Carneros

The Prisoner Wine Company makes, ironically, a "Take No Prisoners" style of wine.  They are lush, big and delicious and make no apologies for their style.  And, why note,  millions of people love them.  This Chardonnay with a touch of Roussanne, and Gewürztraminer) is no exception.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is big with oak coming off as vanilla and crème brûlée, along with some lemon cream.  With air, some baked apple notes emerge.  Full bodied with light oak tannins.  On the palate, this has a lot of oak but enough acidity and fruit to give some balance.  Lots of vanill

One typically doesn't think of Pinot Noir and Napa, but the district of Carneros spans into both Napa and Sonoma and is the home of many excellent Pinot Noirs.  This is a very pretty, elegantly styled Pinot.  Ruby in color, clear and bright and a touch lighter.  The nose is nice with bright cherries, macerated cherries, sandalwood and a touch of chervil.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has cherries and cherry cough drop notes with a touch of anise.  Light tannins.  Very smooth and easy to sip.  Nice finish.  This drinks great on its own and would work well with salmon or roasted fowl. 

This is a lower alcohol wine (12.5% abv).  It was tasted with other Cabs which is probably a disservice to it.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries along with a brine note.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black cherries come thru.  Medium tannins.  Slight mint on the finish.  It will benefit from some air at this point but should make nice drinking for the next decade.  A nice match with chili or stews.  

Another great Syrah from Campesino.  This is in the vein of the Northern Rhone but with lots of good California sunshine.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is very nice with black raspberries, black olives, slight dried lavender and a hint of moist turned earth.  On the palate, this is smooth and easy to drink.  But, there is also nice depth with good acidity.  It opens beautifully in the glass showing black raspberry fruit and underlying earthiness.  Nice finish.  This may still improve but it will make nice drinking for another ten to twelve years.  A great match for f

A nice in between style of Cab Franc.  Not super ripe but nothing green either.  Purple in color, maroon at the rim.  The nose is nice.  Dusty with black cherries and slight cigar tobacco.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Nice black cherry fruit.  A bit of tobacco underneath.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for the next five to seven years.  It drinks easy on its own but will also work with grilled foods and roasts.  

Light golden/green in color.  The nose is nice with lemons, pears, floral tones and a bit steely.  just a slight hint of burnt coconut.  On the palate, this is reasonably crisp.  Pear with slight spice/oak.  Nice mouthfeel.  Good finish.  This drank well on its own and worked with with a butternut squash soup.  It probably should be consumed in the next three to five years.  

This is from the southern portion of the Hudson Vineyard in Carneros.  98% Syrah and 2% Viognier.  At age 10, this is just starting to open up and will still improve.  Inky purple in color with a thin ruby rim.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, smoke, slight bacon fat and roasted meats.  On the palate, this is medium to full bodied.  Cooler climate in profile.  Black cherries and black raspberries with underlying char and a bit of pepperyness.  Good energy once it opens.  Drinks well now but should be about five years until peak and then be good for ten to fifteen more.  It wil

This is a delicious Syrah from the North side of the Hudson vineyard.  Bedrock made two different Hudson vineyard Syrahs.  This is drinking quite well now.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, slight roasted herbs and hints of bacon fat.  On the palate, this has juicy boysenberries with some black olives and slight grilled meats.  Very interesting and very delicious.  Good balance.  Long finish.  It took about an hour in the glass to really open up.  Maybe another year or two until peak.  A nice match to roasts and also to Indian or Thai foods.  

This is very nice take on a California Chard.  It is more mineral driven than I expected and doesn't show much sign of malo (butter).  There is a fair amount of oak showing, but that will likely subside as it matures.  Golden in color.  The nose has a nice peach quality along with a bit of vanilla and slight toasty oak.  On the palate, this is full bodied but enough acidity to give it a bit of crispness.  Nice mouthfeel.  The peach flavors come thru.  Good finish.  This is drinking well now, but should improve for a few years and be good for seven to ten years at least.  It drinks well on i

This is drinking quite well right now.  Reminiscent of a Crozes Hermitage.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats and some minerality.  On the palate, this has some complexity.  Good acidity.  Lots of black raspberry fruit.  Nice finish.  This is food friendly and would be great with roasts or stews.  It won't get better but no hurry as it has five to ten years left at peak.