2008 Shippey Vineyards "Flaming J" Petite Sirah The nose is dark, mulberry and black pepper. This is just as dark on the palate, with the same mulberries. There a loads of black pepper on the finish, paired with unsweetened chocolate. It is still young. It's big tannins are still rough,
As I strolled through Jean-Pierre Wolff’s vineyard, I found myself asking, “what do turtles have to do with wine?” My host gave a detailed description about the sanctuary for the Pacific pond turtle he had built amidst the vines while pointing out the numerous ladybugs fluttering around us. I pondered
Not many thirteen dollar Cabernets are worth keeping in the cellar. This is one of those exceptions. Black fruit is on the nose with eucalyptus and violets. On the palate it is high-toned, showing tart red cherries over the same black currants, but here is more - eucalyptus, a bit
I stumbled upon Hart's Desire at the Waterfront Tasting Room (53 Front Street, Healdsburg, CA) during Taste Alexander Valley, 2012. John Hart and his daughter, Shea, were working the room. They were both marvelous, their knowledge and enthusiasm for the wines filling the room with excitement. A small but adventurous winery,
In every wine region there is at least one wine that manages capture one’s personal impressions of that region—its colors, smells, and the energy of the place. Sometimes, as I touched on a couple months ago on this website, the most visceral wines can be the most unlikely. In Friuli-Venezia-Giulia,
The nose hints of Rhone, rather than Oz, with aromas of grilled meat and olives complementing blackberries dusted with graphite. On the palate, blackberries, the smoky charred end of prime rib, olives, pepper, and the tiniest hint of vanilla all show on a multi-layered palate that adds high-toned tart red
The nose is very floral, with near gardenia-power white flowers, with underlying aromas of ripe peaches. The palate shows wax and citrus fruits, lemon juice and lemon pith. The lemon lingers on the finish, transitioning to hints of roasted almonds as it fades. Drink with crab cakes. DH. WHO: Gauchezco
Blackberries, vanilla and alcohol heat waft up from the glass. Blackberries, roasted, meat, soy, and loads of graphite, along with leafy herbs, are all on the palate. Vanilla comes through strong on the mid-palate. There are lots of flavors there, but they are not in pleasing blends and smoothly transitioning