers-Marie but it is not too far off from the single vineyard wines.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is very nice with lemons, slight grapefruits, a touch of toast with some butter and a hint of vanilla.  Medium bodied.  Lots of energy and vibrancy.  On the palate, this is crisp with nice lemons and some vanilla with underlying char.  Nice finish.  Drinking well but should easily go another seven to ten years.  This went very well with assorted vegetarian dishes including roasted asparagus and eggplant.  

Pop and pour. This is a blend of 91% Syrah, 6% Mourvèdre and 3% Viognier.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is intense with with black raspberries, black olives, roasted herbs, dark chocolate and char.  Full bodied.  Great lush texture.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with underlying charred earth. Some chocolate on the finish.  Delicious.  This is still young and will improve over the next five to seven years.  It should drink well for ten to twelve after that.  It drinks great on its own, with time this will work just as well with food.  It worked well with Indian food.  

This continues to be one of the best Chardonnay's made anywhere.  Light golden in color with slight green swirls, clear and bright.  The nose has lemon curd, minerality, and vanilla.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, lemon curd and vanilla with great minerality.  Still quite young, this should drink well for the next ten to fifteen years.  It went great with soft cheeses and also some vegetarian Indian food.  

This is a blend of fruit from Sierra Madre, Hilliard Bruce and Pisoni vineyards in Santa Barbara County.  Light golden in color.  The nose has grapefruits, minerals, baking spices and slight citrus.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is a big wine.  The grapefruit and slight lemons come thru with underlying minerality and oak.  Some acidity bit not a lot.  It works better with food, soft cheeses were perfect.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

This is a blend of 70% Syrah, 15% Grenache, and 15% Sangiovese from Santa Barbara County.  It also a very good value.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, black cherries, spice and slight forest floor.  Full bodied.  Medium silky tannins.  On the palate, this is open and drinking well already.  Nice black raspberry fruit with some cherries and black cherries.  A bit of black tea underneath.