2008 kopriva Unoaked Chardonnay – Carneros, California

You may not recognize this wine as Chardonnay if you’ve only been exposed to the heavy oak and butter first popularized by some California wineries. Made without oak aging or malolactic fermentation, it is more like a new white varietal, and an alternative to dry whites such as Sauvignon blanc or Pinot grigio. This is pale, metallic, and straw-colored but quite clear. That color carries through in another sense on the nose with slight dry straw and additional citrusy hints. Grapefruit, pineapple, and hints of other fruits ranging from tangy to tropical in concert with mineral notes. On the palate it is fruity at the front, mouth-filling in the middle, with a crisp acetic flourish at the back. Leaving the wine in contact with its lees (yeast sediment) for four months gives this Chardonnay its pleasurable mouth feel. 239 cases produced. Read the full review on Simple Hedonisms.

Palate Press Wine of the Week – 2005 Amista Cabernet Sauvignon

If you are tired of over-the-top Cabernet and are looking for something with less tannin, you will appreciate this release. Red fruit of blackberry, blackcurrant, plum clove, and berry on the nose. Soft mouth feel, excellent balance, and a pleasant lingering finish on the palate. Layers of complexity. Could be laid down a few more years but certainly approachable and highly drinkable now. For more visit Simple Hedonisms.

2005 Amista Cabernet Sauvignon – Dry Creek Valley, California

If you are tired of over-the-top Cabernet and are looking for something with less tannin, you will appreciate this release. Red fruit of blackberry, blackcurrant, plum clove, and berry on the nose. Soft mouth feel, excellent balance, and a pleasant lingering finish on the palate. Layers of complexity. Could be laid down a few more years but certainly approachable and highly drinkable now. For more visit Simple Hedonism

2008 Twomey Cellars Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

he most open and evolved of Twomey’s 2008 Pinot Noirs, this Russian River Valley ruby red beauty surprises with sunny orange peel on the nose opening up to ripe cherries. Soft with a zing on the front of the palate, opening up to berries and balanced acidity. Finish with a soft yet zingy finish. A perfect balance of yin and yang. Sister winery of Napa Valley’s Silver Oak, Twomey Cellars is located in Calistoga. Read more at Another Wine Blog.

Olson Ogden Pinot Noir 2007, Sonoma Coast

A well-balanced medium-bodied Pinot Noir showing mixed red fruit, sweet strawberries and tart rhubarb, sage, a bit of raisin, with dusty tannins and a long finish. This is a very good catch-all match for al but the heaviest foods.

Olson Ogden Syrah 2007

A smoky, full-bodied wine leading with dusty red fruit, followed by tar and tannins that still seem rather tight. This is sure to benefit from time in the cellar or a well-marbled steak.

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 or [...]

This Crush For Rent: Options for Aspiring Winemakers

Since before Prohibition and certainly during, wine drinkers have made their own wine. We look at two custom crush facilities that provide the fruit-to-bottle experience without the heavy investment in costly equipment.

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.