Alexander Valley Vineyards 2 Barrel 2005
There are folks who like a velvety, lush Merlot. And then there are those who prefer the gumption of a Syrah. For each, Alexander Valley Vineyards offers Two Barrel, a wine that blends the best of both in perfect harmony. Two Barrel was originally inspired by their Wine Club. Each spring,...
The 2005 harvest was distinguished by the long hang time on the vines. The wine has completed fermentation and is ageing gracefully in French oak. According to Heidi Barrett, the 2005 harvest delivered some of the most 'lush fruit' she has ever worked with. Amuse Bouche anticipates another wine of power...
Archipel is the French word for Archipelago, a string of islands rising above the sea, and that meaning is carried over to the sourcing of fruit for the new Archipel wine, a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. For this limited production wine, world acclaimed winemaker Pierre Seillan...
The first vintage for this revolutionary blend of Merlot (70%) and Syrah (30%). Winemaker John Kongsgaard experimented with blending Merlot with Syrah beginning in the 1996 vintage, and liked the complexity gained by adding the wild, leathery, gamy, and floral qualities of Syrah to the luscious, more fruit-driven flavors of Merlot....
Tribute is a first of its kind. Made entirely from estate-grown grapes, this Bordeaux blend of predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon reveals the complexity and individuality of the Benziger family Sonoma Mountain estate. The first Demeter-certified Biodynamic® wine from Sonoma County and one of the first from North America, Tribute is now in...
Beringer Alluvium Blanc is a blend of sémillion, muscat, sauvignon blanc, and chardonnay. It has a citus nose with notes of flowers. On the palate there is a fig, roasted macademia nut, apricot, and mineral presence. It has a lushious mouthfeel with a nice acidic snap.
Another break-out hit for the recidivist partisans of this eclectic pan-Mediterranean blend. The varietal mix was altered just a tad this year and introduced a substantial amount of cabernet franc into the concoction. Big House Red is all about fragrance, spice and soft tannins. It has a fragrance of mint and...
Each variety selected for this blend brings its individual characters and distinct personality: spiciness from the Syrah, cherry and raspberries from the Sangiovese and Barbera, blueberries from the Tannat, cassis from the Grenache and chocolate from Mourvèdre. A wonderful mix of the best each variety has to offer. The co-fermentation of...
Each variety selected for this blend brings its individual characters and distinct personality: spiciness from the Syrah, cherry and raspberries from the Sangiovese and Barbera, blueberries from the Tannat, cassis from the Grenache and chocolate from Mourvèdre. A wonderful mix of the best each variety has to offer.
This is a full bodied Syrah, forceful; perhaps even a bit dangerous” dare I say (that’s why he’s locked up in solitary). Muscular and deeply concentrated this wine has a nose of sweet black berry jam and hints of dark chocolates. Balanced and well structured, it bodes a well rounded mouthfeel...
Big House the Lineup Red Wine 2006
GSM is a colloquial and friendly name attached to that venerable style developed within spitting distance from the Pope’s French incarceration camp (it was actually a palace, but hey he’s the Pope) in Avignon. While the Central Coast has many micro-climates, some are very similar to the Southern Rhone valley. Each...
Borra Vineyrads Fusion White Wine 2006
The classic Rhône varietals of 83% Viognier, 16% Roussanne, and 1% Marsanne fuse together to produce bright, tantalizing aromas of amazing cantaloupe, peach and apricot with almond and a twist of pineapple which leap from the glass. Thick layers of peach pineapple and toasted almonds envelope the mouth, echoing for what...
This blend of grapes native to France’s southern Rhone, but grown on the Central Coast, is an excellent example of what California can produce in this style. Grenache (39%) and Mourvèdre (30%) comprise most of the wine, with lesser percentages of Cinsault (17), Syrah (11), Viognier (2) and Counoise (1). Easy-to-drink,...
Reminiscent of blackberry jam in its deep dark berry appearance, this wine offered the panel strong aromatic hints of raisin, fig, dried mushrooms, and black pepper that seemed to leap out of the glass. The tannins were smooth but firm, possessing a fruit stand of blackberries, rich dark cherry, black plum...
Dark black-ruby color. Generous ripe black cherry, blackberry and plum aromas, with subtle vanilla-oak and anise scents and overtones of coffee. Medium full-bodied on the palate, with melted tannins, a velvety texture, hints of vanilla, and ripe sweet black plum, cherry and currant flavors. Enjoy this Tapestry with everything from grilled...
The 2005 Beaulieu Vineyard Reserve Tapestry weaves five classic varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec into an elegant, beautifully balanced wine. The deep, expressive aromas and flavors are filled with black cherry, briary blackberry, cassis, dark cocoa, violet and cedar character. Cabernet Sauvignon's deep berry and cassis...
2005 gaqve Cain plent of hang time” to allow the grapes to ripen gently. Unlike the yields on the valley floor, their yields in the Cain Vineyars were typically low. This is their most restrained wine since 1999. The cool weather on Spriong Mount preserves the firmness of the tannins and...
At Cardinale they christened this the vintage of Alice's Rabbit”, in that everything was very late. Their rainy season slowed down enough in March to initiate bud push but was followed by the return of the rains not long after, which delayed bloom and fruit set. Already looking at a later...
The Peter Mondavi Family Generations is a tribute to family tradition and commitment to quality. A selective blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 1% Syrah creates a balanced wine that showcases its strength and elegance. This blend was aged for 23...
Rosenblum Cellars Chateau La Paws Côte du Bone Blanc
This lovely wine shows refreshing pear, melon and mango in the bouquet, followed by flavors of apple, peach and creamy vanilla. This is an ideal wine paired with seafood, including oysters on the half shell and curried Dungeness crab.
Rosenblum Cellars Chateau La Paws Cote du Bone Roan
This lovely Northern Rhône style wine is fruit-forward and driven by elegance and a soft mouth feel. The bouquet shows ripe cherries with hints of strawberries, rose petal and violets. The flavors are cherry cola with elements of wild herbs and smoked bacon.
