Bernie Lee with Glazer

Joseph Drouhin Macon Village 2011.. all chardonnay.. poured out a little thick.. lots of clunky texture on the mid palate and not a lot of fruit

Jordan Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2011  the polar opposite.. all finesse and smooth fruit.. soft oaky nose, elegant

Fessy Brouilly 2009  a property bought by Latour.. Gamay and good.. fruity and smoky.. a touch of chocolate and mocha on the back.. almost luxurious
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Valley of the Moon Cabernet 2010.. bought by the ZD family son... new label.. dark inky color in the glass. deep fruit flavors.. good fruit and tannins... sonoma with some alexander fruit mixed in

Copain wines with Andy Bartee. Major Brands

Tous Ensemble Chardonnay Anderson Valley 2011  tight nose, acidity and wet mineral on the palate.. upfront fruit. somewhat austere

Tous Ensembe Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 2011  sawdust nose, dried fruit on the front, softer style of pinot noir... relatively easy drinking

Les Voisins Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2010.. voisins is neighbors in french.. a blend of wines from the regions.. a little like village is listed in france.. earthy.. long finish. gorgeous fruit.. a little mocha on the finish

Tous Ensemble Syrah Mendocino 2011 dark fruit.. nice finish but really only one note.. its a nice note but...

Les Voisins Syrah Yorkville Highlands.. a subtle syrah.. pleasant ... good food wine probably.. a little hot on the finish

Syrah Haws Butte Yorkville Highlands 2009  strong iodine nose, some white pepper.. good fruit.. a little pricey.

garco with robert noecker

Yalumba Cigar Coonawarra Cabernet 2010.. bright ruby color.. long silky finish.. a little tobacco from the cigar label>?? actually named for the shape of the land... good value

Masterson 12 yr Wheat Bourbon.. honey on the nose and palate.. dense.. with a hint of vanilla.. definite heat

Masterson 10 yr Barley Bourbon aged in oak barrels.. more grassy , herbal, even reminsescent of fir trees.. lighter in style but lots of bracing acidity

honig winery/ michael honig. bommarito

Its always nice to see a winery owner in the store.

Honig Napa Valley Sauv blanc 2012  a riper more tropical style.. just a touch grassy but calmer than new zealand style.

Honig Rutherford Sauv Blanc 2012.. new label. a little more creamy style.. lots of mid palate new label

Honig Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011  mostly cab with a little petit verdot.. cedar on the nose, soft and supple tannins. a little coffee and tobacco on the finish,

Honig Bartolucci Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 from a vineyard located on the base of spring mountain,.. dark roasted coffee.. deep color and tannins.. long finish.. a strong example of california cab

earlier in the week with cynthia

Rex Hill Pinot Noir Willamette 2011... light color, a little dusty on the palate.. a nice inexpensive oregon pinot

Neal Zinfandel Rutherford Dust VIneyards napa 2011 you dont see a lot of Napa Zins and maybe the price per bottle versus the price per acre may explain.. dark raspberry flavors long finish with bright fruit tannin

Elyse C'est si bon Red Wine.. a blend of rhone style grapes.. usually a fan but from the rhone.. lots of upfront fruit but quick unexciting finish

Paoletti Non Plus Ultra Red Wine 2009 cedar nose, intense upfront fruit..a creamy finish but a great 20 for $40

Vintage 59 wines/ vintegrity

Alain Normand Macon La Roche Vinuse 2012  macon still represents a good value for burgundy, if even still a little pricey. this is tank fermented with good chard fruit.. slight citrus on the finish.. missing some tension

Closerie des lys chardonnay 2011.. on the shelf.. today was smelling a little vegetal.. stainless also with some creaminess from lees?

Bachelet-Monnot Puligny Montrachet 2011  beautiful nose that reminds of soft oak and tropical fruit.. sweet fruit on the palate.. creamy

Lavernette Beaujolais-Leynes (Linn) 2011  from the area around the Village of Leynes, slight french stink that comes from the Gamay.. good fruit tannin on the palate..

Chateau Haut Monplasir Traditiona 2010 dark roasted nose, pretty purple in the glass.. may be just a little corked not showing fruit as well as it should

Muzard Santenay Champs Claude V.V. 2011... tight nose, good texture some fruit up front but not in back.. I was expecting a little more umphhh

Domaine Mathieu Chateauneuf du Pape 2010  a field blend of all the allowed grapes.. long finish.. dark berry up front and lots of coffee and roasted meat on the end... starts of slightly bitter and finishes with a nice meaty sweetness

Tavolo vigneto/ joe di

Benanti Biancodicaselle Etna Bianco2011.. indigenous sicilian grapes.. light straw color. carricante ..lots of lemon citrus.. a little melon and a bit of a blunt finish on the end. cost on the shelf would be $25... hard sell

Badia d marrona La suvera Toscana Bianco  Chard/Vermentino/ Viognier  2011 slight ose of viognier... a slight melon/fig character.. a slight sweetish/ bitter finish.. trying for a lush mouthfeel. interesting

Badia A marrona I soli del paretaio Chianti  2011 dirty nose, some nice mocha/dusty character.. good color not the brickish usual.

Badia a morrona Tanteo Toscano Rosso 2010  dark intense in the glass  again dirty nose, syrah. sangiovese merlot.. dusty.. dirty

Badia a marrona N'Antia Toscano Rosso 2009  cab/ cab franc. merlot slight dusty nose, a little sawdust.. dark color..a little rough on the edges.. fruit showing ok.. grit.. and tannin

podere dei brichhi astigiani barbera d'asti 2011  pretty dark color... earth and sawdust loads of fruit on the palate and pleasant finish. nice length.. tasty..

podere dei bricchi astigiani  barbera d'asti superiore 2007  dark dense in the glass liked the less expensive better..

Pianirossi Sidus Montecucco 2010 sangiovese and montepulciano earthiness from sangiovese.. still juicy but hard to get back.. a little coffee on the back

Pianirossi Solus Maremma Toscana 2007  still stinking with italian nose, needing some food..

gundlach bundschu with Susan Sueiro. garco

Gewurztraminer 2012... a little lighter. more acidic in texture.. not as spicy but still obviously a gewurz... good turkey wine

Chardonnay 2011  no ml but a lot of creaminess.. more old vine

Pinot Noir 2010  Sonoma Coast  earthy.. and dark fruits.. not as much of the cranberry style.. a little rough on the finish

Merlot 2010  a very good example of how Merlot from cooler climates can have texture and dark fruit flavors..

Mountain Cuvee 2010  a blend.. darker roast notes,good juice and a long finish.. very good value

Cabernet Sauvignon 2010  dark aromas and color.. subtle nose of oak.. cassis and other nice dark berry flavors.. great texture.. long finish

All their wines are estate made and bottled

Turkey/Lebanon Wines Terra Firma

Angora Sultana 2011  sultana is a new grape type for me.. reminded me of a little pinot grigio with a little more depth..

IXSIR Altitudes White 2009... some melon on the front.. a touch rough..interesting blend of muscat/viognier/sauvignon.. may be like other wines from this region that need time to age and get softer..

Angora Red 2012 a young version of rhone reds.. young vines on nose and palate.. a little violet.

La Prieure 2009 Ksara 2009 Violet and spice nose, a bit of the bacon fat but with a slight medicinal taste..

Reserve de Couvent 2010.. syrah.cab franc.cab sauv.. white pepper on the nose, really nice fruit on the finish.. a very good value

Cuvee de Printemps Ksara 2011 gamay and tempranillo.. gamay on the nose, but not as bubble gummy on the finish..

IXSR Altitude Red 2009  dark color, syrah/cab/ caladoc.. interesting nose of gasoline then flavors a bit of the soft vanilla finish

Egeo Syrah 2011  pepper again.. lush.. a bit of a one note

Ksara Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Turkey  typical nose for cabernet.. good texture.. fruit on the palate with a rough ending edge.

Prestige Kalecik Karasi 2009 from the middle of the country.. really interesting varietal I had not had before.. meaty and dark meat berrys

Six Sigma / JK wines/ Christian Ahlman

I wondererd why I didnt know the origin of Six Sigma until I found out it was a math equation... there was the answer..

Six Sigma Sauv Blanc Lake County 2012... across from Guenoc.. herbacious and a few rough edges

Diamond Mine Cuvee 2011 a blend of cab/ tempranillo and syrah... pretty blend and nice touch of oak..

Pinot Noir 2010  soft and easy tannins.. a little dull for the money

Tempranillo.. the star of the day.. a little stink like old world, and drinks almost old world.. much more true to the form of spanish tempranillo... mouth filling though... nice fruit

Tavolo Vigneto/ Joe DiGiovanni/ JohnGazzoli III

A new supplier of Italian wines in the market

Bonitto delle Tezze Prosecco lots of bubbles and really sharp acidity.. pretty soft on the finish with just a little of the burnt asprin taste on the end

Bonitto della Tezze Pinot Grigio 2012  there are so many pinot grigio out there... this one had a little banana on the nose, a big weighty on the palate that finished just  a little flabby.. they do use some oak

Bonitto Montesanto Pinot Grigio 2011... a little more depth and character.. complexity. a slight copper color that is traditinal for the varietal.. nice

Raboso 2012 a red grape varietal planted by the romans and only found in this part of the world. slight vegetal, earthy nose an interesting wine.. like a montepulciano light... like montepuls better

Potesta ( Official) 2008 Raboso.. interesting bottle shape and flavors.. very berry on the palate.. lots of grip and tannin..tasted a new grape today..

Woodward Canyon/Thomas Woodley/ Vintegrity

Nelms Road Merlot 2009.. interesting aromas of crayon box and very tight and tannic on the palate for the late vintage..

Nelms Road Cabernet 2012 Washington State. dark roasted nose, tannin and grip on the palate.. good fruit. much more approachable than the Merlot

Woodward Canyon Columbia Valley  Chardonnay 2011.. tight and lean.. some green apple but still needing to open up

Woodward Canyon Merlot 2010  again with the crayon box nose, and tight on flavors

Wooodward Canyon Cabernet 2010   the cool climate may have made these wines need time to open up. I didnt find them very forgiving.. air and time and food will help

Old Vine Cabernet 2009.. a love this aroma... reminds me of an old time department store.. deep color and flavors.. intense fruit and long finish

royalty importers with Warren Rapp/ Appellations

Anna Spinato Prosecco NV one of the best I have tasted in a long while.. fresh and lively on the palate very pretty finish, without the blunt harshness that some of them have

Elvin Pinot Grigio 2012 again a lively citrus on the palate..not the boring placcid Pinot Grigio that seems so prevalent. a little pricy though

Riofava Roero Arneis .. a little minerality on the nose, lots of mouthfeel and viscousity... nose doesnt tell what the body is.. nice.. a pretty italian varietal.

Riofava Barbera D'Alba .. maybe the weakest in this bunch. Italian stink and nice enough acidity but the body is more about linear flavors and a little iodine

DeLuca Montepulciano d'Abruzzo .. dark color and flavors.. a slight vegetal edge on the front that disappears.. with a surprisingly rich finish... hidden gem area of Italy

DeLuca Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DiRe .. Of the King.,, a little more oak treatment and interestingly to me not as good as the first less expensive.. soft nose and very abrupt rough tannins

Riofava Barolo DOCG  slight brickish color, acidity is good with light cola and tea notes on the end.. a little more feminine style low end pricing for barolo

Fraccaroli Denique Malvasia Spumante Demi Sec NV  you dont see much sparkling Malvasia and this may explain why.. its a weird juxtaposition of sweet and dry..wasnt really a fan

Fraccaroli Malvasia Istriana  Valerie... a traditional style of Malvasia.. burnt caramel in color and on the palate.. honey and thick but not overly cloying... interesting.

wine with robert/garco

Michel-Schlumberger pinot blanc dry creek 2012... boy you can sure tell the difference between old and new world here.. using the same clones as Schlumberger in Alsace this wine is big and tropical.. long finish.. chardonnay roundness... and banana staying with me till the end

Aruma Malbec Argentina 2011.. dark color, dense in color and taste.. coffee bean and dark fruit on the end... a nice note from the otherwise similiar malbec in this price

Le Bocce Chianti Classico 2009.. light sangiovese color in the glass.  a little less earthy on the nose, but still not to be thought of as different. soft and some pretty fruit on the finish.. not as shoeleather as some can be

Giacosa Dolcetto d'Alba 2011.. bright red in the glass.. with a slight medicinal nose, mouthfilling but yet not fruity.. may be in a dumb phase... just not showing its true potential

Seven Sinners Petite Sirah The Ransom 2010  teeth staining purple in the glass.. dark plummy fruit on the palate.. on the edge of being flabby but just enough acidity to keep that from happening

Stemmari Moscato Sicily 2012... typical moscato.. not overly sweet but lush..typical.

wine with cynthia/bommarito

Canella Bellini mix... fizzy and then an abrupt finish.. a little blunt.. missing fruitiness

Centorri Moscato Pavia viscous on the palate and soft finish.. nice typical moscato

Scaia Garganega/Chardonnay veneto 2012.. a big sauv blanc nose, grassy and herbacious and very herbacious on the palate.. not a fan

Fantini Montepulciano d'abruzzo 2010.. pretty purple in the glass.. a fruity italian stink.. spicy and plummy... a good value

Tom Craven/ Caymus Vineyards/ Major Brands

Silver Unoaked Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands 2011... tight and mineral.. a little ml to soften. Unique bottle to represent the concrete eggs they use

Mer Soliel Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2010.. the exact opposite make up.. full ml with barrels used for flavor and texture but not as over the top as expected. lots of tropical fruit and long finish

Belle Glos Pinot Noir Dairyman VIneyard Russian Riverr 2011... one of the fruitiest russian rivers I have had.. long body with a hint of meatiness on the end.. 

Henriot / Kimberly Keslin/ glazer d and e

Bouchard Bourgogne Blanc 2011.  a light tropical nose, with subtle notes on the palate... finish was a little lean but pleasant

Bouchard Bourgogne Rouge 2010.. light in color. silky smooth, almost too much so. maybe needs some time to open up..

William Fevre Chablis Champs Royale 2011  lean soft, a little oaky influence but mostly restrained chablis

Henriot Brut Souverain NV.. one of the most flavorful Champaigne in a long time... pretty yeasty nose, with coffee and mocha on the finish.. great mousse... a 50 50 blend of Pinot and chardonnay... long finish.. not wimpy at all

Il ghizzano Toscano IGT 2010.. no mistaking this wine for Italian.. sangiovese and some petite verdot and other bordeaux grapes.. leather and black cherry

Condesa Eylo Verdejo Spain 2011.. surprisingly tropical, floral a little bit of Sauv Blanc in the mix goes a long way.. citrus and lime.. lots of mid palate activity.. not sure yet if I care for it

Steve Grass/ Pali Wines/ Missouri Beverage

Pali makes mostly Pinot Noir from different growing regions on the west coast.

2011 Bluffs Pinot Noir Russian River Valley... soft and silky, almost too much so... fruit is great and this is my favorite of the ones tried today.. Lots of silky tannin and long finish..

2011 Huntington Pinot Noir Santa Barbara smoky, a bit of green tea.. elegant finish

2011 Alphabets Willamette valley Pinot Noir acidity and lots of it.. mid palate tannins are very aggresive. a little rough edges on the finish..

2011 Charms Chardonnay Sonoma Coast  very creamy from stirring of lees, no ml.. soft oak influence... pleasant

2010 Tower 15 The Swell Bordeaux Blend .. showing better than last year. this starts a little stinky... but the jammy palate soon takes over. strong flavors of vanilla and cherry carry through to the finish

anthony hendrie/negociants United states of america/ garco

Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2012  described as a poor mans cloudy bay.. a little more herbacious than i remember.. pretty cooking spice that i cant quite put my finger on

Oxford Landing Chardonnay Australia 2012.. pretty toasty nose, some tropical fruit.. a little bit rough on the finish though

Yalumba Y Series Chardonnay 2012 unoaked.. a dry style a touch of heat on the palate..

Yalumba Y Series Viognier 2012  not as floral but still a little floral on the nose, stone fruit palate with a pleasant finish.

Nautilus Pinot Noir 2008 New Zealand Marlborough  showing a lot of fruit for thee.. dried fruits.. long finish

Yalumba The Scribbler Australia 2009  a touch age on the color... ripe fruit nose... this is a cab shiraz blend.. lots of cherry fruit on the finish

Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz 2010 jammy with a touch of mint.. clean finish too given the weight of the wine

jennifer fernandez/wildman/d&e/

Lamberti Prosecco Extra Dry nv  nice enough with a burnt asprin kind of finish that I am not a fan

Pol Roger Brut NVtoasty and rich, a third each of Pinot Noir, Chard, Pinot Meunier.. yeasty.. lovely finish.. nice mousse

Michael Torino Torrontes Salta argentina 2012  not your average torrontes.. not as  perfume.. almost slatey..

Michael Torino Don David Malbec Reserve 2010  more of a cab style malbec.. lots of tannin and oak..

Jowler Creek with Jason Gerke/ VIntegrity

Jowler Creek located north of KC with 6 acres planted to mostly Norton and Vignoles.

Butterfly Blush NV semi sweet rose... clean and crisp with just a hint of the missouri foxy character

Critter Cuvee NC Sweet but not overly so... a otuch also of the missouri character.

Vignoles 2010  viscous on the palate.. soft nice finish..surprisingly dry

Red Cock-a-doodle-do NV for the sweet lover.. missouri nose but not as much so on the palate.. soft finish

Chambourcin 2010  a bit smoky nose, and palate.. quick finish.. light body

Norton Estate pretty floral nose, good acidity..  mid weight palate..

Nort. 2010 port.. raspberry on the nose, almost cough syrup in texture.. would do well with flourless chocolate..

Muskrato de Missouri NV fizzy.. lots of texture.. with a slight baked banana flavor at the end

golden barrel

Baron de Hoen Alsace Gewurztraminer 2011.. traditional nose if a little more restrained... lots of sweet edges with some heat.

Baron de Hoen Alsace Cremant NV  riesling, pinot blanc and pinot gris sparkling.. fruity nose with a little residual sugar on the palate but the finish was of that burnt asprin character

Cave de Tain Crozes Hermitage 2009  a touch of green veg on the nose, juicy on the palate.. with more green notes on the finish

Cave de Tain Marsanne 2011 yellowish golden, typical for the varietal.. hard to get any nose from it.. creamy on the palate.. a little oaky

Cave de Tain St Joseph 2010  lovely nose of coffee and mocha, very concentrated on the front but the finish comes just a little too quickly

Chateau Lagrezette Purple Malbec 2011.. dark color in the glass.. mouth filling tannins.. coffee and pepper on the finish.. very pleasant

Chateau Lagrezette Cahors Malbec 2006  oaky nose with not a lot of fruit and not a lot of fruit on the palate.. may be showing its age... the oak tannins would be nicer if they were a little smoother

pinnacle with claire and bill

Tarima Monastrell 2012 the little brother to Tarima Hill.. Monastrell sometimes has a slight vegetal quality that goes away with age.. and mostly this was on the front.. coffee and mocha on the finish.. just needs a little time

Hopler Gruner Veltliner 2012  pretty and soft,very easy on the palate.. nice introduction to gruner

2012 Cep Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Russian River 2012.. not overly floral and not overly acidic... not overly enjoyable.

Lucy Rose 2012.. strawberry nose, nice and juicy with just the right amount of sweetness.

bryant bickel/ masandra

La Playa Sauv Blanc 2012 Chile.. looking cool in a frosted bottle this was a surprise.. Had been in the store before with a different distributor. creamy and herbal.. lime citrus no big grapefruit bomb..

La Playa Chardonnay 2012.. a blend of chard and viognier.. not a big fan.. a little flabby

Rodolfo Torrontes Argentina 2012.. very sweet floral nose, follows through with a sweet finish... not one of my ffavorite torrontes

Rodolfo Pinot Noir High Altitude 2012  brickish color.. candy apple nose, sweet fruit...nice enough but one note...

La Playa Cabernet 2012  Colchagua Chile  not a lot of nose, some sweet fruit.. a little heat on the palate

Don Rodolfo Malbec Argentina 2012.. one more malbec to add to the list but at least it is pleasant.. juicy and ripe.. made in stainless

Llama 2011 Old Vine Malbec.. dirt nose, with a rich smoky finish. interesting..

Rodolfo Tannat 2012.. dark color and mouth filling juicy character.. would be great with bbq or brisket

La Playa Block Reserve 2010.. made from the best blocks.. a touch watery around the edges... a missing some fruit.. maybe not a good bottle

batasiolo with Stefano Poggi/ Missouri Beverage

Gavi.. a little woodsy, herbal but no wood all stainless. some ml.. didnt catch me

Barolo Bofani 2006 long tannins.. earthy on the palate...needs food

Barolo Boscaneto 2006 not as rustic as the first.. some earthiness and good tannins.. more pleasant

Barolo Cerequio 2006   from the western part of Barolo.. pretty spice on the nose, balsamic vinegar was mentioned... with long lush tannins.. my favorite.. brought in a six pack.

Barolo Corda Della Briccolina 2007  only 3 acres  name is ribbon on the little hill.. or close to that.. the color is more opaque in the glass. a lot more tannic.. needs more time to mellow out... pretty spices but just as good as the Cerequio/

thierry plummentaz with fine wine group.

Scharffenberger Brut Sparkling NV North Coast a little earthier than expected.. pleasant enough mousse.. starting to show the disgorgement date which is kind of cool for a non vintage... that way you can see when it came to the market

Roederer Estate Anderson Valley NV.. interesting to see the difference between the two sparklings. this one had no malo and a lot more refreshing acidity.

Fleur de Cap Chardonnay Stellenbosch 2012.. oaky and oaky nose.. maibe a little too overpowering

Domaine Ott Rose Bandol... a rose made with all the main black grapes of the Bandol leading with Mourvedre... smelled a touch off to me.. but sometimes the earthy character of the french overpowers

Meerlust Merlot South Africa 2008... doesnt look that old in the glass but very rich... and some richness on the end.

Querciabella Mongrana Toscana Red blend.. sangiovese, cab. and merlot.. the sangiovese definitely comes through..just got some good press from the spectator and I didnt get it..

Marques de Murrieta Reserva 2007.. spice box nose, cedar.. with some brett on the nose, long finish... great steak wine

vintage wine estates. jeff palmer/ major brands

Cosentino The Chard Lodi 2011... creamy and yet good acidity... true california style

Cosentino The Novelist Napa 2011... white bordeaux blend of sauv blanc and semillon soft with a touch of oak

the franc lodi 2011.. juicy dark and smoky.. a touch vegetal on the end but not enough to undermine.

the zin lodi 2011  briary nose, a bit of coffee and mocha on the finish.. pretty long aftertaste

the poet napa valley 2009  a bordeaux blend with more cab franc.. oak well integrated tannins.. and very supple

Rays Station Merlot California 2009  a little bitter and tannic

Rays Station Cabernet California 2009  some bing cherry.. a soft and dull cab.. uneventful

La Tarasque Cotes du Rhone 2010  tarasque is the dragon that ate people in the south of france.. good acidity with my type of finish.. coffee and mocha

craig rohner/major crush..

Chasseur has a second label Vrai Cote

Vrai Cote Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2011  huge oaky mouthfeel.. lots of cedar and not even that much butter...

Vrai Cote Vine Gris Sonoma Coast 2012.. light pink in color.. dirty, earthy  with a strange fish aftertaste

Vrai Cote Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2010... dark fruits long finish.. very nice, especially compared to the first two... light in body and color but nice on the palate

Domaine de Servans Cotes du(r) Rhone 2011... hope this isnt a sign of things to come with the 11 cdr... dark walnut husk on the nose, earthy.. not a lot of fruit showing...

Charles Smith wines with Pinnacle

Vino Pinot Grigio 2012 Washington State... lots of upper notes of bright fruit and mineral but not much depth..

Eve Chardonnay Washington 2011 some pleasant depth and creaminess but after the acidic bomb the Grigio was its hard to find a bearing on this

Velvet Devil merlot 2011.. a bordeaux style merlot.. good tannin not a fruit bomb

Boom Boom Syrah 2012.. very young and juvenille.. needs time

Chateau Smith Cabernet 2011... dark fruit nose with lots of juicy fruit tannin on the finish

Reverly Red Blend 2010  cedar and more cedar..  large amount of cab franc with the tobacco and violet aromas...

Patz & Hall with Lynda Barnes/ A bommarito

paul hobbs worked with mondavi and opus before going to simi and then starting his eponymous winery in the mid 90's... and thank goodness for spell check


Crossbarn Chardonnay 2012 Sonoma Coast  neutral oak and yet surprisingly woody..a little more herbacious than expected

Hobbs Russian River Chardonnay 2011.. not afraid of the oak and yet not over drawn with it either.. very pretty aromas of toast and soft caramel.. nice creamy mouthfeel and long finish. Would never be accused of being french but not over the top

Crossbarn Pinot Noir 2011 pretty color in the glass a touch vegetal on the palate.. cola and tea

Hobbs Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2011 juicy and full bodied.. great mouthfeel and some tar/tobacco earthy notes on the finish.

Cline/Domaine and Estates/ Glazer

Cline Viognier California 2012,.. very fresh and soft.. slightly creamy but done in stainless. great summer time wine

Cline Pinot Noir Cool Climate Sonoma 2011  dried fruit nose, some nice body but not overly exciting

Cline Cashmere California 2011  juicy bright fruit with just a hint of green at the finish but good food wine overall

Cline Syrah Cool Climate Sonoma Coast 2011... more about the bright fruit than the white pepper that I was expecting.. pretty if not complex

Jacuzzi Chardonnay Unoaked Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2010 some tropical fruit... easy drinking with nice enough flavors but  another Chard at that price point.... really

Jacuzzi Pinot Noir Carneros 2010  dark fruit.. very smoky and seductive.. long fruit finish... very nice.

Jacuzzi, yes that Jacuzzi, was the family that owns Cline vineyards.

Burgundys

A big Burgundy tasting that unfortunately was not well attended by many, including myself. Bernie brought a few around to try. 6 out of 30 ish

Domaine des Rochers Macon Reserve Chardonnay 2012... clean and crisp but from the cold could have been any chard from anywhere

Domaine Henri Darnat Puligny Montrachet 2011.. wow.. delicate and a touch tropical and a touch oaky vanilla.. very pretty.. ordered a 6pk

domaine Cofferent Duvernay Fairended Chassagne Montrachet 2010 a little heavy on the palate but not in an interesting way.. blown away by the Darnat

Domaine Antonin Guyon Gevrey Chambertain Justices 2010.. from a region where people were executed.. not sure if by guillotine or not.. but there was a beautiful flowery aroma with strong tannins and long finish.. bought a 6 pk

Domaine Bertagna Vosne Romanee Beauxmont 2010.. very exotic and floral and way cheaper than a DRC Vosne Romanee.. but liked the Justices better and a little less expensive than this offering

Hall vineyards/Major Brands

Hall Vineyards in Napa has made a name for themselves with Cabernet. The upper end wine named Kathryn Hall was the number 2 wine from Wine Spectator last year,

Sauvignon Blanc Napa 2011.. lots of high notes but missing in the middle... nice enough but a little pricy.

Cabernet Sauvignon 2009. lots of spice box and tannin.. hoping to see more fruit, maybe as it settles down

Merlot 2009  Napa   100^% varietal..lots of fruit tannin and then good fruit on the end.. lots going on in the nose also.. much more interesting than the Cab and served after the cab which is unusual

wine with marian and pierre/ terra firma

Oustric (Ostrich) Rose 2012 provence grenache.. light salmon color, some strawberry and mineral but not really exciting

Deuce Vie Rose Red grape varietals rose.. light color.. a touch sweet with the minerality... a little more user friendly

Chateau Perenne bordeaux 2005 showing age in the glass by color and nose.. true french stink with a lean thin finish

Chateau Plaisance. Cuvee Alix 2005.. showing nice age color in the glass and very meaty.. almost syrah like.. soft tannins.. very pleasant

Chateau Guerry Cotes de Bourg 2009.. showing a lot of fruit on the nose and palate.. bright bing cherry.. with vanilla.. firm tannin structure.. very nice

Tony Fabiano with Crimson Wine group/ Missouri Beverage

Archery Summit Pinot Gris Vireton 2011.. what is vireton? the curve of the feathers on arrows that allow for the proper flow... archery summit.. arrows.. got it..  stainless steel but pretty creaminess.. juicy..

Chamisal Stainless Chardonnay continuing on the no oak bandwagon.. fruity though and again creamy.. supposedly from the new zealand yeast.

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/ Viognier soft and sweet.. mostly chenin.. completely different than the Chenin from magerum

Archery Summit Pinot Noir Premier Cuvee 2010 made up of 6 premier vineyard sites in oregon.. and yet more California in style than I expected.  bright purple in the glass.. some mushroom and earth but not as much as expected.

Pine Ridge Crimson Creek Merlot vegetal nose but rich on the palate.. and going away

Margerum Wine with Jason Barette

Pinot Gris Klickitat Columbia Valley 2011.. very tropical fruit on the nose, light and crisp..but lingering finish

Chenin Blanc 2011... very interesting wine, lots of floral and herbal aromatics but lean and crisp on the finish

Sauvignon Blanc Sybarite Happy Canyon 2012.. a little more lean and grapefruit style... my least favorite of the whites

Riviera Rose 2012.. dry as a bone.. not a lot of fruit on the nose but nice depth on the finish

M5 Red Blend 2011 a red blend of 5 wines.. lean in style which is the house style I think.. more of a food wine than a sipping wine house

Syrah Colson Canyon, 2008.. and Purisima Mountain Vinyard Syrah .. again not the big bacon fat iodine northern rhone style

Grenache Alamo Creek Vineyard 2010.. ripe fruit but again with restrained style.. maybe just a little too cool?

wines from garco with robert noecker

Aviary Red blend Napa 2010  fruity nose, and lots of fleshy fruit on the palate.. with the heat and humidity you can taste the lack of acidity.. dark berry.. a touch hot on the palate

Aviary Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Napa  both of these products are new to the market and new products in general.. tannins.. and raspberry.. full bodied with hints of vanilla and cherry

Twenty Bench by Regusci Napa 2010.. dark color in the glass.. oak hints and dark fruit, lots of glycerin for the full bodied effect. tannins are good and sturdy

summer whites with rich at pinnacle

Bedrock Shebang White Cuvee II  ... not sweet , not round... light tropical fruit on the nose but that was about all the fruit that came through. a blend of interesting old vine california white varietals.. green hungarian.. and trouseau gris for starters.

Manciat Macon  Les Morizottes 2011.. chardonnay some white peach for the most part uneventful even for a good price

Prum Domprobst Kabinett 2011.. soft and easy.. a touch of mineral.. with just enough petrol

DOmaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume 2006.. almost honey yellow in the glass with a lot of honey and sweetness on the palate. and just enough petrol to let you know its old without being overpowering.. very nice

bernie lee and wines

Twomey is the non cabernet branch of silver oak.

Twomey Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Napa  .. some CO2 is present.. a little unctious with some light pink grapefruit... not as herbal as expected

LoveBlock Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Marlbourough.. made by Kim Crawford and completely different than Kim Crawford SB... subtle with peach and apricot flavors on the finish..hardly any heavy handed citrus that can come through.. nice

Twomey Merlot Napa 2008.. may be showing its age.. but that is the current vintage that Glazer has.. very lean and cedar.. not overly fruity although the nose gave off a lot of fruit expectations.

Indigenous wines with Mollie Lewis/Bommarito

an all Italian lineup

Contratto Brut Millesimato 2008.. pinot noir based sparkling.. very heavy in style.. from the pinot.. mousse is okay but overall not impressed

La Spinetta Vermentino 2011.. surprisingly tropical in nature. lots of upfront fruit... an interesting alternative to everyday Italian pinot grigio.

La Spinetta Barbera "Ca di Pain' fruity.2009. with chocolate and mocha notes.. working the tastebuds .. kind of cough syrup heaviness

La Spinetta Langhe Nebbiolo 2010  rustic in color long finish. dark fruits.. nice example of the grape

Ciacci Brunello di Montalcino 2008  tobacco on the nose, old time candy fruits.. lots of tannin. needs to settle

Pira Barolo Cannubi 2007  loads of tannin.. dusty nose, clean and round long flavors on the end.. Pira has the first Italian women winemaker...

Contratto Vermouth Bianco.. made from the Cortese grape.. a soapy nose, very aromatic.. fortified with brandy.. not the M & R version.. a touch anise

Contratto Vermouth Rosso used a coloring accent with the cortese grapes. also West Indian spices like kumen.. just a tad hot

Global Vineyard Importers/ Lary Challacombe/ Massandra

Albamar Sauvignon Blanc Chile 2011.. very herbal with lemon/lime citrus... a little like subdued New Zealand

Santos Semillon 2011 Argentina.. a varietal that is usually blended or made into dessert wine, unctious and a little honeydew melon.. and the finish starts you toward a sauternes thought...

Tercos Torrontes 2011 Argentina.. pretty floral, melon nose, bright juicy fruit, but the finish is a touch bitter.. definitely needs food

Calcu Cabernet Franc 2010 Chile// pretty floral nose which is a cab franc moniker.. a touch herbacious on the first but gives way to nice fruit on the finish...

Santos Malbec 2010.. lots of jammy fruit almost bing cherry on the front.. a little earthiness on the finish but pleasant

Maquis Cabernet Sauvignon Chile 2009  again with the herbacious green olive flavors of chile.. but the finish is smooth.. almost velvety.  sawdust/ pencil lead on the nose.

Patz & Hall with Kevin Hinchman/Bommarito

Patz and Hall

Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2011.. short vintage.. collected from two single vineyards..a strong oaky influence.. nice texture though.. good finish

Chardonnay Dutton Ranch 2011. more of a crowd pleaser..rich and unctious with the right amount of oak influence for me.. old vines... which for chard is around 30 I am told

Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard 2010  much more austere and mineral.. a nice rush of fruit on the end.. and finished a little hot..

Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast.2011 again light vintage.. dried fruit and perfumey nose,  definite tannic finish on the back but was expecting a little more fruit up front

misc wines with Cynthia Paugh/Bommarito

Luzon Ciranza Seleccion 12  from Jumilla, Monastrell with others... oak influence very obvious , nice enough fruit and tannin but served a little chilled
Retorno Garnacha 2010 Calatayud according to the wine info a young red wine from Old Vine Garnacha.. wine double speak.. no depth and a little herbal.. my Niel from Almansa runs rings around this.. and it sold by Cynthia too

Loimer Lois (low Es) unless its Lois like Lois Lane.. anyway. Gruner Veltliner Austria.. a little rounder than what I was remembering Gruner to be but it also is the 2nd wine from this vintage that gave me the same thing.. maybe a sign of the vintage.. spectator said great things about the vintage in the latest magazine  cute bottling and label and good wine for the money

Eric Chevalier Chardonnay Nantais 2010... very dry.. a sauvignon blanc drinkers chardonnay.. but I liked Chevalier's Muscadet which is what the region is really known for.

one hope wines/libby congelliere/ major brands

One Hope is a winery conceived by 8 friends with Bob Mondavi Jr as the winemaker. Each wine in the portfolio has a different charity that half of all profits go to. All very notable and good charities, to date they have given over 750,000 to their various charities.

Sparkling goes to Childhood Hunger
Sauvignon Blanc to the Enviornment
Chardonnay to Breast Cancer awareness
Pinot Noir to ASPCA
Merlot to Pediatric Aids
Zinfandel to US Troops Home
Cabernet to Austism

I wish I could say the wines were all great and worth the cost of admission but they are mostly typical Calfornia wines with some varietal characteristics and a big heart

bna wine group with dane mcfarlin/ vintegrity

an offshoot of Owen Swift, dave phinney.. but not

Butternut Chardonnay..2011  a little creamy and green olive. full malo mouth feel..

Bandwagon pinot noir 2011 Oregon/ California light color, and light tannin, not a strong finish.. a little blander than hoped for

The Rule Napa 2010 83% cabernet tobacco and strong fruit tannin but the flavors were a little linear..

Volunteer Napa 2010 dark color.. licorice/ anise soft tannins not to hot.. viscous and really dark color.. long finish.. best of the bunch..

cameron hughes with adam mahler/. d and e glazer

Greenlip Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2011  pink grapefruit

Cameron Hughes Lot 247 Napa  oaky and dusty.. very tight

Cameron Huges Lot 285 Rutherford.. a little more money but worth it.. a spicy cinnamon nose, and good fruit.

350 Chardonnay Santa Maria hills 2010  a touch of butterscotch not the tropical fruit bomb I was expecting.. very subdued for cali

Christophe Bakunas Artisan wine and craft spirits

Jigsaw Pinot Noir 2011 willamette .. slightly sweet nose, some herbal notes and rhubarb

 Ransom Pinot Noir 2010.. dark pinot color and fruit.. a little heat on the finish.. a little sawdust on the finish??

Sweet Spot Alexander Valley 2010. sawdust on the nose, cassis and really dark in color

Murphys Law Riesling green apple, good acidity. cuter label than in the past

Ransom Dry Vermouth slight cinnamon and woodsy nose, dry finish with the woodsy nature staying on

Henry DuYore's Straight Bourbon Whiskey corn, rye and barley  sweet. and hot.. aromatic from the rye???

northshore distillery/ sonha kassebaum/ classique

One of the new batch of small batch distillers

Sol Chamomile Citrus Vodka.. lots of citrus and tea.. could really be good with long island iced tea

NorthShore Vodka wheat and corn.. light and tasty

Gin no.6. Modern Dry Gin floral, pretty aromas.. almost like a perfume.. a little  more viscous and aromatic

Gin no 11.. more of the London Dry Gin with botanicals and  juniper

Aquavit made with Caraway and other grains.. the first one made in the united states.. very pretty nose also.. interesting

shane wines with shane finley/ massandra

Shane Finley is winemaker for the eponymous winery and also Lynmar after working for Kosta Browne among others

Grenache Blanc 2012 stainless steel and more about the fruit, less the oak... more of an american style.. pretty

Pinot Noir The Charm 2011 from several lots and named for the charm of the irish.. somewhat mushroom and earth.. not a fruit bomb. soft coffee and mocha notes on the back

Syrah Judge Vineyard 2009.. he says it was corked.. i didnt get it and usually that comes through to me.. i smelled vegetal and halitosis with some nice round flavors at the end.. looking forward to trying it when its really good

not him but in the bag
Vacheron sancerre 2010  herbal and high notes of coffee.. (may be from the last wine in the glass)  light green apple with a kick of pink grapefruit on the finish.. some say a great expression of sancerre

Jessica Naluai/ Precept wines/ Andrew Mallow

precept has taken several brands in the last few years that have been well received and extended the lines to more choices

Browne Cabernet Columbia Valley 2010 aromatic with a slight perfumey character.. lush mouthfeel with cassis and blackberry.. not a lot of depth on the finish though..

Waterbrook Washington Chardonnay 2011.. fruit not  alot of complexity.. seems to be stainless.. and surprisingly sweet

Waterbrook Merlot 2010  cedar and good fruit.. pleasant

Washington Hills Late Harvest Riesling  2011  typical green apple and a little flabby.. expected more acidity

Primarius Pinot Noir 2011.. light in color and light in flavor.. pretty boring

House Wine Steak House Red.. juicy but one note.. and not a lot of depth with that note... a little light for a steak i would think.

Lindy Novak/Spottswoode Winery

A treat is getting to talk to someone who is part of the scene if you will. The Novak's founded Spottswoode back in the beginning of the Napa experience. All the winery produces is Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, and given the cost difference it comes as no surprise that more of the land owned by the Novak family is planted to Cabernet.

Sauvignon Blanc 2012  non proprietary but still selected for best quality. very lush mouthfeel without being flabby.. herbal in a sancerre style

Cabernet Sauvignon 2010. soft but firm tannins. loads of cassis.. long cedar finish that is just a little hot but still tasty

cynthia paugh bommarito

Bernardus Chardonnay 2011... tart and served too cool... missing any roundness that I have experienced in the past

Peter Franus Sauv Blanc 2011 .. again cooler bottling showing more vegetal flavors

Rombauer Merlot 2009 Carneros.. ttrying to be Pomerol in nature.. tobacco and dark berry slight herbal/vegetal on the palate.. again cold

RockBlock Syrah Walla Walla NV  lots of alcohol on the palate.. some upper palate tannins but no fruit showing

marion fuica selections. terra firma

Gircon Rose 2012 light strawberry color and soft sweet fruit on the quick finish.

Aichenberg Gruner Veltliner Austria 2011... light green/yellow color.. not as mineral/acid as some gruners put out.. lemon/lime light finish

Gircon Cotes Du RHone 2011.. a nice touch of white pepper on the nose, soft juice verging on vegetal... good tannin structure for the money

evening land with jim mauceri/massandra

A property that only does chardonnay and pinot noir but from around the world.

2009 Bourgogne Blanc some mineral some salt lots of mid palate stuff but maybe showing its age

2009 Pouilly Fuisse.. soft oaky nose, some mineral.. just the right amount of oak and fruit on the finish.

2010 Blue Label Edna Valley Chardonnay.. a touch vegetal, and some oak... not the best of the bunch

2011 Blue label Willamette Valley Pinot Noir very light in color.. with rhubarb and mushroom

2010 Edna Valley Spanish Springs Pinot Noir... dark color.. traditional cola/tea/ dark cherry notes

2010 Memorius Vineyard Santa Rita Hills.. dark earth and berry aromas.. more of an oregon style pinot... very well balanced with the fruit and alcohol.

Sean Minor Wines with Stuart Barker/Massandra

Sean Minor is a kansas city native who has moved to california and become a negotiant grape buyer... and makes wine from them. Stuart has an accent that makes me think Australia.

Rose Vin Gris 2012 soft and easy. loads of watermellon and strawberry

Sauv Blanc 2011  lemon lime and herbal.. a little white pepper on the finish

Central Coast Pinot Noir 2010 a beginners Pinot with raspbery and cherry

Cabernet Sauvignon with 20 % Petite Sirah to give some structure. juicy with red and black fruits

The above wines were produced in the 4 Bears line, named for his children

Sean Minor Carneros 2010  smoky and cherry cola, no doubt california but supple maybe a touch herbal

Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2010 good with soft tannins

Red Blend 2009  dark color.. made with mostly zin and merlot. pretty blue fruit.. and marshmallow.. a little jammy and a touch of heat on the finish

Overall good line and good value.

Argentine wine/golden barrel

Maipe Argentina
Sauvignon Blanc 2011.. more herbal, not grapefruit.. cleaner

Chardonnay 2011 light stainless steel.. good fruit.. clean

Rose of Malbec 2011  strawberry color, stinky feet nose, somewhat juicy but the earthy/stinky feet carries through

Malbec 2012 darkin in color, blueberry/raspberry nose, dark flavors and somewhat chunky on the palate.. a young vine expression

Cabernet 2011 dark color in glass but very blunt flavors on the palate.. not a fan

Reserve Malbec 2011  nice tannins but not a lot of fruit on the finish

Reserve Cabernet 2010  nice and clear in the glass.. a bit of stinky feet up front.. fruity upfront tannins

Chakana Malbec 2011 the winner of the day.. very tight nose but such wonserful fruit on the palate.. lush and lovely.. a hint of chocolate marshmello.. on the long finish..

Lexicon 2012 Malbec dark concentrated colors.. good berry some oak and fruit.. soft tannins..

wines from vino leonardo

Cheeseburger Red NV a  field blend of california red wines actually not bad except for the cheesy name.. light and juicy.. soft

Tinazzi Amarone 2008.. very juicy and light tannins.. not typical of amarone..

Trefonte "Enne" Negromaro Salento 2009.. light italian stink.. juicy on the palate. nice texture and tannins.. best of this tasting

Boscheti Barbera d'alba.. 2009  italian by nose.. somewhat juicy.. but dirty on the palate.

Colle Maggio Montepulciano d' abruzzo 2008.. dark color, oaky cedar nose.. nice dark fruits on the palate. also a little dirty on the finish.. needs food

Las Acequias Malbec 2007.. fruity on entry which surprised given the age of the wine but sweet almost cough syrupy sweet on the finish.. a little old

wine wednesday part 5

Cusumano Nero d'avola Sicily 2011 a bit of the stink.. but juicy on the palate.. nice finish. good value.. finish of coffee/mocha

Melini Chianti DOCG Reserva 2009.. may be a touch corked.. not showing as well as it should..

Marchesi di Barolo Barbera Maraia 2011.. touch of a green or vegetal nose, juicy black fruit on the palate... intereswting

Argiolas Costamolino Bianco Vermentino Sardinia 2011.. not as earthy as I remember and a little sweeter than i remember..  juicy though.. fun wine

Bottega Vinaia Pinot Noir 2009.. pinot from italy.. why?? boring and light..

wine wednesday part 4/quintessential wines

Simonsig Chenin blanc 2012 South Africa.. smoky slate  nose, uses a small amount of botrytis to achieve some sweetness.

Real Campania De Vinos Verdejo 2012  light mineral with a touch of tropical and lushness that comes from lees stirring..

Cachette Rose Gard grenache 2012  light salmon in color. tight nose and not a lot of stuff

Real Camapania Rose 2012.. grenache with a little tempranillo (?) very dry...

Cachette Cotes du Rhone 2010.. dark in the glass.. dense in flavor earthy.. needs food

Real Tempranillo 2011 dark raspberry/quince juicy on the front and quick finish

Muriel Rioja Crianza 2008 spice box vanilla on the nose, nice enough juice..

Muriel Reserva 2007.. sawdust on thenose, again with the spice box.. a lot going on.

wine wednesday part 3 jk wines

Las Vides Torrontes Famatima valley argentina 2010... interesting older nose... a little diesley.. almost alsace. not typical of torrontes

Las Vides Malbec Famatima Valley 2012.  young vines aromas.. bing cherry flavor... leaner style

99 Red Blend California nv.. mostly zinfandel.. a touch juicy but blunt on the finish

99 Cabernet Sauvignon California NV.. also with a blunt finish.. not a fan

Las Vides Malbec Estate 2012.,. a touch of iodine or medicinal on the nose,  soft fruit though on the palate.. cool label

wine wednesday part 2/ bommarito

Shadow Chaser White 2012.. chardonnay this time around.. stainless and pretty tasteless.. not a long finish.. pretty lean

Shadow Chaser Red 2012.  grenache this time around.. younger vine aromas.. stainless steel medicinal fruit. gripping tannin.. may need food

Tenuta sant'antionio Torre Mellotti Cabernet Sauvignon 2009.. light italian stink.. juicy on the palate with black fruit. and nice carry through.

Ramsay Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast 2011. typical california cab.. cassis and dark fruit.. soft tannins.. hint of oak

wine wednesday part 1

banfi collectors club

Banfi Brunello di montalcino 2007  beautiful aromas of dried meats and fruit.. soft tannins and long finish

Bolla La Poiane Valpolicella a more rustic version.. italian stink.. a bit of raisin, lots of middle palate but not much finish

Coyum Red Chile dark red.. spicy nose, lots of spice on the palate.. a field blend with everything but malbec.. interesting and flavorful

Sartori Amarone 2008.. more of the new world style.. soft fruit nose, very juicy.. fruit forward with good tannin from both fruit and wood..and would handle food very well.

vintegrity/ vintage59/ debra lewis

Closerie des Lys, Limoux a vin de pays wine.. 2011 Chardonnay all stainless steel and lots of tropical fruit from france.. a bridge or gateway wine for people wanting to go from Cali to Burgundy  Closerie des Lys Pinot Noir  fruity and lightly sensual..  liked the chard better but still nice

Gilbert Picq Chablis 2011.. bright fruit.. young vines and stainless..

Jean Michel Gaunoux Meursault 2009.. least favorite of the bunch.. may just be a little old.. or a little corked.. green apple on the palate but not much other

Bachelet Monnot Puligny Montrachet Les Folatieres 2010.. what white burgundy should be.. perfect from start to finish.. lean and lush at the same time.. beautiful nose and lovely finish...

Joseph Voillot Volnay Vielles Vignes 2010   surprising fruity nose, some acidity.. a very feminine version of pinot noir

Lucien Muzard Santenay Clos des Mouches 2010 more masculine version of Pinot.. structured tannins on the palate.. more iron in the soil translates to more finish.. more terroir on the nose than the Volnay

********************
bernie lee with wine from Glazer

Due Uve Bertani Italy 2011 due uve means two grapes.. pinot grigo and sauv blanc... the strong smell of feline urine... not so much from the pinot grigio..

Treana White Blend marsanne and Viognier 2010.. nose of fruit and green olive... typical of this grape blend.. viognier nose and marsanne body.. try me again in 5 years when the green olive turns to honey...

san francisco wine golden barrel

Milbrandt Traditions Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Columbia Valley fruity on the nose but earthy on the finish.. needs food

Beronia Crianza 2008 touch of oak.. some fruit but pretty boring

Beronia Reserva Rioja 2007... much better than the Crianza.. an old world nose, spice box and cedar on the palate.. very nice.

Yali Sauvignon Blanc 2012.. more herbal side of sb... nice acidity... may be at the summer tasting.

David Bruce Santa Lucia Chardonnay 2010.. off nose, and fruit on the palate

David Bruce California Petite Sirah 2010  fruity , tannic and long finish.

David Bruce Pinot Noir 2010 Sonoma Coast vegetal nose, a bit herbacious on the palate.. was hoping for more..

Hedges winery/Alexander Hedges Appellations

Hedges CMS White Sauvignon Blanc 2010  a blend but predomanintely Sauv Blanc.. with some Semillon and Marsanne, hence the CMS... very steely and bright fruit.

Independent Producers Chardonnay Columbia Valley 2010.. single vineyard sourced unoaked, no malo just pure fruit...with stirring on lees to give a little creamy character. good for those wanting to get away from all that butter and sweetness

Hedges CMS Red Cab, Merlot and Syrah 2010 soft and juicy.. has more substance than apothic or Menage, and a very dry finish.. earthy almost

Independent Producers Merlot 2010.. my least favoritee of the group for sure.. messy label.. and a green wine on the nose.

Hedges Red Mountain Red 2010.. predominately Cab with Merlot and Syrah. cab pencil lead nose in the lead.. a bit dusty or earthy on the finish.. seems to be the house style

Mixed bag with Rich/ pinnacle

2012 Red Car Bybee Vineyard Rose .. very fun label.. very unspecial wine.. made from Pinot Noir.. not in the Saignee method but vin gris style?? which I thought were the same but not... good acidity but not a lot of guts, which may be the vin gris style.

2011 Red Car Sonoma Chardonnay cooler climate chard.. no malo.. very soft

2011 Red Car Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.. soft fruit and not overly so.. likened it to a more burgundian style but still has enough fruit on the nose to know better.. tasty

2011 Radio Coteau Las Colinas Sonoma Coast Syrah  pretty purple in the glass good fruit and acidity.. almost northern rhone.. almost

2011 Radio Coteau La Neblina Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir... more expressive of fruit.. pretty..

2010 K Vintners Morrison Lane Syrah  washington state.. meaty nose and meaty texture without being hit over the head... a very feminine style from Charles Smith

Dashe with Anne Dashe/Vintegrity

Anne Dashe with the eponymous winery in Dry Creek Valley.

Les Enfants Terribles Grenache Dry Creek 2010  with some carbonic maceration this fruit forward wine is very soft, fruity wine that cries for cheese and light pasta. cherry

Dry Creek Zinfandel 2010  a dirty purp;le, with a briary nose, loads of darker fruit

Todd Brothers Zinfandel 2009  lots of bing cherry ripe fruit, really juicy and drinkable

Cabernet Sauvignon 2007  very restrained and feminine.. and when tasted next to the 2008 Jordan another Alexander Valley wine for almost twice the price , it was showing very well..

Blog is back/ Morgan

After mysterious inability to do this I now can. Lots of tastings over the last few months, but I will not do them here.

Morgan winery with Elise Faur Director of Sales. A very good property in Central Coast land of California. They have an uber cool video on their website showing the lay of the land and their famous neighbors.

Sauvignon Blanc Monterey 2010.. cant say I was a fan. Blended with Semillon and just not sure if it wanted to be New Zealand or california style.. a little heavy

Highland Chardonnay and the Double L which is the vineyard they own.  Both well made but the Double L was creamy and nice

Cotes du Crows Red blend 2010.. one of my favorite styles. the GSM blend.. the wine that people have fun with.. like Eberles Cotes du Robles.. juicy and well stated for brisket or peasant foods... peasant food is something you can sop up with bread in my vocab..

Double L and Gary's Pinot Noir.. Having tried a few Gary's Vineyards from different producers its fun to try other peoples interpretations. This one was pretty but tight and not very showy. whereas the double L was all about fruit.. I think the gary's may last a little longer but the Double L for now..