Brockmeyer Blanc de Grenache 2020
125 year old vine Grenache Noir from a 2 acre plot in Fresno. Pressed off immediately to keep away the color. White pepper spice aroma along with some pear, yellow banana and green tea smells and flavors. A peach pit-like gentle bitterness on the finish. Interesting how the wine starts austere then broadens out when […]
Read Holland Chardonnay Peter Martin Ray 2018
First pass, just-opened and poured, has the roasted nut/roasted peach and lemon nose. With air the fresh citrus and orchard fruits jump out. Macintosh apples, white peaches, Meyer lemons, touch of grapefruit: classic. Gets more and more viscous as the hours pass. Caramel, clover honey, river rocks, sweet butter. So much texture and complexity. This […]
Localism Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Meyer lemon, peach and mango smells and flavors are my first and lasting impressions of the 2019 Localism Sauvignon Blanc. Lemon zest, garden thyme and lemongrass aromas easily identify it as Sauvignon Blanc. Biting acidity and softened texture from oak aging makes for a strong, impressive bottle of Napa white. More Information This is Mom […]
Bohème Chardonnay English Hill 2017
The Bohème Chardonnay “English Hill” 2017 immediately grabs the nose with caramelly lemon, roast hazelnuts, bright green apple slices, freshly cut pears and a sqeeze of lime. In the mouth it’s both vibrant and voluptuous with all the aforementioned aromas translating to flavors with an extra hit of caramel and apple butter. The rich Bohème […]
Cufflinks White Wine Napa Valley
Cufflinks White is a blend of 72% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Semillon, 6% Ribolla Gialla and 2% Chardonnay (mostly 2018 vintage). A high-end negociant wine (buy unbottled, blend it, bottle it), this unique white blend has a little bit of just about everything. While lemony citrus holds the throne, honeysuckle, mango, mandarin oranges, Honeycrisp apples, crushed […]
Poseidon Chardonnay The Bench 2018
Utterly delicious, the Poseidon Chardonnay The Bench possesses new world ripeness, cool Carneros acidity and deft winemaking that in tandem has created a bright, fruity, textured, quintessential California Chardonnay. Buttery croissants, crunchy pears, lemon cream and green tea smells and flavors delight from nose to finish. Round, creamy texture, mouth-watering acidity and comforting, warm sensation […]
Poseidon Chardonnay “Sea Change” 2019
Engagingly crisp fresh bread crust and textured nuance on the back end, the Poseidon Chardonnay Sea Change succeeds in their version of the oft-attempted tangy, naked “alternative style.” First impressions are yellow grapefruit, quince, lemon blossoms, lemon squeeze then bread crust and white chocolate flavors peek through at the end. Pleasingly tart and layered, this […]
Olivia Brion Taquine 2019
The Olivia Brion Taquine 2019 is a unique blend of 50% Viognier, 38% Gewurztraminer and 12% Chardonnay. Fruit sources are Amador, Russian River and Wild Horse Valley respectively. A tart, cutting aroma of Meyer lemon zest, Kaffir lime leaf, orange blossoms and white peach points to its racy, aperitif style. Taste grapefruit, blanched almonds, Macintosh […]
Read Holland Chardonnay Peter Martin Ray 2017
Intense, penetrating Chardonnay from start to finish, showing off loads of acidity, crushed rock-driven earth and a wound up yet humongous core of citrus and orchard (pear, apple, peach) fruitiness. Like a racy, formidable White Burgundy, the Read Holland Chardonnay “Peter Martin Ray” touches on all the flavors: sweet, salty, sour (I call it tangy), […]
Sleeping Giant Chardonnay “Buena Tierra” 2017
Rich golden, brilliant color. Honeyed, ripe green apple, lemon custard aroma move seamlessly to the flavor which is strong and luxurious. I also taste freshly baked biscuits, roast almonds and hazelnuts, caramel apples and lemon zest. It’s round and voluptuous in the mouth. In a word: WOW. This is top of the line Chardonnay in […]
Read Holland Riesling “Wiley” 2019
Micro-production Riesling made from mature 40+ year old vines. Introduction of tangy green apple and Meyer lemon…dry as a sun-soaked stone. As the wine breathes and quickly opens, out comes flavors of peaches, kiwis, tangerine, chamomile and chopped fresh ginger. Has the round texture and unapologetic acidity that makes Riesling the great grape that it […]
Peter Paul Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2018
The Peter Paul Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2018 straddles the style-line between crisp/refreshing and rich/round. The difference between this and most others in this Chardonnay middle ground is cohesion. What’s that mean? Often, crisp and rich don’t work together. You get a mouthful of tang then a wallop of rude oak flavor. Or the other way […]
AZUR Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Refreshing, citrus-driven acidity at first impression, getting a little rounder and more creamy as it warms in the mouth. A tasty array of fruits, from melon to apple to grapefruit to pear, combine with subtle floral and herb sensations. While light bodied, in the realm of Sauvignon Blanc I’d say it is medium/full (due to […]
St Romedius Dry Muscat Canelli 2019
Muscat’s exotic aromatics pop as the high acidity from an early pick keeps the sweetness perception meter at zero. Get lemongrass, green-tinged pineapple, orange zest and white flowers in the spring. There’s a ying-yang and of tang (bordering on tart) and exoticness that makes this a joy to drink. At 10% alcohol, it’s an easy […]
St Romedius Tocai Friulano 2019
Fresh fruity smells of white peaches, mango, honeysuckle, pineapple, crisp green apple and white grapes. The exotic, floral side of the wine steps up in the taste. Lemon bitters, lemon zest, Asian herbs and spices like coriander and lemongrass. And intense, piercing fruitiness. Gets a little creamy textured on the finish, which I like a […]
Peter Paul Chardonnay Bacigalupi 2018
A beauty of a Chardonnay from start to finish, the Peter Paul Bacigalupi Chardonnay starts with smells of caramel green apples, clover honey, fresh baked bread, roasted peaches and pears. In the mouth the wine is unapologetically rich and full-bodied while keeping a heartbeat of citrus-flavored acidity. Taste lemon custard, toasted coconuts, roast almonds, caramel, […]
Cave Dog Godello 2019
Starts off with an engaging, controlled nose of dried flowers, candle wax and citrus zest. Tangy and rounded texture in the mouth as flavors of baked green apples, mangoes, Meyer lemons and river rocks take their turn. I really like the beeswax texture of the wine – I’d guess it is Semillon if tasted blind […]
Cave Dog Albarino 2019
Introduces itself with springtime flowers and blossoms, grapefruit and peach. Stone fruits, crisp melon, Meyer lemon and the mysterious “minerality” take turns in the taste. Typical high acidity is countered by a textured roundness (from 4 months lees-ageing is both steel and nuetral oak). It’s young, and I suspect my tasting notes will be more […]
Onward Malvasia Bianca 2016
An “aromatic white” through and through, the Onward Malvasia Bianca 2016 smells of lemon verbena, wildflowers, coriander seeds and white pepper. The taste is intense, smooth and filled with fresh lemon zest, crisp pear and citrus bitters flavors. Medium/light bodied, pure and penetrating, it’s an ideal wine to pair with similarly light and strong flavored […]
Farmstrong “Field White” 2016
Three grape blend of Grenache Blanc, Albariño, Verdelho, all from Suisun Valley vineyards. Orchard fruits and honeysuckle on the nose. Taste ripe pears and peaches, Meyer lemon and honeycomb (sans the sweetness). Creamy texture like Chardonnay yet with distinctly different flavor profile. Long, 20+ second finish of floral, fruit and pleasant lemon bitters. Really classy […]
White Rock Chardonnay 2016
There are those Napa wineries that say they make a crisper, more refreshing style of Chardonnay, and then there is White Rock Vineyards who actually does it. They’ve been doing it a long time, too, and it seemingly keeps getting the better. The 2016 White Rock Chardonnay case in point. Granny Smith apple, ripe lemon, […]
Hudson “White Study” 2019
Taking a page from Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy, Hudson White Study 2019 is a blend of 45% Ribolla Gialla, 45% Tocai Friulano and 10% Chardonnay. Sea shells on the ocean beach, crushed almonds and pear skins on the nose. In the mouth I get lemon zest, honeydew melon and slightly green banana. Then something cool […]
Hudson Aleatico 2019
This rare, ancient grape of Corsica, central Italy or Greek origin is a cool oddity in Napa Valley. Not only is the grape seldom seen, it is almost never made into a white/Rosé wine. I can’t write never because that’s what this is! Grapes are pressed off their skin ASAP to make a honey-white colored […]
Hudson Chardonnay Estate 2018
Lightly toasted marshmallow, lemon custard and nutmeg introduce the Hudson Chardonnay 2018. These smells continue on in the mouth along with dark honey, roasted green apples and pears and ripe citrus. No doubt this is a rich, voluptuous style, but that’s not half the story. The great vineyard site and meticulous farming produce world-class quality […]
