2005 Dutton-Goldfield Dutton Ranch, Cherry Ridge Syrah

The nose has ground espresso and cocoa powder, blackberries, and some leather. The palate comes at you with waves of flavors. Blackberries and coffee, plums, all make up the attack. Fruits sweeten on the mid-palate, adding some blueberry to the blackberry. The espresso changes to unsweetened cocoa. There is interesting minerality the expands from the attack through the finish. Leather shows up at the end of the mid-palate and lingers with black fruit on the finish. This is really good wine. It is not Aussie Shiraz, all jammy fruit. It is also not Northern Rhone Syrah, all earth and olives. This has good fruit, earthy coffee and chocolate, and great terroir minerality. For David’s full two day review visit his blog, 2 Days per Bottle.

2008 Y. Rousseau Old Vines Colombard, Russian River Valley

Made from 100% French Colombard, this wine was totally dry, but still succulent (a neat trick), made by Yannick Rousseau, who grew up in an area of France where he learned wine making, and where the first wine he made from from Colombard. The wine has a striking aroma of fresh herbs, stone fruit, and a touch of spice, and the wine’s balance is impeccable. Not your average Colombard!

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.

2006 Eric Kent Wine Cellars Pinot Noir Stiling Vineyard

Very rich, with nice focus that carries everything seamlessly from the initial attack through the finish.

2005 Dutton-Goldfield Syrah Dutton Ranch Cherry Ridge

This comes at you waves of flavor, starting with blackberries, coffee and plums. Fruits sweeten on the mid-palate, adding some blueberry to the blackberry. The espresso changes to unsweetened cocoa. Leather shows up at the end of the mid-palate and lingers with black fruit on the finish.
WHO: Dutton-Goldfield
WHAT: Syrah
WHERE: California, Russian River [...]

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 [...]

2007 Thumbprint Cellars Russian River Valley Chardonnay

On the nose I found peach, pear, yellow apple, lemon, citrus, and tropical notes. The Pear really dominated the nose, which overall I found to be very aromatic. In the mouth I got green apple, stone fruit, lemon, lemon zest, tangerine, orange spice, lemon oil, and spice. The wine had a long finish [...]

2005 BearBoat Pinot Noir

The palate opens with a tsunami of unsweetened red fruit, cranberries and wild strawberries and cherries, along with some marjoram and sage. Some cocoa and black tea appear on the mid-palate. Tannins are firm and acids sharp at first, but after an hour or two of air, it smooths out into a well integrated wine. [...]

2006 Davis Bynum Pinot Noir

The flavors are typical of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, not over-ripe or over-oaked, but with plenty of red fruit, barely ripe strawberries and cherry stones, and black tea. What really makes it stand out, though, is the velvety mouth feel and lingering finish. It is a delightful experience for the mouth, with food [...]