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 blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot from Napa.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, chocolate, tobacco, spice and earth.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Flavors of black cherries, cherries, forest floor and char.  Long finish.  This is deep and complex.  The layers unwind in the glass.  Still drinking youthfully, this should drink well for another fifteen to twenty years.  Great on its own, this is very food friendly.  It would work very well with Beef Stroganoff. 

This is "advertised" as the first Kabinett styled Riesling made in California.  Technically, that designation has more to do with the alcohol in the grape must and not the finished wine, but what I think they are saying is that they stopped the fermentation at a place that resulted in the finished wine being sweet but just perceptibly sweet.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is more about fruit with lemon and orange citrus, some apples, and a hint of pineapple.  Light bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet with orange peel and granny smith apples.  G

Another great Chardonnay from Rivers Marie.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with lemon, vanilla, oak spice, and slight minerality.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Great balance and acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Vanilla, lemon cream, slight grapefruit, spice and slight char.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is very young and will improve its score by a couple points with ageing but it is still very enjoyable right now.  Great on its own, it would work well with Salmon grilled on a Cedar Plank.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.

This is made by Eric Jensen of Booker Vineyards to honor his parents.  It is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah, 10% Petite Sirah, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot, and 10% Malbec.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, black cherries, cherries, blueberries, baking spice, slight tobacco and char.  A lot going on.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, there is also some varietal complexity.  Black cherries, cherries, cassis, spice and char.  Good finish.  This drinks easily and should continue for another fi

Medium golden in color, clear and bright.  Nice nose with lemon cream, slight pineapple, vanilla and some minerality.  Full bodied.  Bigger texture.  Good balance.  On the palate, this has a bit of oak showing but is quite tasty.  Flavors of lemons, pineapple, vanilla, spice and char.  Long finish.  Another year or two should help this come together.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  Very nice on its own, this would work well with many foods.  A nice choice for Lobster but also a stir fried Tofu and vegetables dish.  

I don't see many Pinot Gris from California and certainly not many as as good as this one.  It is made with Estate grown fruit from Carneros.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is strong with peaches, white flowers, slight fig and a bit of tropical fruit.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, this is tasty with apples, peaches, slight lime and just a bit of almond.  Nice finish.  This is a refreshing wine that drinks easily but also has some depth.  Drink over the next five years.  It will also work with lighter foods.  A nice choice for Chic

This is from Etude's estate grown Grace Benoist Ranch Vineyard.  It is a larger in style Pinot Noir but not over the top by any means.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.   The nose has cherries, slight strawberries, slight forest floor, and spice.  Great, semi-plush texture.  Nicely balanced.  Light tannins.  On the palate, flavors of cherries, strawberries with some baking spices.  Nice finish.  This is drinking quite well now and should continue for another ten years.  It is lovely on its own and will work well with many foods.  Grilled Salmon with a cream sauce would be cla

Anthill is a quality producer that makes wine at the more "elegant" side of the spectrum of California Pinots.  Ruby in color with some blue hues, a bit cloudy but bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, raspberries, slight hay, and spice.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is showing a nice complexity.  Flavors of cherries, black cherries and raspberries with a moist forest floor quality and some minerality.  Good finish.  This seems to be close to peak but may evolve as it matures further.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  Nice on its own but better with food,

One of the best "Classic" producers of California Pinot Noir.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, cherry blossoms, spice, slight fennel and char.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  Great acidity.  At age ten, this is getting close to mature but still very fresh, vibrant fruit.  Flavors of cherries, black cherries, spice and slight rose notes.  Long finish.  This should have another five to eight more years before it slowly fades.  Great with some cheeses, this will work on its own, but better with food.  A nice choice would a creamy Mushroom Chicken

My first time trying this Chardonnay made by  Michael Browne (formerly of  Kosta Browne).  I liked the wine but this is not the style of Chardonnay I look for.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is big  with marzipan, red apples, char, oak, vanilla and alcohol.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is a bit nutty with apples, char, oak and alcohol.  Long finish.  The oak, char and alcohol were somewhat difficult for my palate and these did calm down a bit on day 2.  Good acidity.  These may yet develop and turn out more to my liking with a few years rest.  Right now, these will be a