2007 Matthiasson’s Napa Valley White

It made my palate do a double-take head-fake. It’s a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Ribolla Gialla, and Semillon. Yes, Ribolla gialla (even though I’m a Wine Century Club member, I still needed to look that one up). It’s a funky wine, in that it’s tropical, racy, and spicy all at once – I told Steve that it reminded me of the interesting white blends that were coming out of Australia a few years back, before they started sending us in the States boatloads of their plonk.” For more detail see The 1WineDude Top 10 Most Interesting Wines of 2009 and ‘Burgh Wine, By Way of Napa (An Encounter with Matthiasson’s Current Releases).

2006 Bennett Lane Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Versatile. Quick but deep. Bright fruit and great acidity make for a tremendously well-balanced wine. Drink with a steak or solo. Awesome.

2006 Grgich Hills Cellar Chardonnay Estate Grown

A wonderfully rich and balanced Chardonnay, this offers up complex flavors of pink lady apples, honeydew melon and toasted english muffins with butter. Tart lemony acids balance the sweet fruit. Pair this with greek sea bass.
WHO  Grgich Hills Cellar
WHAT Chardonnay
WHERE California, Napa Valley
WHEN 2006
HOW MUCH $25

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2007 Sean Minor Four Bears Pinot Noir

2007 Sean Minor Four Bears Pinot Noir was awarded 16 points. It was full-bodied, showing dark cherries and sage with a good finish. Howard noted it had a nice nose and “you get the terroir.”
WHO  Sean Minor
WHAT  Pinot Noir
WHERE  California, Napa Valley, Carneros
WHEN  2007
HOW MUCH  $16

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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.

2007 William Hill Winery Chardonnay

A round, fleshy style of Chardonnay with notes of apple, sour cream, and flowers in the aromas. There is lots of creme fraiche and apple on the palate, too, which turns more buttery towards the finish. Handsome example of an integrated-oak chardonnay for those who prefer this style, and a bargain for the price (most [...]

2004 Darioush Shiraz Signature

If you like wine big, really big, the kind of wine that punches a fist straight out of the glass and into your nose, then crashes around your palate with different flavors and textures duking it out for your attention, then this is the bottle for you. Hot alcohol, bruised cherries, black pepper, nutmeg, [...]

2006 Phoenix Vineyards Rancho Napa

This is a great big dark tannic wine begging for a long nap in the cellar. Tart blackberries, licorice, and eucalyptus are wrapped tightly in leather. The finish is redolent with lavendar. This would unwind some with a nice cut of meat, perhaps a ribeye, but it is best saved a few [...]

2007 Olson Ogden Syrah Stagecoach Vineyard

This is a powerful, well-balanced wine. Big dark fruit is countered by flavors of cooked meat and spice, the crisp end of a prime rib rubbed with black pepper and a touch of rosemary. Tannins are smooth but very firm. This is begging for time in the cellar, or a thick end cut [...]

2006 Newton Red Label Claret

Try this- make a laminated board out of several layers of oak and cedar. Dribble three drops of vanilla extract on it, let it soak in. Now, place one blackcurrant, just one, on the ground and smack it with the board. Wipe it with a paper towel and let it dry for three days. Now [...]