2007 Bouchaine Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir – Napa Valley

Relatively dark in color, not quite opaque. Flavors are overwhelmingly tart red fruit, barely ripe cherries, wild strawberries, and lots of rhubarb. Sweet wood is there, but barely perceptible behind the tartness. Finish is mid-length, tannins slightly drying. A rich food match might pair well, so try it with a well-sauced duck.

2005 MacRostie Pinot Noir Wildcat Mountain Vineyard

Give this wine some time to open. It starts one-dimensional, but as it opens it offers more Pommard than Russian River, deeply bruised plum and black cherries, earthy mushrooms still dirty with rich loam, all balanced by a hint of allspice and anise. This is a marvelous food wine, just begging for a braised veal [...]

2009 Northern California Harvest Report

The many storied wine regions of Northern California experienced a harvest this year that was in one way, ideal and in another quite anxiety-inducing. Fruit growth was delayed this year by a cooler spring and summer, but the overall temperatures were predominantly even across the board, allowing for long hang-time and good even ripening in the vineyard.

Wine Tourism Goes Local!

California wineries have thrown open their doors this harvest season. Make that wide open. Wineries are getting creative. They are offering new attractions such as wine education, a behind-the-scenes access to the winemaking process and the kind of TLC normally reserved for relatives and rock stars.