2008 C. Donatiello Floodgate Vineyard Block 15 Pinot Noir – Russian River Valley

Cranberry color, slightly opaque. (A thankful break from the ridiculously dark Pinot’s being produced today by many.) On the nose, cherry, cranberry, with a pleasant touch of earthiness. On the Palette: elegant. Despite the youth of this release, it’s a pleasure in the mouth, with velvet texture, wonderful balance and mouthfeel. Flavors of cherry and red fruit, with a nice finish, and lingering acidity. Read the full review on Simple Hedonisms.

Small Winery, Far Reach

SVB Financial reports that buyers will begin to spend slightly more for a bottle of wine into 2011. If this is the case, the question becomes: how does the small family owned winery with a lower operating budget market their wines to consumers and try to make the most of the improving economy?

Rhone Rangers Tasting at Pier 59 Studios

“In a world of recognizable Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Syrah ends up being a consumer’s third choice,” says Steffanie Anglim. Still a tough sell for wholesalers and restaurants, Syrah tends to sell well in the tasting room, a common observation among wineries. As a former wine bartender, this fact makes sense to me.

Forget Napa, Head for Sonoma

Napa Valley is noted for its abundance of wineries, wine tastings, warm/hot climate (even in winter), lavish restaurants, and compact access to literally dozens of wineries—currently numbered at over 700. But, with notoriety also comes popularity. Let’s face it—in the summer and fall, Napa is a zoo of tourists and locals. The two main thoroughfares, St. Helena Highway (Route 29) and the Silverado Highway, are usually jammed with vehicles, as are the tasting rooms.

2006 Lucienne Lone Oak Vineyard Pinot Noir – Santa Lucia Highlands

Clear with medium cranberry red color. Clean nose, developing, with medium intensity. Aromas of cedar, cherry, plum, strawberry, floral/perfumed notes, spice and cinnamon. Dry with medium acidity, well integrated alcohol, medium tannin, and body. Flavors of cherry, strawberry, vanilla, spice, red fruit. Bright cherry, medium intensity with a long finish. Read more on oe•no•phile.

Palate Press Wine of the Week: 2007 Clos LaChance Pinot Noir

Pinot noir can presented in a hundred different ways, depending upon clone, terroir, and the decisions of the winemaker. In this case, a small mountain vineyard, low yields, and 45% new French oak, and wine bottled unfined and unfiltered created a glass of silk, flavored with cherries, dried strawberries, cola, and a bit of suede. The wood has a complimentary, rather than obtrusive, effect, contributing to sweet tannins and adding a touch, just a touch, of vanilla. Drink it with pork loin.

2007 Clos LaChance Pinot Noir, Biagini Vineyard – Santa Cruz, CA

Pinot noir can presented in a hundred different ways, depending upon clone, terroir, and the decisions of the winemaker. In this case, a small mountain vineyard, low yields, and 45% new French oak, and wine bottled unfined and unfiltered created a glass of silk, flavored with cherries, dried strawberries, cola, and a bit of suede. The wood has a complimentary, rather than obtrusive, effect, contributing to sweet tannins and adding a touch, just a touch, of vanilla. Drink it with pork loin.

2009 Dancing Coyote Chenin Blanc – California

Dancing Coyote gets attention for its unusual California-grown white wines. The Clarksburg area winery produces albarino, gruner veltliner, and chenin blanc. Chenin blanc was big long before chardonnay took over on the west coast but few are producing it today. Dancing Coyote’s 2009 Chenin Blanc is a lighter version than many others with nice citrus, particularly lime, and balanced acidity. Frankly, this one is the best I’ve tasted from California. The winery made just 208 cases.

Future of Chardonnay, ‘Drinkable’ and ‘Balanced’

En route to the first Chardonnay Symposium the city of Santa Maria appeared in all its incarnations. Hosted at Bien Nacido Vineyards’ historic Adobe, the morning began, like most in this winemaking region, wrapped in tangible veils of fog.

Prop 8: What Are You Drinking?

Judge Vaughn R. Walker, a George H.W. Bush appointee and Chief Judge of the Northern District of California, issued his ruling on Perry v. Schwartenegger, better known as “the Prop 8 case.” Arnold Schwarzenegger was the named defendant as Governor of California. As an interesting side-note, he celebrated “his” defeat, saying the ruling “affirms the [...]

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