California

• Amador County
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• Sonoma County
  • Alexander Valley
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  • Sonoma Coast
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  • Sonoma Valley
  • Knights Valley

This come sin attractive packaging.  It carries a California designation for this release.  There does not appear to be a vintage designation either.  It is the current release.  It is quite good and an excellent value for $20.  Made from 100% Chardonnay (which is what Blanc de Blanc designates).  Light golden in color with some green hues.  A nice head with lots of smaller bubbles.  The nose is elegant with lanolin, limes and a mineral base.  On the palate, this starts with a nice tartness; mostly lemons.  The mid-palate goes more of a lemon hard candy route which intensifies on the back e

Heitz Cellars is one of the more iconic wineries in Napa.  While they made their name from the single bottling of Martha's Vineyard, the regular Cabernet is very nice as well.  It also ages quite well.  At age 13, this one is drinking quite well.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim; this is bright and mostly opaque.  The nose has cassis, cedar, slight sandalwood, and a bit of cherries.  On the palate, there are more black cherries but the cassis is still there too.  This is clean.  Some level of depth.  Tannins seem fully resolved but not past prime.  Good finish.  This probably should be con

Truly one of the great Syrah vineyards in the world, James Berry Vineyard is the home of Saxum, but Justin does sell off some fruit and Mike Office gets some for his Carlisle winery.  Purple in color, dense and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, white pepper, slight roasted herbs and hints of roasted meat.  On the palate, this has a great texture.  Still young with firm tannins, it opens in the glass showing black raspberries over char with a slight peppery note.  Good balance.  Bright acidity.  Long finish.  This should still develop further but no harm opening now although a few hou

One of my favorite Chenin Blanc's from California.  Light golden in the glass.  The nose is mostly about minerality but there is some honey, and slight orange peel to it as well.  On the palate, this is dry but with a viscous texture.  A nice backbone of acidity.  Minerals with some underlying dried oranges.  Long finish.  One get's the feeling this could last for a long time, but to be safe, it probably should be consumed in the next five to seven years.  It will go well with Asian foods.  

This is a blend from Paso Robles.  It is 75% Grenache, 21% Mourvedre and 4% Syrah.  At age ten, it is still youthful but drinking great.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, graphite, black pepper and spice.  On the palate, this is big and full bodied.  Slight tannins.  Lots of black raspberry and black cherry fruit.  Great mouth feel.  Long finish.  This drinks great on its own and will work with roasts or grilled foods.  It will drink well for the next ten to twelve years.  

This is a nice Sauvignon Blanc.  Light golden in color.  The nose has nice minerality with a touch of grapefruits.  On the palate, the taste is consistent.  The best thing about this is the somewhat oily texture.  It is refreshing.  Worked well with some Shihito peppers.  It should probably be consumed in the next few years.  

Evangelho vineyard is a blend featuring mostly Zinfandel.  This vineyard always seems to have a more "claret" or elegant style to it.  That can be a disadvantage at a tasting or with a group of bigger wines.  When consumed on its own, however, it can be charming.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, raspberries, slight smoke and an interesting bit of mint.  On the palate, the cherries and smoke tend to dominate at the moment.  Some depth.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This drinks well on its own but really begs for pasta, pizza or burgers.  Drink it over the next five years.  

This is a rose wine made in California from Gamay grapes.  So, to start, a bit untypical.  It is made by veteran winery owner Steve Edmunds.  The wine is doing fine at age two from vintage and this year, graced our family's Thanksgiving table.  It worked out quite well.  Salmon pink in color, slightly electric.  The nose has watermelons, strawberries and slight cranberries.  On the palate, this has a lot of energy to it.  Clean with good fruit; strawberries and slight cherries.  An underlying salinity which is nice.  Long finish.  This worked well with a wide variety of foods.  It probably

Tynan makes a top cab for which he is probably better known for.  This was my first time trying this wine and it is impressive.  Inky purple in color.  Opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, white pepper, slight bacon fat and roasted herbs.  With air, a slight lavender/violet comes out.  Wonderful lush but energetic texture.  Delicious.  Firm tannins.  This is still young but drinking wonderfully on its own.  Black raspberries layered with pepper and charred earth.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  This will continue to improve for the next five to seven years and be at peak for a

Rafanelli followers are some of the most devoted in the Zin world, and rightly so.  They make some of the best Zins.  In style, the wines are middle of the road.  They have a lot of fruit, but are not bombastic.  They have an elegance but are not in a claret style.  They also age nicely.  This one is purple in color.  The nose has raspberries, black raspberries, black cherries, slight bramble and spice.  On the palate, this has a lot of energy.  Good acidity.  Plenty of black cherry fruit with a bit of raspberries over a char/smoke and spice.  Medium bodied with a lovely texture.  Good fini