California Wines

When David Schlottman was promoted to Senior Winemaker for St. Clement vineyards Ed Sbragia said "David is one of the finest winemakers I know. His attention to detail, his knowledge of Napa Valley fruit, and his knack for coaxing the best flavors out of grapes will be a tremendous asset.? The Quarterly Review of Wines named him Winemaker of the Year in 1997. Now, working with Mockingbird Hill he?s producing the best value Cabernet we?ve seen...  

Winery: "Medium ruby color with a slight pink violet rim in the glass. Strong red fruit characters of bing cherry and wild strawberries with and underlining element of baking spice, clove and lavender. New French oak aromas are apparent with toasty vanilla characteristics. Dry, medium bodied with softer delicate red fruits on the palate. The wine has a long lingering finish of dried cherries and smoky vanilla. Moderate intensity...  

Made from the classic blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes, the Guillaume de Gand Brut Champagne from M&S has a fine mousse, fresh strawberry fruit flavours, crisp acidity and a rich, creamy palate.  

I recently had the chance to try this extraordinary Chardonnay at a lunch with Beringer's Winemaker, Laurie Cook. "Let the fruit drive what you are doing in both the vineyard and the winery," summed up Laurie's winemaking philosophy and is certainly put into practice in this particular Chardonnay. Layers of rich concentrated fruit make this wine interesting from the get go. On the nose, expect citrus and stone fruit along with warming oak...  

Grooner who? Why, Gruner Veltliner of course. A white varietal indigenous to Austria, it’s fresh and crisp but not as tart as sauvignon blanc, as round as chardonnay, or as floral as viognier. It could be mistaken for pinot blanc or riesling. The ...  

Cabernet sauvignon—and particularly the cabernet produced in California's Napa Valley—is the signature American wine. When a Napa cab, the 1973 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, beat out some leading French wines in the Judgment of Paris, it heralded the coming-of-age of American viticulture and gave the phrase Napa cabernet international cachet. Nowadays, however, that phrase is more apt to elicit snickers than praise; in the minds of many consumers...  

Here's the navigation from a winery Web site I recently visited, for a high-end Napa Cabernet Sauvignon: Acquire Wines Winemaker Vineyard Pedigree Mailing List Contact Trade There's nothing terribly wrong with it (aside from its position on the page). The...  

Nose: Rich cedar, smoke, cracked pepper and blackberry/plum compotePalate: incredibly smooth and silky feel. Soft structure, malleable.Finish:warm blueberry compote finish with some spiciness and wet tobacco notes.Overall: very nice and soft. A softer Napa cabernet sauvignon with full flavor and elegance. A Romantic wine. A high end steak house listed this at $160 which is probably 60-70 higher than a wine retailer can get it for.--A...  

Figuring out what to make for a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner can be difficult enough. There's the turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes ... but what to do about the wine? Few holiday tables would be complete without a glass of chardonnay or pinot noir. Choosing the right fit can be a challenge, so let an expert help you out.  

View full sizePhoto courtesy WyncroftJim Lester, owner of Wyncroft.A focus on creating premium, high-quality wines has helped Wyncroft winery in Buchanan differentiate itself since its founding in 1998. Wyncroft’s wines are somewhat exclusive, says owner Jim Lester. They are ultra-premium...  

Quivira Zinfandel · Wine Creek Ranch, Dry Creek Valley · California 2007 Since Thanksgiving is a holiday borne from the beginnings of the New World, it’s appropriate to have a grape indigenous to the US on the table next to the turkey. That said, Zinfandel fits the description — though its development may or may not [...]  

Waimea’s Chardonnay 2008 and Bolitho SV Pinot Noir 2007 have just been awarded Blue-Gold Medals at the prestigious Sydney International Wine Competition. The Waimea Dry Riesling 2006 was not only also awarded a Blue-Gold Medal, but additionally included ...  

Classic quality and bold style have distinguished Beaulieu Vineyard Reserve Wines for more than a century. This 2005 Dulcet is a prime example. The name reflects the harmony that?s created with this unique blend of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Napa Valley Syrah. The Cab is harvested from throughout the valley; Stags Leap District, Rutherford, St. Helena and Calistoga, and brings complexity and strength. The Syrah, from BV?s cooler...  

Five Southern Ohio wineries have teamed up for the "Annual Ohio River Valley Barrel Tasting Tour." The winemakers at Harmony Hill Vineyards & Estate Winery (Bethel), Kinkead Ridge Estate Winery (Ripley), Burnet Ridge Winery (Cincinnati) ...  

Ravenswood Zinfandel Sonoma Valley Cooke 2001