Charmail **, a 2005 Mondavi Napa Valley Merlot, 2000 Ch. Haut Gravet ** and the fifth wheel 2005 La Crema Pinot Noir Russian River Valley * It was interesting to note how these wines had evolved over the past 3-6 days. Somehow I ended up with five bottles of unifinished wine at the end of last week. MORE >>

The La Crema Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 2005 ** from the "cool" region of Mendocino ($35) made by winemaker Melissa Stackhouse is by far and away the best wine I have tasted from here in years. leg up in quality, we also tasted the Hartford Court Pinot Noir Fog Dance Vineyards from the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley AVA ($45). MORE >>

ended up in Healdsburg in the Russian River and started at a winery called Sausal winery. Zinfandel is a very common varietal in Sonoma county and I tried 2 Zins at Sausal; the 2004 Family Zinfandel & the 2005 Private reserve Zin. tried to get down a "bug juice" of sorts that was simply awful. That said the wines were nice. MORE >>

wine I really loved and found quite unique was the 2005 Domaine de Roally Vire'-Clesse' from the Macconnais, France. tasted 4 of them; a 2005 from grapes with botrytis (a desirable mold that when properly managed leads to long lived sweet wines), and 3 Vouvray. Interestingly enough, they make a 100% grenache wine called the (2005) St. MORE >>

From the back label: "Dutton Ranch planted the Manzana Vineyard on a gently sloped hillside in the Russian River Valley. The name 'Manzana", [sic] Spanish for apple, honors the long heritage of apple orchards here." The label goes on to describe how the "cool climate" produces slowly yet fully ripened fruit, blah blah blah. MORE >>