Mendocino Wine Company Gregg Carrozza/ Major brands Cellar selections

First of all, they had a line of wines called 50 shades of grey...White and Red Silk.. didnt try.. wont try... in 3 years no one would probably remember them and they would be in the close out bin for $2.99

Parducci Mendocino County Chardonnay 2012.. traditional typical cali chard... with a little roughness around the finish..

Parducci Merlot Mendocino County 2011.. candied fruit nose that carries all the way.. not terrible but

True Grit Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 light tannins, and some red fruit... named after the movie i am guessing

Moniker Chardonnay 2012... much better.. round without being heavy.. subtle without being boring

Moniker Pinot Noir woodsy and rustic.. not showing a lot of fruit

Moniker Cabernet Sauvignon slightiodine pencil lead on the nose, tannins noticeable not severe. lighter style mid palate ok but not a long finish

Guillaume Bousquet. Argentina Lohr

Bousquet from the south of France and Argentina, in this case Argentina.
The only whites they have a Chardonnay, too hot to grow Torrontes affectively

Chardonnay 2011  acidity and no oak.. a slightly dull finish

Reserve Chardonnay 2011 oaked with a buttery, cedar nose. a bit heavy handed on the whole

Malbec 2013 good color extraction. bright fruit.. another nice malbec at that price.

Cabernet Sauvignon 2013.. surprised me at  being better than the malbec... dark amyethist in color.. good juice well balanced

Malbec Reserva 2012  pretty fleshy wine.. soft and ripe.. long finish

Caberent Reseve 2012 85% cab and 15% malbec.. earthy nose, strong midpalate but a little restrained.

Gran Reserve Malbec 2010.. lighter in color.. dark flavors brooding with coffee and spice.. lots of dark fruit.

wines with claire from pinnacle

Broglia Gavi 2013  nice blend of minerality and mouthfeel.. lots of depth for a white wine

Paul Lato Santa Maria Chardonnay 2012.. cali chard all the way.. from the nose to the finish.. viscous and almost over the top.. buttery and vanilla

Val de Mer Bourgogne Rose 2013.. rose from Pinot noir.. very delicate. subtle strawberry notes.. acidity is alright not overly so.. quick finish

Vinum Pinot Noir Monterey 2012  dried fruit on the nose with the follow through of mushroom.. good value..

Rossi Wallace Pinot Noir Napa 2012 tight nose of cedar and fruit.. silky tannins and fruity but not juicy.. not really showing a lot of complexity for the money.. maybe why Napa doesnt make great pinot.. from Atlas Peak area..a subsidiery of Forman

Cedro Noval 2009 Portugal.. dark brooding entry.. lots of coffee, tobacco lush mouthfeel.. and unfortunately a quick finish.. a touch maderized.

Cult Napa Cabernet blend from Salvestrin... Npn vintage.. really good value.. silky tannins, cedar and strong but not overpowering finish.

one hope major brands

One Hope is a collaboration with Robert Mondavi JR and others for each wine to promote certain causes. Unfortunately they do not have great wine to back up the project. The wine is drinkable at best, but all of them have a certain thing missing.

Sparkling Brut California made with French Colombard.. an inexpensive and easy grape, actually had a nice mousse, but the finish is a little bland. fights childhood hunger
Sauvignon Blanc blened with other grapes.. lots of Pink Grapefruit and not much else. goes to earth

Chardonnay California 2012 mixed with chenin and muscat.. for a sweeter finish.. and lots of vanilla is what I got...

Pinot Noir 2011 a mix with syrah.. slight dried fruit. light body.. pet adoption

Merlot 2013 light in flavors and color.. slight cocoa on the palate. pediatric aids

Cabernet Sauvignon 2012  light  autism

Zinfandel 2011.. stinky feet, vegetal.. some bing cherry on the finish.troops.

Martine's Wines with Jennie Mass/ Pinnacle

Gonet-Medeville Brut Champagne NV yeasty nose.. mostly chard no ml or chapitalizration... very dry.

Domaine Laporte Le Bouquet Sauvignon Blanc 2013.. grassy, herbacious and just a little watery on the finish

Charles Hours Jurancon 2011.. unusual nose, ripe stone fruit on nose, soft on front but a little dull on the back.. late harvest

Danjean Berthoux Meix au Roi Givry 2012  from the challonaise, bargain region of burgundy. fruity nose with a little dirt on the back.. almost thought it was carbonic because of the fruity bubuiblegum like finish.

Feraud Brunel Cotes du Rhone Village 2011 slight iodine or iron on the nose, nice mouthfeel if not quite fruity.

Le Cedre Cahors Malbec Heritage 2011 earthy, dusty.. fruit up front but missing on the back end.. expected a little more

Koval Liquor with KellyNyikes/ Vintegrity

On the same day two new distillers or small boutique distillers came to the market

Koval out of Chicago
White Rye aromatic, slightly sweet with an almost light peaty finish

Rye- earthy on the front with sweet coconut notes on the finish... not hot

Millet very light flavor profile,, interesting flavor profile with a little light orange zest comings through . never had tried a distilled product from this grain and it was good

Bourbon made with 51 % corn and in white oak barrels.. 49% millet..

Rose Hip Liqueur the smell of spring.. roasted tomato.. would be good as an aperitif

Ginger Liqeuer ..viscous and gingery... needs something to cut the syrup

Small vineyards Josh hanson./ major brands

Peneca Sparkling Rebula.. lots of citrus, acidity and a pleasant finish. intersesting wine from Slovenia

Jordanov Chardonnay Barrique Macedonia 2013... all up front no finish.. 100% malo

Fattoria di Pugliano Treggiaia 2010 typical Toscana nose, licorice sage a little dense on the finish

Casa Contini Biferno Riserva Molisse 2009.. favorite of the bunch.. slight dirt nose, great tannins, dark cherry fruit. long finish.

Macedon Cabernet Sauvignon 2013  dirty and dense.. dark color.. with some nice dark berry on the finish.

Brunelli Rosso di Montalcino 2012  dirt and rose nose, mushroom and earth  no much fruit

Ultimo Passo Primitivo Salento  2013.. very rustic.. tannic.. made in a double passimento style which is to give more richness to the product.

Cliff Lede and FEL with Jay Lede. Bommarito

FEL Pinot Gris 2013 minerality and dry.. very alsace in style but missing the nervosity of it all

FEL Chardonnay Anderson Valley 2012  slightly oaky and toasty on the nose, creamy vanilla, lees stirring for a round yet still clean style

FEL Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 2012. dried fruit on the nose, meaty with some extraction on the finish.. cherry and mocha.. soft tannin

Cliff Lede Sauvignon Blanc Napa 2011 cat pee on evergreen tree... pink grapefruit finish

Cliff Lede Cabernet Stags Leap   2011  traditional cab nose, lots of cassis and lead pencil.. still young and tight opening up a little in the glass.. interesting mineral earthy on the finish