The divide in California wine seems simple: the coasts are cool, the interior is not. But then there's El Dorado. El Dorado doesn't neatly fit into any category. It's much cooler than most of California's interior because it's so far above sea level. In fact, the Fair Play subappellation, which
Soft, gentle, and balanced, this is a great ribs and coleslaw wine. Raspberry, blackberry, and allspice show on the nose. Lots of raspberry show on the palate, ranging from fresh tart berries to sweet berries in cream. It has a touch of vanilla and a pantry full of spice, including
The nose is very fruity, a blend of sweet stone fruits and tart citrus, peaches, Meyer lemon and white grapefruit. The citrus doinates on the palate, Meyer lemon and white grapefruit pith on the attack, adding yeasty biting ginger snap on the mid-palate. Citrus pith shows on the short-lived finish.
At 143 years of age, the Original Grandpere Vineyard in the Sierra Foothills is the oldest documented Zinfandel vineyard in California, and it still produces wines of high quality. Its history is closely linked with that of California wine, and with United States wine consumption in general. The identity of
A cool, persistent spring was the beginning of the weather problems that would plague the 2011 California harvest, pushing back bud break to make the grapes almost three weeks behind schedule. May and June had heavy rains, and the summer heat never really spiked. Pinot noir and chardonnay seemed happy
I like to joke that some really hot Red Zin broke up my marriage with beer. But in the next breath I tell people that now, as a free man, I am having an affair with an aristocratic Italian beauty:-read more-