2007 Domaine le Verger Chablis

Having visited Burgundy in the summer of this “difficult year”–rainy and cold; wore all my sweaters plus raincoat every day–I was curious to see what had been produced in Chablis. This wine has a sweet, fruity nose with a hint of tropical fruits, barely ripened. A light but pleasant body, and medium lemony acid in the finish. It took some time to settle down in the glass; better the next day. Bonus: only 12:5% alcohol.

2007 Freeman Akiko’s Cuvee Pinot Noir, Sonoma

Elegant and sophisticated, this wine takes a bit of coaxing to open up. Patience rewards with a nose of luscious ripe plums and dark berries with a sassafras twist. The color is a vivid shade of red. Supple on the palate, warm musk complements the deep fruit, with a tingle of cola on the end. Hints of rose petals taper to a lingering finish. A more detailed review about this wine and the winery is available here on Another Wine Blog.

2007 Freeman Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Bright garnet in color, the nose reminds us of freshly fallen autumn leaves, dark cherry and a hint of cola. On the palate, we tasted more cherry, red raspberry and earthy mushroom with toasty oak. Pleasant minerality with a medium finish, this is a very nice young wine that possesses plenty of structure for aging. A more detailed review about this wine and the winery is available here on Another Wine Blog.

2007 Donnafugata Ben Ryé Passito di Pantelleria DOC

When people who don’t love sweet wines ask for more, you know this is a particularly great vintage – and I’ve had this wine several times before. A floral hint wafts up at first. Early sips are orange, apricot and raisin, deepening to raisin and fig as it opens in the glass. Acidity and sugars are beautifully balanced. The apricot finish is just long enough.

2007 Cowhorn Vineyard Syrah, Applegate Valley

Great example of domestic syrah made at the certified biodynamic Cowhown winery. That means no synthetic chemicals were used in grape-growing and native yeasts were used in the cellar. Big, dark boysenberry and blackberry fruit flavors, which are nicely balanced by an earthy finish. Good acids and 13.5% alcohol make it a good food wine. Personally, I would love to see them ease up on the new oak (it is a blend of old and new oak barrels at the moment). But honestly, most people would find this wine to be a big crowd-pleaser.

2007 Artiste Mourvedre

A great medium bodied red. A nose of light rose petal and red fruit with a surprising butterscotch finish. The finish of the wine is what intrigued me most, it isn’t sweet by any means, and the flavor of butterscotch is undetectable on the nose but bursts on the palate at the finish. I immediately fell in love with this wine after trying it and took home a bottle to Ohio from California. For Emma’s full review visit her blog, Dances with Wines.

2007 Olson Ogden Pinot Noir

The nose opens with lovely Pinot Noir aromas of red fruit, strawberries and cherry stones, with some sage, all with a light dusting of white pepper. The red fruits, sage, and a background of licorice grow from attack to finish, all with a silky mouth feel, but tannins just tight enough to offer promise with [...]