From organic vineyards in Carneros, Napa, California, light ruby colors with red fruit, jammy and gamey aromas while the palate holds spicy cinnamon, black cherry, raspberry and hints of toasty oak with smooth texture and nice finish. Here are the numbers: $35, 14.2% alcohol and 91 points from Wine Enthusiast.

In the early 1980’s, Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles caught the attention of renowned Napa Valley vintner Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards. That’s what this Liberty School 2008 Cab is all about. Rounding out with silky tannins, nice texture, and a ripe finish with good length, this Cab is especially food friendly.

Kit's Kiler Cab 2008. Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet Sauvignon fruit comes from an alluvial fan on Ritchie Creek in Calistoga, and the 8% Merlot and 8% Malbac comes from a vienyard along the Napa River. Some excellent wines this week, an assortment of reds and whites from around the globe. Terrezas de los Andes.

Harvest is progressing nicely, if slowly, here in Napa Valley. 2008 Hanzell Estate Sonoma Pinot Noir Briny, musky, with notes of damp earth and mild but fresh spice aromas with bright fresh and sweet grape notes on top. Crosby Roamann USA 3 stars Sonoma Napa Valley 2008Our 2011 St. In Rutherford our newly contracted 1.27

We are talking about the influence of French oak on the 2008 Pinot Noir, and as is the case when wine geeks get together, the conversation turns to toast (not the kind you have at breakfast) and the importance of being on the same page with your cooperage. Napa Valley News USA bouchaine carneros chardonnay pinot noir winery

Today I would like to introduce two Grigolino, one from Asti and one from Napa. The Heinz Cellars Grigolino from Napa seemed slightly more complex, possibly from riper grapes and some maturation in wood. 2008 Heitz Cellar Grignolino. Then the clerk (that new one) comes up to you and asks what you are looking for. Grigolino.

We are talking about the influence of French oak on the 2008 Pinot Noir, and as is the case when wine geeks get together, the conversation turns to toast (not the kind you have at breakfast) and the importance of being on the same page with your cooperage. Napa Valley News USA bouchaine carneros chardonnay pinot noir winery

2008 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Chardonnay. Bodegas Roda Reserva 2006. color: medium + intensity/opaque with garnet miniscus. nose: med+ cherry tobacco, brandied cherries, earth, fresh ground cinammon, palate: med+ intensity, dry, acid is med+ and juicy, tannin med and very well balanced, finish med+. Drink now to 2025. Wine reviews

Also tasted Kongsgaard 2008 Napa Valley Chardonnay * nectar of the gods. Dark garnet. Pine, cedar, woodsy notes on the nose, with mild brine that comes through on the tongue. Light on the palate, with tart strawberry and orange tang on the finish. Ribald passion fruit, sweat, chunky mid palate.

had met Nicki last year at the Master of Wine conference in Napa, as the winery invited us to tour the vineyards and meet Nicki and tsste the wines. look forward to seeing her again in Napa soon. Napa Valley News american sommelier society cask 23 nicki pruss Stags LeapThe icing on the cake was the 1997 S.L.V.

Wiemer , dry Riesling, Finger Lakes, 2008: the class almost unanimously liked the wine from our own Empire State; the winery website provided the basic useful info I was looking for, including photos, history, and tech specs and the wine. More Americans are drinking wine today than ever before. Forget social media and “web 2.0″–too

tried both the 2008 Meritage and Cabernet Sauvignon and found both well balanced with good concentration of fruit and well integrated flavors. Tags: Napa Valley Wine reviews cabernet sauviginon chardonnay cowgirl creamery meritage robert mondavi private selection Jammy and rich are good descripters here.

This is a practice that makes sense in our competitive market, and rather smart for the winery which farms 230 acres of estate vineyards throughout the North Coast, primarily in Napa Valley and produces 43 wines. also liked the 2008 Pinot Noir, which was sourced from the Henry Ranch in Carneros. Brooks Painter, winemaker. sattui

Unlike a vineyard you might have seen in Napa or France, that long-ago winter the vines were coiled up like gnarled, sage snakes, waiting to strike at the first sign of spring. Hatzidakis is another producer and their 2008 Santorini Assyrtiko. Crave an exotic island rarely seen by American eyes?

Here is a fine Napa blend of 46% Zinfandel, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 10% Petite Sirah, 2% Charbono, and 1% Grenache. Deep violet colors in the glass, spreading to a garnet outer ring, with aromas of red berry and ripe black cherry and wafts of smoke. Robert Parker: 90 pts Wine Spectator: 92 pts Retails: $35

So here's the story: In the 70s Dennis's father (the whole family consider themselves co-owners) visited the Napa Valley and mentioned his interest in owningg a vineyard to some family friends who had a ranch in Rutherford. When he returned home that afternoon, the phone rang and it was the family friends offering to sell their property.

really enjoyed the 2001 Shiraz, which received 98 points from Wine Advocate, though I enjoyed the 2008 equally well with its jammy red fruits and "inky black fruit over vanilla ice cream" character. "It's been decades since I've been to New York," says the youthful and sporty looking Lynne Shri vin gon who has come to the U.S.

Here are some of my quick tasting notes: Lot 108 Napa Valley Chardonnay 2007 $14 Apple, pineapple, lemon rind and pear aromas with lemon verbena and grapefruit on a creamy fresh finish. Lot 159 Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2008: new release $14 Musky aromas, citrus, creamy oak. To me they were all great value wines.

Of course my choice would be Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley or Russian River Valley, the home of some of the best wines in the world. Recently, the wife and I have been discussing a possible trip to California next year. few of the issues are for how long and where. Maybe we should wait until we can spend a couple of months and visit them all.

it seems like I've been going to the Napa Valley every few weeks this year. Only February, and I've been in late January for the Master of Wine educational seminar and just last week, the Symposium for Professional Wine Journalists and the Premiere Napa Valley Barrel Auction. Blackbird 2008 Premiere Napa Valley blend.

Andrea Oberto Barbera d'Alba 2008 DOC Cherry pie, red berries, blackberries, tobacco, polished. Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 70% form Napa, 30% from Sonoma with a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. Well, here they are. This wine is an excellent fruit forward California Cabernet.

alcohol, $22/bottle retail Cameron Confidential: From an 85 dollar bottle-program and the virtuoso wine maker that brought us Lot 133 2008 Atlas Peak Chardonnay, this primary blend is of a completely custom facility in Napa. It does sit at the high point of our pricing at 22 dollars, but is absolutely worth every penny.

2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Modus Operandi, Napa Valley, California. ? Right now, at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Dr. Manmohan Singh, prime minister of India, is being feted at a state dinner! The Obamas brought in chef Marcus Samuelsson of Aquavit in New York to cook a meatless, Indian-inspired meal for the 320 honored guests. Pear Tatin.

I’ve wanted to visit the Dominus Estate in Napa since it was built in 1997. So when I was in Napa in February as a speaker at the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers, I inquired about visiting and was glad that they offered me the chance. But it’s not open to the public. So here’s an edition of Dr. Vino inside !

Elliot Stern, chief operating officer of the Sorting Table, a Napa Valley-based wine distributor, is quoted as saying, "If you're a $90 wine and all of a sudden you're on the Internet at $50, how do you ever become a $90 wine again?" Note: lowering prices in 2008 has only spurred demand for en premeur Bordeaux.

From 95% cabernet sauvignon, with 3% merlot and 2% petit verdot.makes me think they should add 2% petit verdot to the final blend of the 2008, in an attempt to recreate the longevity of the sweetness here. Tags: 2004 Central California 2006 1988 3 stars Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Napa Valley 4 stars This wine put the 1989 to shame.

The 2008 Monte Bello will (probably) be made from just cabernet sauvignon and merlot for the first time in twenty-five years. From barrel, we also tasted the 2008 Geyserville Tightly wound, young, but still elegant, with spice and cedar and tight red fruits. This is a white knuckled trip, but I can never wait to just get there.

Napa Valley Vintners states, "Switchback Ridge produces handcrafted estate wines sourced exclusively from the Peterson Family Vineyard in Calistoga. Corrections : In my November 22, 2008 post I described a Dominus that I returned at a restaurant because it tasted off to me. Warning: This is a knock your ass to the floor wine. At 15.5%

So Ross Schwartz told the assembled group at the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers in Napa last week. He started researching the script in 2001 (well before Taber’s book was published, he pointed out) on “the Napa side&# by talking to Jim and Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena and their then-winemaker Mike Grgich.

Our first wine, a 2005 Hendry Zinfandel Block 28 Napa ** put on weight after decanting but failed to achieve the qualitative heights of the 2004 in terms of concentration and depth. Tags: 2 stars USA 2005 Sonoma Napa Valley Look for good dark fruits and mild loam, but no "wow."

» Bloomberg La Tache Blooper and a Sad Article on Sparklers/ a rant December 26, 2008 Looks like some lucky (or desperate) consumer from Beijiing just cooked a lot of pasta at CDGs over-priced wine department. It was in the Napa Register by some guy named L. 1991 Cote de Rhone La Tache? havent flown Air France since. Who knows.

Tags: USA Corrections Napa Valley

A blend of just 50% cabernet sauvignon with 32% cabernet franc and 18% merlot "with all of the fruit coming from the Napa Valley." This 1999 harkens back to an age of simplicity in style - and marketing - that I long for from Napa Valley. Tags: 2 stars USA 1999 Napa Valley Actually, it does the opposite. it's hard to resist.

home : wine recommendations : wine girl for hire : bio : articles : contact « Salvation and the Plight of a Wine Writer | Main | Notes on a Los Angeles Wine Scene » Abe Schoener on Temperature Control December 20, 2008 Is Abe Schoener the most polarizing winemaker in the states? think so. But they are worth debating. Absolutely.

Please put aside the fact that I've compiled this list because I'm a tool of the marketing gestalt that controls Napa Valley.) Most of the cults aren't even bottled yet when they are purchased as futures, and this fact might give you the "blues." You aren't alone. This list is by no means complete, and it may very well be inaccurate.

Crushpad, a custom wine maker San Francisco, has released the pricing on a 2007 Napa Cab. SIPPED: American wine in the UK! America California overtakes France to move into second place in the UK wine market, thanks to high volume supermarket brands, particularly rosé (aka white zin?). SIPPED: resveratrol. news.com.au ]. SPIT: recession!

This bottle was purchased from WineBid.com at a huge discount three years ago. We took it out over the weekend to prove that Randy Dunn's Howell Mountain cabernets can age as nicely as any Bordeaux. The wax capsule on this bottle was lightly chipped, but the cork, perfect.

last seen at Viader in Napa) or is it amphora? What is the chicest container for fermenting wine in? Is it the cement egg? Good question. The egg is catching on and it is easier to ship to the states, so far there are no amphora, but give it a few seconds. But the reason for this blog is pudding, not ceramics. Could these be the culprit?

home : wine recommendations : wine girl for hire : bio : articles : contact « Joes New Blog | Main | Looking for that Magical Mood Altering Taste » And For that Pudding-Like Texture December 14, 2008 What is the chicest container for fermenting wine in? last seen at Viader in Napa) or is it amphora? Is it the cement egg?

home : wine recommendations : wine girl for hire : bio : articles : contact « And For that Pudding-Like Texture | Main | LVMH--the machine » Looking for that Magical Mood Altering Taste December 14, 2008 Im sure THEY ask you, THEY are surely asking me: what have you been drinking that is exciting. JEALOUSY! JEALOUSY! Dull, short.

2008 photo by Dave Trieger This opulent, deep opaque purple Cabernet has a softness that I savor so much. And there were lots of sensory memories from my past that I had to call upon in free association. We gathered at Cafe Loup on 13th Street in NYC to sample these wonderful old Cabs from the Maestro of California wines.

Copia, the wine, food and art museum and restaurant in Napa City, closed on November 21 and has filed for Chapter 11. Buyers wanted. The IHT reports that fine wine buyers “are pushing back.&# Adieu, Copia. The original $55 million in funding came at least half from Robert Mondavi. The NYT promises more coverage tomorrow.

We followed up with Mondavi Napa Valley Merlot 2005 ** which is less robust than the 2004, and not quite as fruity, but is more subtle, and a generally good value wine at $16 To conclude my previous post. Cherry red color with bricking at the edge, this was full on bloody with nice tang on the mid palate.

Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Merlot 2004 ** a very good merlot with blueberry notes and solid body that can be had for under $20 Bryce Vineyard Pinot Noir 2004 * ripe and succulent but with sufficient acidity to hold it all together. But more on that, later. Some are Good Values , others are Cellar Selections , all are American.

November 26, 2008 When in Napa over the weekend, I realized I needed to buy a copy of my book as a gift. tried Napa Valley Wine Hardware where I was told they had an extensive selection of wine books. Here I was thinking that all of Napa was in the Parker BIG WINE camp and wanted to hold public Alice Feiring book burnings.

I was in Napa over the weekend and needed to buy a copy of my book as a gift. tried Napa Valley Wine Hardware where I was told they had all wine books out. The sales help, a brown-haired, soft spoken woman of a certain age, dressed in western inspired Napa-style, asked me what the name of But here I was in the heart of Big Wine.

The maitre d' brought over a bottle of 1980 Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ** The primary note in the glass was a honeyed balsamic reduction. We dined at Henry's End in Brooklyn Heights last night, which was very good. ordered a bottle of the 1988 Dominus, which unfortunately was funked. screw cap debate. It was not the cork.

2002 Seavey Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ** A big Napa cabernet of dried cherries with smokey and chewey tannins. Mexico is a difficult place to find a good bottle of wine. Those were a Seavey cabernet and a Hansell chardonnay I purchased at Scotto's Wine Cellar nearby before we left. drink beer.  Pirque, Chile. 2006 M.

As G-20 leaders met in Washington this weekend while the economic world burns, they sipped Shafer Hillside Select 2003, a $250 Napa cab ( find this wine ). SPIT: 2008 Hospice de Beaune. SIPPED: too much. This raised the hackles of bloggers at CNN (perhaps because they could only find it for $500?). Thanks, Arthur ! ). SPIT: too little.

From there I went to Napa and worked at a large custom crush facility.  As many of you already know, I got my start in wine when I went to Israel during the 2006 harvest and worked at a winery & in this winery’s vineyards.  Before returning to NYC I asked the winemaker whom I

was really interested in these wines and glad I ended up popping them on Sunday, since I was fortunate to have the time on Monday to go through them again. and as well as they showed on Sunday, they were singing by Monday night. have a soft spot for catching wines at their peak and it was an itch that this bottle scratched! Until the next time.

I bet you thought the title was referring to the recently released movie that retells the story of the great 1976 wine standoff between France & Napa.  Although the story is a very interesting one and I hear the movie was entertaining as well, that is not what I am writing about tonight.  Sadly I

Lot 75, a 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa California:, Nose: oak, Fig Newtons (Eric G called it), raisins, slightly bitter on the palate. This past Sunday Greg Dal Piaz from snooth.com had a sampling of some of the new Cameron Hughes wines. Our focus is on buying at the high-end, small available 'Lots' of super premium wine.

2004 Napa Valley Merlot **+ Thoroughly enjoyable. Mondavi's website states the wine is made from 100% Napa Valley fruit and sees 20% new French oak. 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ** The merlot was so good I went back and bought a bottle of the Cabernet Sauvignon. The 1997 Napa Valley Cabernet is a stunning wine.

The purchase of Napa’s Chateau Montelena by the Reybier group (Cos d’Estournel), hailed in July by Robert Parker as “one of the biggest stories in my 30 years in the wine field,&# has now been canceled. SPIT: red states. Indeed! Texas, over to you? SPIT: global wine mergers. PR newswire ]. SPIT: global wine. Bloomberg

Audrey, reading Wine Spectator in Lake Tahoe, Spring 2008) So it was with glee and trepidation that I ordered one ticket for the California Wine Experience at the Marriot in NYC - but mostly glee. Araujo Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley "Eisele Vineyard" 2005 * Smoky garnet color. Viader Napa Valley 2005 Bouquet of dried spring flowers.

I had the good fortune to go to dinner the other night with Gregory Dal Piaz at Snooth , Karl Wilder of www.fusiononthefly.com fame and Dave Trieger who runs www.vignauvavino.com. We met at Cafe Loup, at Greg's invitation, to drink some wine and discuss wine blogging in NY. We tasted a Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon "Backus Vineyard" 1985 first.

(originally posted on snooth.com by the author) I'm fairly new to snooth , but since the beginning of 2008 I founded a wine blog and website and having a great time doing it. Greg opened 3 beautiful California reds for us: Joseph Phelps Backus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1985. pretty diverse group. And last but not least.

It goes without saying that Warren is a legendary Napa producer and that I was very excited to meet him. I'd like to say just briefly that when I visited the property in Napa Valley in January 2007 I was amazed at the high quality of the estate wines. tasted the Artemis cabernet sauvignon and Karia chardonnay only briefly.

We had three from the Napa/Sonoma region, and one from Carmel Valley in Central Coast. On the night of the great VP debates, the Imbibe Wine Club met to sample some 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon from California. With the intention of focusing on tasting notes until Sarah Palin’s face appeared (warranting belligerent screams from our crowd

It's pure, not overly extracted, not too sweet, and not grapey, like so many Napa cabs, but it has good depth and concentration Everyone loves this wine: Cellartracker , Robert Parker , Wine Spectator , Stephen Tanzer, Alder Yarrow. Alder Yarrow quoted Lou Kapcsandy (cup-CHUN-dy): "I have no interest in fruit bombs.

Medium body. Dark cocoa, raspberry liquor, and a little menthol. Pretty good stuff - drinking nicely right now

25th | Main | The Surrogate Mother Approach to Winemaking and Business Models » The Bordeaux Report September 13, 2008 (Part 1) I could care less about most of Bordeaux after 1996. home : wine recommendations : wine girl for hire : bio : articles : contact « Kermit Lynch On Sept 23/ Sante Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta on Sept.

I've decided to list these two Ridge zins together, but they really couldn't be more diverse. The 2006 Paso Robles * from Benito Dusi's Ranch, 100% zinfandel from old old vines, is actually a light bodied, mild-mannered 14.6% alcohol (if such a thing exists) showing nicely ripe red fruit and not too much heat. It's deep.

This Pine Ridge 2005 Carneros Merlot from the Napa Valley/Carneros region of California is 98% Merlot , 1% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Malbec and aged 15 months in French oak barrels. It shows dark aromas of blackberries, cherry and blueberry with notes of coffee, tobacco and cedar. SRP is $45.

to be expected from a mid-level Napa blend. Our friend Kyle Olmon - author of the fabulously successful pop-up book Castle: Medieval Days and Knights  - brought this over for Saturday night BBQ. For what it's worth, Montgomery Place is the new label developed by the old sommelier at Per Se. The wine was dark and rich.

Almost perfect today, and still a four star wine anyway. This chardonnay is an aged gold color, with huge tropical fruits, nuts, and full citrus notes throughout. Big, bright, fruity, intense - just simply a "wow" wine. In my opinion Kongsgaard sets the bar for chardonnay in California, followed closely by Peter Michael and Kistler

We also cracked another bottle of 2004 Far Niente Napa Valley Chardonnay The 1997 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello is a sometimes gorgeous wine. My previous experience with this wine, at a Wine Spectator tasting in 2007, was phenomenal. Previously, I had tasted one bottle damaged by heat - thin, bland, and boring.

San Fransisco Chronicle article about Italian varietals in California (I have had some amazing Napa Sangiovese). And consulting winemakers, a phenomenon I became familiar with while working in Napa (although made popular by Frenchman & Mondovino character Michael Rolland). I have been nice and busy the past few weeks.

Here in the good old US of A, it is known simply as Sparkling wine or as my friends in Napa like to call it "bubbly". Champagne is simply sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France. Sparkling wine is also made in regions all over the world. In Spain it is known as Cava while from Italy it is Prosecco. Yummy.

This rich deep rose colored Cabernet from Napa , California is full-bodied, clean and smooth. Made from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon aging in French oak barrels for 18 months, then 15% Merlot added to the final bottled blend. On the nose wafts chocolate, oak and herb. Extremely concentrated and complex with an alcohol content of 14.9%

They even have wines from Israel (which you all know I think is great) as well as a very enviable "reserve list" mainly comprised of Bordeaux & Burgundy (with some Napa Cab, & Barbaresco thrown in for good measure) ranging in price from about $200 per bottle up to $1750 for a 2000 Chateau Margaux. The good: the staff was really great.

Since returning to NYC from Napa, at the advice of several amazing wine industry mentors, I have been frequenting NYC's wine bars.  Those of you who know me or who have been reading the blog for any period of time know of my infatuation with wine bars.  All part of my journey, a journey I hope never ends, to train my wine palate.

First up is the Merlot from Napa County, California. This is one of my favorites from a tasting I attended this past weekend at The Restaurant at Sun & Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach, N.Y. There were exclusively California wines that ran the gamut, but I'll be concentrating on the reds I enjoyed. alcohol content. Range about $22

Straw/hay color. Very nice bouquet of lemon poppeyseed muffins. On the palate the wine exhibits warm grass notes, mellon, and lemon meringue pie. This is very reminiscent of a New Zealand sauvignon, with equal parts fresh cut grass and steel. If you are looking for a New Zeland sauvignon from California - this is it!

Ciao, p paige on July 1, 2008 08:07 AM Straw man alert. SFJoe on July 1, 2008 02:17 PM Sorry if I was obscure. SFJoe on July 1, 2008 03:01 PM Wow. Hank on July 1, 2008 04:13 PM Hank, Its quite conceivable in principle to use chemicals and be "sustainable." Joe SFJoe on July 1, 2008 04:19 PM Oh she is BORING isnt she!!

They are also often (but certainly not always) more affordable than their southernly neighbors from Napa. But any post about Israeli wines will be elaborate and hopefully include some specific news/update describing progress concerning my previously discussed Israel Wine Project. People have complained about the expense of Israeli wines.

That said, many Bordeaux, Napa Cabs or other Cab/Merlot/Syrah (AKA Shiraz) wines are made in a more simple style and as such are NOT meant to be aged, rather they are intended to be drunk young. What is better, an old wine or a young wine? The truth is, there is no RIGHT answer to this question. Up to your personal preference.

Deep purple almost inky. Briar patch licorice, menthol and hints of violets and leather. There is a strong suggestion of vanilla and oak, but overall, this is gorgeous. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

I picked this up to celebrate the last day of law school - ever. It's hugely extracted - a black hole wine. Blackberries, violets, mild whole clove, and a little menthol. Secondary flavors include semi sweet cocoa and vanilla. But there's an aggressive spice, too, which isn't integrated, and the wine is a tad heady/hot.

Levendi's 2004 Napa Valley Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a perfect, "special occasion" wine. This wine shows that it is possible to bring subtly to Napa Valley. Even though it is a Napa cab it is not a huge powerhouse of a wine prohibiting the faint of heart from enjoying a glass or four. personally love this wine.

joined upon returning to NYC from Napa in search of other wine-curious individuals. In previous posts I've mentioned a wine club I have joined. In the year plus since the formation of our "club", I have become close with some of the core participants. Four of the six participants have some affiliation with the wine industry. THANKS!

It alludes to a group of wine drinkers I first learned about in Napa from friends who worked in a tasting room called in the article "score-chasers" (known more crudely as "score-whores"). It mentions some studies that I have discussed in the past regarding consumers scientifically determined increased pleasure from wine that costs more.

I attended the La Rioja Wine Tasting at the Astor Center yesterday. had some nice wines, 1 standout wine (which I will get to) some nondescript wines and one or two corked wines. But what is more important to me is HOW this tasting was conducted. It was the quality of the tasting itself that stood out most to me. That is all for today.

stayed in a northern part of Napa known as Calistoga and made my way North West to Sonoma county. The prior day in Napa was a lot of fun but I have friends and other contacts there whom I really wanted to see so my day was very much set. The wine had a clear ruby color, with a somewhat typical Napa/Sonoma bouquet of blue/black berry.

Connie & I worked together at Napa Wine Company where she was easily one of my favorite people. We started the visit with a white as I tried what I was told the only Albarino from Napa (or maybe it was the first?). finished off with their St Helena Cab that I enjoyed as it was different from most Napa Cabs. Nice wines.

A very important project has come up and it appears I will have to get to this post over the weekend, but I thought I would show you a quick picture of the Napa vines and their "bud out" - or beginning of formation of the grape bunches. Details of the first day of the trip to follow.WTG.

He is collaborating with a winemaker I used to work with in Napa and poured that wine for me in addition to his own wine. His 2004 Neiman Cellars Napa Valley Red is a blend of 1/3 Cab Sauvignon, 1/3 Merlot, & 1/3 Cab Franc. Maybach winery from the Napa Valley had one wine at the tasting. don't know. great wine.

Had an amazing (yet extremely brief) 2 day trip in Napa & Sonoma.  Saw friends, old & new, and I am now back in San Fran and preparing to catch my red eye flight back to NYC tonight. took notes at just about all the wineries I visited.  I expect to have a full report posted shortly after I return.  Happy Winery hopping!

Called Black Coyote Bates Creek Vineyard 2004 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Today after work a few of us got together and sampled a really powerful bottle of wine from California. Powerful because it is 15.1% alcohol, but also because it's intensity is almost visible. The color is a unique deep purple with the opacity of ink.

Rich, elegant, and very fruity, the wine showed too much Napa spice for me to be truly wowed, but this will probably outlive many other wines, and once the pepper and spice fades, it may be truly extraordinary. Eric Baugher (left) Sean McBride (right) holding bottles of 2006 and 2007 Monte Bello. traveled down to Wasihngton D.C. French wines!

People I have met in Israel, Napa or NYC. I have long been a fan of "male bonding". ing with my buddies.  Yet I often laugh that men don't regularly engage in deep heartfelt conversation. The bonding is usually over women, sports, or some other common interest. Yet bonding of this sort only lasts SO long (in my experience). In comes WINE.

I had learned while taking a class at the CIA in Napa that this reaction to wine as a result of SULFITES was a myth.  Please accept my apologies for the infrequent posts of late.  This pre-Passover wine season has me running around to tastings and writing all kinds of articles.  I have also been plugging away at my Israel wine project. 

Recommended to me by Eric Baugher (VP and winemaker at Ridge Vineyards) Hendry's Block 28 Zinfandel is a little known gem from Napa. Veeder AVAs, Block 28 receives hot Napa sunshine and cool Carneros fog. Located between Carneros and Mt. The wine is a deep purple with good opacity. restrained nose of mostly dark fruits and stones.

This is a fun wine and not to be confused with anything more serious, but still, a step up from the run of the mill single star Napa Valley Chardonnay. Pale gold color. Sweet floral notes, with light lemon citrus and soft petrol notes. The wine is very accessible, broad and shallow. light texture but a lightly buttery attack. stars

Then we stopped by the side of the road and took this picture, and I remembered that Napa Valley time isn't the same as NYC time and the good folks at Seavey probably wouldn't care (or notice) if we were 15 or 20 minutes late for a Friday morning tasting. 2003 Seavey Vineyards Napa Valley Chardonnay - $40 - 2-3 stars. calling to me.

» California Style and Corisons No Show Girls March 20, 2008 Still on the California mission, my next stop was the Skurnik tasting. Shes doing a hell of a job, and she gives the essential reminder that its possible to make perfectly good wine in Napa. Runescape Gold on June 16, 2008 05:39 PM Post a commentFirst impression?