Month: October 2015

Barefoot Chardonnay NV: Pale yellow-straw color; peach, apple nose; peach, green apple, squeeze of citrus on the palate; Continue reading →

Bovin Chardonnay 2014: Light yellow-green color; melon, banana, pineapple nose; fruity citrus-lemon, green apple on the palate. Continue reading →

Simi Landslide Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2012: Deep red-ruby color; vivid plum, cherry, cassis, vanilla nose; cherry, red berry, plum, blackberry, sweet-toasty oak, pepper on the palate. Continue reading →

Wild Horse GSM Central Coast 2012: Garnet color; blueberry nose; blueberry, plum, vanilla, cherry on the palate; Continue reading →

McBride Sisters Truvée Red Blend 2013: Dark, dark red color; cherry, blackberry, raspberry nose; dark fruit, cherry, blueberry, blackberry, plum, caramel, mocha, pepper and spice on the palate. Continue reading →

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, ideal dramatis personae for annual Halloween column, and an opening into discussion of what happens when we enjoy more alcohol than prescribed by “drink responsibly.”
Researchers at Department of Psychological Sciences at University of Missouri-Columbia published a paper characterizing “four types of drunks.” Where do you fall, presuming you have ever been drunk? Continue reading →

Ravenswood Dickerson Zinfandel 2013: Opaque ruby-garnet color; red cherry, black raspberry with few petals of dried rose on the nose; raspberry, cherry, plum, chocolate, mint, eucalyptus on the palate. This is elegant zin with lodes of zesty young fruit coming from vines that are more than 80 years old; minerality, strikingly good acidity for zin (3.54 pH), balanced, lovely supple layers of flavor, clean, round, bright, plush, medium weight in the mouth, some oak sweetness artfully integrated into the whole; 14.9% alcohol that remarkably does not come across as hot in any way. Delicious easy drinker, at same time a serious, superbly crafted red wine. Ravenswood is a superior maker of California zin. It is now part of Constellation Brands, the world’s largest winemaker, but as Constellation consistently and admirably does, they left the founder and longtime winemaker Joel Peterson in charge. To his credit, Peterson never bought into the 1990s super-ripe, ridiculously high alcohol oak monster zins then in vogue. Peterson’s wines consistently are brighter, fresher, more interesting than those cartoon character efforts—and he has been vindicated as many California makers have pulled back and admitted their zin sins, turning away from alcohol syrup pretending to be serious wine. Peterson must have a wry smile on his face: “told you so.” 2013 was good year in Napa, and this elegant effort reflects what nice things can happen when the wine gods smile and the winemaker gets out of the way and allows the land and the grapes to speak. Zin with finesse and grace, bravo. $37
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Viña Aquitania Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2010: Very dark garnet-ruby color; bright red fruit, herb nose; cherry, berries, mint, leather, some licorice and blackcurrant taste without the tang on the palate. Continue reading →

Charles Heidsieck Brut Millésime 2005: Golden yellow, slight hint of green color; autumnal aromas on the nose—hazelnut, roasting almonds, yeast/bread, lemon grass; Continue reading →

Apothic White 2013: Light yellow color; flowers, peach nose; apricot, peach, melon, apple, tropical fruit, vanilla on the palate. Continue reading →