2008 La Rochelle Blanc de Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands
From the Steven Kent portfolio, this wine shows a straw color with light shades of salmon. The mousse is fine and persistent. Fresh aromas of green apples, limestone, yeast and bread lead to fleshier stone fruit impressions in the mouth. Crisp,… Read more
2008 Dry Creek Vineyard ‘Endeavour’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley
While world-famous for its jammy, berry and cherry-packed Zinfandels, the Dry Creek Valley has long had a loyal following for its Cabernet Sauvignon — and rightly so. This one is nearly opaque, ruby/purple in hue. Scents of violets, cherry… Read more
2008 Conn Creek ‘Anthology,’ Napa Valley
Conn Creek’s flagship wine is a true Bordeaux-style blend, using all five red varietals from that region. The lovely, perfumed nose unfolds to reveal layers of violets, fleshy black cherry, jammy dark berries and pie spices. In the mouth, the wine… Read more
2008 Kenwood ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County
Orange zest is the first impression one gets when breathing in this wine, followed by fennel, vanilla, black cherry liqueur and cranberry. Supple in the mouth, with little tannic bite, this 34th edition of the “Artist Series” — featuring… Read more
2008 Cobb Pinot Noir, Joy Road Vineyard, Sonoma Coast
Transparent bright red ruby, clearing toward the edge. Heady, perfumed aromas of sweet, almost candied, raspberry, followed by earth, mushrooms, dark orange, minerals and black tea. Lithe and silky upon entry to the palate, where it turns juicy. As… Read more
2008 Cobb Pinot Noir, Rice-Spivak Vineyard, Sonoma Coast
Transparent red ruby color with glints of violet. Scents of earth, orange oil and woodspice give way to bright red berry and cherry aromas. Light upon entry to the palate, the wine picks up minerality, weight and earth toward the back. Great… Read more
2008 Cobb Pinot Noir, Emmaline Ann Vineyard, Sonoma Coast
Transparent light ruby color, clearing at the edges. The nose delivers Old World charm, with lilting aromas of rose petal, raspberry, dried orange peel, earth and high-toned spice. The wine is all silky and feminine in the mouth, finishing with a… Read more
2008 Dry Creek Vineyard Meritage, Sonoma County
Winery Founder David Stare was the first producer to label and market a Meritage wine, which denotes a superlative wine made with traditional Bordeaux grape varieties. That was back in 1985. Twenty-seven years later, it has become a Dry Creek… Read more
2008 Field Stone ‘Staten Family Reserve’ Petite Sirah Port, Alexander Valley
Opaque purple/black color. Aromas of concentrated blackberry jam, pectin, black pepper, menthol and a note of nuttiness. The wine thickly coats the palate, with the jammy black fruit picking up some chocolate. Aging for 12 to 20 years should yield a… Read more
2008 Field Stone Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley
Field Stone Cabernets may not get much name recognition from the younger generation of oenophiles, but we Silverbacks of the wine jungle know of and appreciate its storied heritage. Back in the 1960s and ’70s, the Cabernet vineyards were planted… Read more
