Spire collection/ Nils Johnson Major Brands Craig Rohner

Spire is the upper end of the Kendall Jackson portfolio

Cardinale Napa 2007... beautiful dark color, rich lush fruits.. some good tannins but not over the top. pricey though

Chateau Vignot St Emilion 2006... mostly merlot.. a french stink to the nose, some cedar and fading fruit on the palate..tannins yes but disjointed... maybe already failing

LaJota Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 2005.. dark color and an interesting and not pleasant aroma of insecticide and tire rubber that carries over into the palate..

Anakota Cabernet Sauvigon  Helena Mountain Knights Valley 2007  dark color, tannins are friendly but noticeable... some earthiness to them.. nice bottling

Lokoya cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain Napa 2007 ,, nice extraction of color... bright red fruits surprising on the palate.. along with silky tannins... a great bottle of wine for $225?

bernie from pinnacle and wines

Botani Dry Moscatel Malaga Spain 2009  a dry but sweet wine. pineapple and mentholadium.. good weight.. interesting wine.

Borsao Monte Oton Campo de Borja 2010 . dark color, stemmy on the nose and not as bad on the palate.. juicy a little young maybe

Fina Resalso Tempranillo 2009 Ribera del Duero Spain.. dark in color.. a little meaty and weight... love ribera wines usually

White Rose 2008 Estate Pinot Noir Dundee Hills pretty nose.. earthy and dried fruits...a little pricey

Kiona Cab.Merlot and Sangiovese... Washington state 2005... a little old... dull...uninteresting really

Novy 2009 Susan's Hill Syrah.. Santa Lucia Highlands  huge color and flavors... a little hot on the palate  but really gorgeous wine

Novy Carlisle Zinfandel Russian River Valley 2009.. briar and cinnamon on the nose, sweet red berry on the palate and a long finish.

matchbook wines with Lane Giguiere..formally of Toasted Head

Talented people who started up and sold Toasted Head ..developing new wines

Matchbook Chardonnay Dunnigan Hills 2009... soft expression of fruit.. all barrel fermented and such but with older oak so less influence.. a departure from the toasted head

Matchbook Tempranillo Dunnigan Hills 2008.. Yolo Valley just east and north of Napa is warmer, and drier making it a good spot for Spanish varietals.. light purple in color.. juicy and red berry. a pretty wine but not really spanish...

Matchbook Syrah Dunnigan Hills food friendly.. good juice.. nice wine for the money

Matchbook Tinto Rey California 2007.. same as the Tempranillo... but blended with cab and merlot.. user friendly

Sawbuck Malbec Yolo County ... the lone unenjoyable wine of the bunch.. green nose and palate.. juicy fruit though with soft tannins.. but not my cup of tea.

carolina wine brands usa.glazer Walter Seligman

Santa Carolina Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008  dirty, dusty and cedar.. hot on the palate... typical cab

Finca el Origen Cabernet 2009.. for the money would say this is the wine of the week... lots of vanilla and cherry.. pretty tannins and longish finish

Finca el Origen Malbec 2009 a little  smoky on the palate.. good fruit juice.. lots of fruit or upfront tannins... a pleasant wine

2010 debeouf beaujolais with adam hickman

there were 12 to try but I did 4

2010 Morgon .. pretty purple in the glass.. a little grapey but not green.. pretty. I can see why this region has been popular.

2010 Julienas.. more traditional flavors and aromas of beaujolais.. a little sweeter a little greener.

Domiane del la Vigne Moulin-A-Vent 2010.. ripe fruit but still gamay.. pretty and light finish

Morgon Descombes 2010.. wow.. lots of tannins and more complex flavors..a very surprising wine.. would be hard pressed to call it gamay in blind tasting

Italy part 2 with Kobrand Gino Catalano. major brands

Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto 2009  wow.. what a beautiful nose... steak sauce and earth.. full mouthfeel with the finish being a little quicker than I thought. but still a very enjoyable wine

Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno 2009 cab and merlot blend with a little petite verdot.. again with the meaty nose... dark color.. juicy also with a nice mouthfeel that spells elegance

Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo 2009 sangiovese, cab and merlot. more fruit forward.. softer tannins

Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino 2006  from the much heralded vintage. spicy nose of oak .. very approachable now surprisingly

Tenute Silvio Nardi Rosso diMontalcino  2009  rose and earth.. some hints of spice.. definitely sangiovese

Tenute del cabreo II Borgo.. dark concentrated color and flavors... nice viscosity

Tenute Camp al Mare Bolgheri 2008  dark brooding color... unfortunately a little corked but looking forward to trying this in a better bottle

Tenute di Nozzole Chianti Classico Reserva 2007  brickish in color... slight anise spice on the palate.. bright fruit.. drying tongue tannins

Michele Chiarlo Tortoniano Barolo 2007  brownish in the glass... tight nose... lots of earthiness ..and the fruit really is not coming out... maybe too young

Agricola Punica Barrua 2007 Sardinia  Carignano, cab and merlot.. an interesting nose that reminds of Amarone or light port.. very smooth.. a nice meatiness on the end... and very pricey

Italian day part 1 banville and jones with mo bev casey squire/stephen gregory

Dipinti Sauvignon IGT Dolomiti Italy 2010... surprisingly new zealand in style.. stinky feet/bo after aromas...nice enough weight

Terlano Classico Alto Adige 2010... Terlano is a place and a DOC this wine is made with Pinot Bianco which I enjoy and this one did not fail to be good.. nice light fruitiness and viscosity.

Terlano Pinot Grigio Alto Adige Trentino 2010. soft easy and pinot grigio...

Dipinti La Vis Pinot NOir DOC Trentino 2009  a very enjoyable glass for the money... smokey nose... light body.. a touch earthy

Donna Laura Ali Sangiovese 2009  pretty cinnamon fruit.. not a full bodied wine.. soft

Tolaini Al Passo IGT Tuscany 2007... sangiovese and merlot ... pretty nose of earth and flowers..

Tolaini Valdisanti IGT Tuscany 2007.. tight nose.. good juice.. more fruit forward and a little terroir driven flavors on the back of the palate.

constellation wines..reserve blitz todd izzo and major brands

Simi Reserve Chardonnay Russian River 2009  toasty nose, creamy.. not as toasty oaky as the nose would lead you to believe.  ml is obvious but not over the top

Wild Horse Cheval Sauvage Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley 2006  a bit herbal on the nose almost a celery salt on the finish.. not sure if I like that.. maybe a little tired.. not me.. the wine

Simi Cabernet Landslide Vineyard Alexander Valley 2007..a good value for the cab drinker. soft some mocha and espresso bean on the finish.. soft and silky...

mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 showing good fruit but maybe not quite as complex as the 2007 was.. great for the money  though

Mt Veeder Reserve Red 2005..definitely past its prime.. a touch of green on the nose. boring on the palate..

Estancia Reserve Meritage Paso Robles 2007 an example of trying more than one bottle... the last time i had this it was just disjointed and not drinking well. showing today bright fruit. not a lot of tannin and complexity but enjoyable for the money

Franciscan Magnificat 2007 Napa juicy and showing very well

Clos du Bois Marlstone Alexander Valley 2006  pretty on the nose and palate.. this wine has always been my go to wine for a sure thing with meritage..

Inniskillin VIdal Niagara Peninsula  ..ice wine.. honey and apricot and soft sweet follow through with the pretty viscosity expected

Natalie with Massandra spoonbill

Spoonbill is a NewZealand winery , made by a st louis resident from NZ

Sauvignon Blanc 2010.. typical grassy grapefruity nose.. with some nice viscosity...not as water as can sometimes be expected. pleasant if quickish finish

Pinot Noir 2010 a little on the green side.. some tar and earth on the finish with some dried fruits..not the worst I have had from NZ...

wine monday part 3 jeff carter with Bronco and garco with Robert Noecker

2009 Forest Glen Pinot Grigio Tehatchapi Clone... a clone of Pinot grigio that is white. not pink.. a little bit grapy, some viscosity.. not wimpy thats for sure

2008 Domaine Napa Chardonnay golden yellow.. full blown oak and malo... tropical fruit

2009 Ogier Heritages Cotes du Rhone ..dark extraction in color.. showing more fruit than the other CDR's i have had today.. a touch of iodine.. nice fruity finish.. missing some of the meatiness.

2009 Harazthy Zinfandel Sonoma a touch rusty color.. juicy.  could use some more depth for the price and not overly briary.. this family has a long history in sonoma both wine and politics

wine monday part two..what does bernie have in t he bag

Domaine Solitude cotes du rhone blanc 2009... this wine did nothing to discourage me from drinking YOUNG white cote du rhone.. lots of stone and mineral.. waiting for the fruit.. not there.. still a little viscous.. but not my type right now.

Mas de Boislauzon Cotes du rhone 2009.. pretty dark color but stemmy and green on the palate.. this is an awkward teenager that needs to mature

Juan Benegas Malbec Argentina 2009  dark color juicy but not fruity. missing that

Don Tiburcio Benegas Bordeaux blend Argentina 2007  a syrah drinkers cab blend.. a touch of meatiness on the finish.. pretty wine

Kamen 2007 Sonoma Mountain huge color.. loads of dark fruit... firm tannin... alittle hot on the finish.

Richter Piesporter Michelberg Riesling Germany 2009... not as sweet as expected... but not as exciting either.. quick finish.

wine monday pt 1 willi with appellations

Reverdy Sancere les COutes 2010.. very light in color..vibrant acidity.. more like pink grapefruit than grassy.. pretty finish

Domaine les Grands Bois Cuvee Maximillen Cairanne Cotes du rhone Villages 2010... took me longer to type this than try it.. more of an iodine zincy nose.. tight..lots of tannin

Liberalia toro tres tempranillo 2004.. dark in color for the age yet the tannins are still way out there.. needs a lot of time.. if ever.

bernie from pinnacle and wines

Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2009  anyone wanting sweet tropical fruit from this would not be disappointed. maybe a little more acidity would have been nice. vanilla and sweet

Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Oregon 2009 earthy on the nose and berry on the palate.. not overly complex but enjoyable

Chave Mon  Coueur Cotes du Rhone 2009 mostly shiraz.. dark color... beautiful nose. wishing for a little more fruit but having been opened for a day it was still showing well..

Forman Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2008. dark fruit and fun evolving flavors on the palate... long finish of vanilla, dark cherry... great value again compared to an opus even a good carter.

opus one lunch

The annual Opus one luncheon with Gina Voci, this year held at The Classic Cup...and the gracious host Steven Malloy. The wines tasted were Opus 1998, Opus 2006 , 2007 and 2008.  Of all these I would have to say the most impressive was the 2007. All of them had a signature Opus style of smoky smooth tannins. Unfortunately for me the 98 was smelling a little herbacious at first which did blow off to show more of the pencil box character with crayon wax being the dominate aroma.

All showed the meticulous nature of what makes Opus One the wine it is. A dedicated work force who gets to know the vines intimately, to know when to picks and when to leave alone. A winemaker who has only one job to do... make Opus.

vintegrity with jp gilmore over 2 days

Domaine de l'Hermitane Rose Bandol 2010... very much a french rose, earthy and strawberry... surprisingly long finish.

Breggo Pinot Noir 2009 Anderson Valley pretty ruby color, dried fruit on the nose.. intense flavors of the palate.. a strong middle palate that keeps going through to the finish... good example of 2009 I guess.

Balletto Estate Pinot Noir Russian River valley 2009  spice and mushroom... juicy but a young green tinge on the end...good acidity... needs time

Carter Hossfield Coliseum 2008 Napa a merlot and cab blend.. dark garnet in color... pretty sweet nose was I smelling cornbread? juicy on the palate.. lots of flavors that lead through a silky smooth tannin finish

Carter Revilo Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Napa  completely different nose than the last.. steak sauce and dark fruit... lots of fruit on the palate.. dark flavors... worthy of the price... even more so considering the wine received the same points from specator as Screaming Eagle and over half the cost

terra firma with mirian and pierre

Bordeauxs mostly

They presented a few 2004's that were brownish in the glass.. and lots of oxidation on the nose... didnt even try them


2008 Chateau L Criox Davids Cuvee Prestige Cotes du Bourg... merlot 80% and 20% cab sav
spice box on the nose... good earthy flavor with a soft silky finish.. very nice.

domaine le champ des murailles corbieres 2008... grenach and carignan.. fruit is showing okay in the glass but not much there there otherwise to promote it.

Magrez Fombrauge St Emilion Grand Cru 2004 .. my cost would have been $155 a bottle... best of the 2004.. still missing some a good fruit core..and very expensive for the final impact..

welcome back bernie

My pinnacle rep is now Bernie Lee...

Peay Sonoma Coast 2009  juicy... light bodied but good acidity... dried fruits style

Domaine de la Solitude Cotes du rhone 2010.. dark color... right now all flavor is up front.. missing some depth in back... maybe with a little bottle aging

Biale Black Chicken Zin Oak Knoll Napa 2009... sweet nose and sweet fruit.. juicy bright fruit...not much briary to it... maybe a little less complicated than I thought it would be.. cute story about its chicken roots...

mandrarossa with chris berry palm bay...glazers and english gentleman

MandraRossa is a sicilian winery.

Fiano 2010  an interesting grape usually found in southern italy... golden yellow.. viscous in the glass. hints of tropical fruit.. creamy up front.. and a touch dull on the finish but not overly so.

Pinot Grigio 2010...light color.. richer in quality.. ripe fruit.. a poor mans chardonnay... more white nose from italy.


Nero d'Avola 2010.... rich garnett color... a touch green on nose...but lots of raspberry... juicy new world style of wine...ripe.

Syrah 07... a touch of depth.. juicy.. a little heat on the tongue.. not much structure on the back.. may be losing steam... look forward to try the 08