2010 Kenwood Cabernet Sauvignon, Jack London Vineyard, Sonoma Mountain
Nearly opaque dark ruby color. Bright mint-tinged dill and spiced tobacco aromas give way to show a solid core of black cherry and currant fruit. The wine is plush in the mouth, where the warm dark fruits take center stage. Nicely balanced and… Read more
2011 Sbragia Chardonnay, Home Ranch, Dry Creek Valley
Clear medium straw color. Lots of smoky oak, vanilla and sweet butter scents frame the ample peach, pear and pineapple in the nose. Lush and mouthfilling, the buttery fruit follows through to a lip-smacking, long afterflavor. This is very much a… Read more
2009 Nicolas Perrin Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone Valley, France
A whiff of alcohol blows off maybe a minute after opening, and this wine’s brawny Shiraz juice starts to strut its stuff. Still young and fruit-forward, there’s also a liveliness and acidity which brings balance to a wine that frequently can seem… Read more
2011 J. Lohr ‘October Night’ Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco, Monterey County
Clear light straw color. The perfumed nose exhibits exotic Asian flowers and fruits, sweet Meyer lemon, and oak shadings of vanilla and clove. The wine is medium-full in the mouth, with fine balance. From mid-palate on, it gains volume, pumping… Read more
2010 d’Arenberg ‘The Noble Wrinkled’ Riesling, McLaren Vale, Australia
The color is a beautiful glowing apricot/amber shade. The lush, ripe nose oozes honey, marmalade and dried apricot, pear and peach aromas, along with a subtle note of spice. Thick in the mouth, just short of cloying, the wine coats the palate with… Read more
2012 Gustafson Rosé of Syrah, Heritage Tree Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley
Brilliant pale pink carnation color. Aromas of fresh watermelon and cherry lead to tart cherry flavors that stay through to the finish. In the mouth, the wine is dry, showing crisp acidity. Clean and balanced, this is an excellent example of New… Read more
2009 San Antonio Winery ‘Limited Reserve Red,’ Paso Robles
This limited, 95th anniversary bottling is a proprietary mix of Bordeaux and Rhone varietals, selected from highly acclaimed Paso Robles vineyards by Maddalena Brands. And it’s a big mouthful of red — lots of dark berry fruits, with notes of… Read more
2009 Windstream Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands
Pretty aromas of sweet dark cherry and raspberry mix with light notes of vanilla and woodspice in this delightful wine from Maddalena Brands. The forward fruit is quintessensial California Pinot — in other words, yummy! MSRP: $30 (April… Read more
2011 Windstream Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands
The cool climate of the Santa Lucia Highlands allows Chardonnay to develop along Burgundian lines. This bottling from Maddalena Brands shows complex aromas and flavors of ripe pear, green apple, honey and bright shadings of spiced oak and butter…. Read more
2012 Vina Robles Viognier, Huerhuero Vineyard, Paso Robles
Brilliant straw color with glints of bronze. The alluring nose shows banana, honeysuckle, fleshy tropical fruits, peach, apricot and a hint of tangerine. The wine is creamy in the mouth, with peaches ’n’ cream flavors that carry through and… Read more
