On the nose, this opens like a Kiwi Suav Blanc, all gooseberry and litter box, but after most of that blows off, tropical fruits come through. Passionfruit leads on the palate, but white grapefruit comes up right behind it, and laps it on the mid-palate. Gooseberry runs throughout. It's bright
Huge but surprisingly sophisticated and light on its feet, this Sonoma County Malbec opens with a fist but finishes with a caress. The color is intensely dark, almost black. The nose is huge, with plum, black currant, toast, vanilla, and spices. Every day of the 18 months in French oak,
The color is almost clear, a very pale yellow. The nose shows fresh pears and honeydew melon with a spritz of lime. On the palate it is intensely fruity, and rich. Pears, melon, and tangerines explode, zippy with lime zest and layered with herbal hints. It softens on the
Joel Peterson. Brice Jones. Richard Arrowood. Not so long ago, these three men were among the most-recognized winegrowers in Sonoma County, and all three can still draw a crowd whenever they pour wine. It has been years, however, since Peterson was in full cry at Ravenswood, demanding “No Wimpy Wines,”
An absolutely gorgeous bottle of wine. The mouth-feel is round and soft. Baked apple, pears, buttered toast and white flowers are redolent on the nose and on the palate. Full-bodied and round with a perfect acid counter-point, this is a marvelous food wine. Drink with crab cakes with a good
his earth-bound Zin packs a nice punch without slathering on the jam. Cranberry with a blackberry background show on the nose. Zingy red fruit come out on the palate, cranberry and tart cherries. Tomato leaf and a touch of brown sugar add counter-points to the fruit, earthy and sweet. Fruit
Imagine if a former MTV executive tried to make wine in Napa Valley, based in part on his research into millennials' tastes. What would he come up with? Extra points for those who guessed old-fashioned wines like the greatest Napa Cabs of the '60s: lower in alcohol, more savory than
It is a warm afternoon in early May, and the skinny shoulders of the Pacific Coast Highway – “PCH” to locals – are lined for miles with single files of parked cars as Angelenos enjoy a few hours of Sunday sun-soaking on the beaches along the Malibu Coast. Traffic moves