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Russian River Valley

2011 Frei Brothers “Reserve” Pinot Noir

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
Cherry stones, vanilla, and cola show on the nose. The palate leads with black cherry and strawberry, with a tart raspberry twist. Some vanilla comes through on the mid-palate. The finish favors the tart over the sweet. Mouth-feel is soft, tannins mild. Drink with bacon-wrapped pork medallions. Recommended. 87 points.

2011 Inman Family “Thorn Ridge Ranch” Pinot Noir

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
A velvet-clad delight. Black cherries, Bing cherries, and a cabinet full of fresh and dried leafy spices all come out on the nose. Black cherries, dried strawberries, sage, marjoram, and a touch of tarragon all open on the attack. The mid-palate turns sweeter, cherries taking the lead and offering a

2012 La Rochelle Pinot Meunier

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
Pinot candy. On the nose this would be picked, blind, as a Pinot Noir, with cherry pits, cola, a touch of black earth, and a very pretty floral background of rosewater. Cherries and plum lead on the palate, followed by black tea. Everything then takes an interesting candied turn, with

2011 Gary Farrell Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
There's still time to buy a case of this for Christmas. Save a few for yourself and give the rest as gifts, for it serves up so much candied cranberry and Christmas spice that it's a holiday in a bottle. The nose shows pomegranate, candied cranberry, cola, and spices. On

2010 Medlock Ames Bell Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
Smooth and buttery, with obvious but not overwhelming wood effects. Apples and pears open on the attack, with minerality shining through on the mid-palate. Acids are high enough to offer good balance to the buttery wood. This is a very pleasant food wine. Drink with roast chicken. Recommended (88). DH

2009 Jordan Russian River Valley Chardonnay

Becky Sue Epstein
Wine Reviews
1 min read
A California chardonnay that’s not overly Californian, this wine is big yet citric. There’s a pronounced lime character in both aroma and finish. A touch of glycerol in the mouthfeel that betrays its New World origins, and the faint whiff of tropical coconut that emerges some time after the bottle

2009 Ridge Ponzo Vineyard Zinfandel

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
A mouthful of wine, this Zin is a moderate (by today's standards) 14.8% alcohol, but has loads of black fruit, cocoa, and coffee. The nose is slightly vegetal, suggesting perhaps some whole cluster fermentation. Blackberries on attack are followed by-read more-