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In addition to the wine reviews I write here at Gabe's View, I am now the contributing Wine Reviewer on a go forward basis for Bullz-Eye.com. The first couple of reviews are already posted as I type this. It's my sincere hope that all the readers of this blog will take a look at what I write for Bullz-Eye as well as the all the vast cornucopia of other content they offer.
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Today I'll look at the third Sauvignon Blanc from Dry Creek Vineyard. This is perhaps the varietal they are best known for. While the previous selections I looked at where single vineyard offerings, this is their county appellation, widely available, take on Sauvignon Blanc.
The 2007 Fumé Blanc is made from Sonoma County fruit. This wine is 100% varietal. This offering was fermented in stainless steel. Just less than 30,000 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $14.50
Citrus peel emerges on the nose along with stone fruit and light but noticeable grass notes. The palate of this Sauvignon Blanc is rich and mouth-filling with a host of citrus, gooseberry and kiwi throughout. The finish is generous in length and loaded with continued citrus as well as tropical fruit notes. Mineral and spice notes also emerge and linger to the very last. This wine has excellent acidity and good balance. It'll work well as an aperitif or paired with a wide range of lighter cuisine.
The lasting impression from this particular wine is of a Sauvignon Blanc that far outshines its price tag. There are countless Sauvignon Blanc's in this price range. Few of them offer the amount of rich fruit, complexity, quality and overall pleasurable drinking experience that this fine example from Dry Creek Vineyard does. What I often find lacking in other Sauvignon Blanc's in this neighborhood is that they can be out of whack. Either too much acidity or leaning too far towards the citrus or the grassy side. Thankfully this one has none of those issues. With close to 30,000 cases produced this one is going to be easy to find and likely for closer to $12.
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The third and final wine from Lionheart Wines I'm looking at right know is a Pinot Noir. I've mentioned many times on this blog that I'm pretty finicky about this varietal. The trouble is that there are a lot of over manipulated Pinot's, especially in California. So, while it's one of my favorite grapes, I approach examples I haven't had with caution. Having had several impressive Lionheart offerings by the time I got to the Pinot I was quite hopeful.
The Lionheart Wines 2007 Pinot Noir was made from Sonoma Coast fruit. 4 separate Pinot Noir Clones were blended and co-fermented. 50 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $40.
Loads of black cherry and a hint of licorice fill the nose of this Pinot Noir. Upon taking the first sip of this wine its apparent some time to breathe was needed. An hour in the decanter was very helpful and allowed this offering to blossom nicely. Once it opens up, cherry strawberry, tobacco and copious spice notes are omnipresent through the palate of this wine. The finish features some subtle but emerging earth notes, a bit of sour cherry and lingering black tea elements.
As with the other two Lionheart Wines selections I looked at this Pinot Noir has excellent acidity and balance. They have once again achieved their goal of food friendly wines with this Pinot Noir. While this wine is drinking well now, after some breathing time, my recommendation is to let it sit for another 6-12 months. That time should really help it evolve. I'd expect it to drink well for several years after that. Kudos to Lionheart Wines for making some lovely wines that are true to their respective varietals.
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The number of noteworthy wines emerging from or made from fruit sourced in Mendocino has been rising. The cooler climate there, relative to 
large portions of other parts of California really lends itself to certain varietals and styles. The second wine I'm looking at from Lionheart Wines is a Mendocino sourced Syrah.
The Lionheart Wines 2005 Syrah was sourced at the Eaglepoint Ranch in Mendocino. This offering is 95% Syrah and the balance Grenache. A tiny 25 cases of this wine were produced and it sells for $35.
Candied plum and leather notes fill the nose of this Syrah. The palate is loaded with rich, dark berry fruit flavors. Alongside those, black pepper, licorice, anise and a touch of bacon fat make their presence known as the layers of this wine emerge. Chocolate covered cherry characteristics come out towards the back of the wine and lead to finish that is filled with earth, blackberry, vanilla, white pepper, allspice and residual bacon fat notes.
What I like best about this wine is that it reminds me more of an old world Rhone style Syrah than it does the average California Syrah. A large part of the reason for that is the excellent acidity and great balance this wine has. As with the White Rhone style blend I looked at from Lionheaert, this Syrah wants to be paired with food. I had it with Pot Roast and found that to be an excellent match. Other red meats would also pair nicely as would stinky and/or well aged cheeses. Another teriffic effort from Lionheart Wines.
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Lionheart Wines is another of the Winery's that stood out to me this fall at the Wine Blogger's Conference in Santa Rosa. So when the opportunity to taste through a few of their wines presented itself, I jumped at it. Leon C. Glover, the founder and winemaker, started the label to produce food friendly wines. Many winemakers strive for this goal. Since Leon is also a Chef it seems like an even more natural ambition. I'll look at three of his wines. Up first is a white Rhone style blend.
The 2007 Angel's Share is made from fruit sourced at Saralee's Vineyard in Russian River Valley. The blend is 66% Marsanne, 33% Rousanne and 1% Viognier. This wine spent 8 months in close to neutral French oak. A mere 74 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $33.
Honeysuckle, lemon, pear and a host of spice notes such as white pepper and nutmeg burst from this wines effusive nose. There is a persistent core of fruit throughout the palate which is lush, soft and mouth filling. Lemon and orchard fruit flavors are the most notable along with some pineapple and guava. The finish is ever so lightly creamy with some hints of nut and vanilla. The wines acidity is excellent and this will be a great compliment to spicy Thai cuisine, as one example. It drinks phenomenally on its own and I wouldn't hesitate to let this wine stand by itself to impress your guests.
What I like best about this Rhone style blend is that it tastes a lot more complex than its $32 price tag. This boutique wine is a well made gem. While not made for long term aging this offering will improve for a couple of years and hold for a couple after that, certainly longer than the average California white. Well done by Lionheart Wines.
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While the first wine I looked at from Renard was Grenache, their calling card is Syrah. They make some other Rhone varietals as well. They source their Syrah from several sources. The two wines I'm going to look at today are consecutive vintages they source at Unti Vineyard. In addition to being a grower, Unti is also a producer of fine Dry Creek Valley wines.
The 2003 Renard, Unti Vineyard Syrah is their current release of this offering. 157 cases of this wine were produced in addition to 100 cases of 
½ size bottles. The respective retail prices are $25 and $14.
I found that an hour in the decanter was the right amount of time for the 2003 Syrah to really open up and express itself. Once it was open aromas of blueberry, leather, tobacco and light anise filled the nose. A solid core of rich berry fruit is persistent throughout the palate along with nutmeg and white pepper spice notes. Sour black cherry, notes lead the finish followed by earth, bramble, black pepper and classic elements of Dry Creek dust.
The 2002 Renard Syrah I tasted was from half bottles. Just something to note as wine tends to age a bit differently depending on the bottle size. I found the 2002 was pretty much ready to go out of the bottle. It opened up a bit more over time but not as dramatically as the 2003. Candied plum, cedar, violets and anise were present in the nose. The palate was loaded with crushed cherry and to a lesser degree leather characteristics. The nose of the 2002 speaks a bit more of new world Syrah than the 2003, however the palate is definitely old world. Blueberries and licorice notes are present in the mid-palate leading to a finish of prominent earth, mineral and black pepper. The 2002 is perfectly ready to drink now.
What I like best about the Renard Syrahs is that they are both well balanced offering featuring fine acidity and a solid core of rich fruit. As with the Grenache they're perfectly suited for a wide array of foods. While Renard is a smaller producer you won't necessarily find on your local shelf, they are well worth seeking out if you like well crafted Rhone varietals. These 2 consecutive vintages are a good example of the consistency of their offerings.
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Back in October I spent 10 days out in California. Part of my time was spent at the 1st North American Wine Bloggers Conference, the rest touring wineries. During my time at the conference I had the opportunity to taste quite a few wines I was not aware of and thus might not have sought out otherwise. Their quality and my interest in them varied greatly. A couple of producers really stood out. One that I made a note to revisit was Renard. Renard is by most measures a tiny winery. Most of their offering are a few hundred cases or less. They source fruit from throughout the state. I'm going to look at 3 of their wines, all from fruit grown in Dry Creek Valley.
The 2006 Renard Grenache is made from Dry Creek fruit sourced at the Unti Vineyard. They produce approximately 100 cases of this wine each year and it retails for $35.
Leather and violets fill the nose of this highly perfumed Grenache. Cassis, black pepper and raspberry notes fill the palate. Touches of bacon Fat underscore the mid-palate and really make the core of the wine multi-layered and interesting. Cranberry characteristics come out and carry through the finish which features emerging tobacco and earth notes. The Renard wines I have sampled, particularly this Grenache, are simply built to pair with your favorite meal. This wine will be versatile and marry well with a host of foods.
I was impressed that despite alcohol clocking in well over 15% this wine doesn't drink hot at all. Contrary to that it's balanced and has good acidity. This Grenache has a charm and appeal that is often missing from wines produced in large quantities. I Highly recommend the Renard Grenache.
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For more than ten vintages Quintessa in Napa Valley has been producing a Bordeaux style blend that does an excellent job of showing off its 
Rutherford lineage. A few years back they also started producing Faust. Faust is a Cabernet Sauvignon based wine with a Napa Valley appellation.
The 2005 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon is 77% varietal. 18% is Merlot and the balance is Cabernet Franc. Fruit was sourced in Rutherford and a vineyard south of Atlas Peak that will be called Tulocay in the future. The wine was aged in French oak for 18 months. 30% of it was new and the balance was one year old. The suggested retail price for this wine is $55.
Cherry, cedar and vanilla notes are prominent in the nose. From the very first sip and throughout the palate, there is a ton of berry fruit underscored by lighter vanilla notes. Earth, bramble, spice and mineral notes emerge in the mid-palate and continue through the finish which is long, lingering and incredibly smooth in nature. Throw in good tannic structure plus solid acidity and you have a classic example of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. This offering is a textbook wine to pair with Prime Rib.
What I like best about this wine is that it's bigger, firmer and more structured than the average 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet. Many of the 2005's I've tasted are on the softer side. The Faust is certainly approachable now, especially after an hour in the decanter, but it's got the structure for mid-term aging too. I tasted this wine a second time after it had been open for 24 hours. It held up quite well.
This wine isn't inexpensive. However there are many Napa Cabernet's in this price range that aren't as tasty or well made as the 2005 Faust. So if you're inclined to spend the bucks on a 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet, here's a fine example.
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The fourth wine I'm looking at that was made by winemaker Joe Otos is another Cabernet Sauvignon from Owl Ridge Wines. This time the fruit is from Dry Creek Valley. While Zinfandel is the first thing most people think of when it comes to this appellation, there are actually more acres of Cabernet Sauvignon under vine.
The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is made from fruit sourced at the T.R. Passalacqua Vineyard. The wine was aged in all French oak, 40% of it new. 773 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $38.
Cassis, plum and blackberry fill the nose of this Cabernet. I was hit with a touch of Eucalyptus on the first sip followed by a ton of rich, mouth-filling berry fruit. In the mid-palate a hint of chicory comes put accompanied by tobacco and dust that is so typical of Dry Creek. Black tea notes emerge as a lead in to the finish which is filled with crushed cherries, white pepper and vanilla. Sweet chocolate notes slither in and out of the palate making their presence known from time to time. This wine has approachable tannins and good acidity.
My favorite component of this wine is the rich berry fruit that really comes to the forefront throughout the palate. Time in the decanter allowed this wine to express itself fully. Once it opened up a good bit of earthiness exposed itself that had previously been hidden. As with the other wines I've looked at made by Joe Otos this is lovely expression of the varietal. I look forward to keeping up with his wine-making in the future.
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A couple of weeks back I looked at some Pinot Noir's from Willowbrook 
Cellars. Joe Otos is the winemaker for those wines. He's also the person who makes the two Cabernet Sauvignons I'm looking at today and tomorrow. These two Cabernet's are from Owl Ridge Wines. Their focus is to produce Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma County fruit.
The Owl Ridge Wines 2005 Cabernet was produced from fruit sourced at Brigden Vineyard. That vineyard is located in the hills between Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley's Spring Mountain. This wine was aged for almost two years in French oak, 40% of it new. 256 cases of this Cabernet Sauvignon were produced and the suggested retail price is $48.
This Cabernet opens with a big, fragrant nose full of violets. Blueberry and blackberry fruit dominate the palate, underscored by dark, dusty baker's chocolate. Around the mid-palate cherry notes emerge and stay in play through the finish. Speaking of which, the finish is impressively long, lingering and memorable, featuring earth, spice (most notably white pepper), and mocha notes. This wine has firm but approachable tannins and good acidity. This is a very well built wine that lets the fruit shine on through. A steak would be an excellent match for this Cabernet.
The finish is what most impressed me about this wine. It goes on for quite a long time. While this Cabernet is drinking well now, especially after a solid hour in the decanter, it should improve for some time. My bet is that it shows positive evolution over the next 3-5 years and drinks well for 5 or so after that. The Brigden Vineyard Cabernet from Owl Ridge Wines is an excellent effort well worth the price. This is the sort of wine to consider for your holiday meal.
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The last wine from Barra of Mendocino I'm looking at this week is their Petite Sirah. This is a varietal that absolutely fascinates me. What seems to really get me excited about Petite is how much it can change over time. When they're young they can be dense and monolithic and at the same time exuberant and bold. With age, well made Petite Sirah gains a lot of secondary characteristics and complexities. There are a number 
of well made, reasonably priced Petite Sirah that will age nicely for a long while. One of the questions I set out to answer when tasting this wine is, would it be one of them?
The 2004 Petite Sirah from Barra of Mendocino is 86% varietal and the balance Zinfandel. 507 cases of this offering were produced and the suggested retail price is $23.
If you're going to drink this wine over the next couple of years, I recommend decanting it for a couple of hours. That time allows it to really come into its own and express its charms. Once it does, plum fills the nose with a touch of cinnamon underpinning it. The palate offers blackberry and cherry notes interspersed with dark, dusty baker's chocolate characteristics. The finish has a bit of earth and some prominent chicory and spice notes that linger. Much like the other wines from Barra, this Petite Sirah is nicely balanced and built for food. Strong cheeses, roasted meats or a nice Italian Sunday dinner would be my recommendations.
I went back to this wine twice, once after it had been open for 24 hours and a second time after 48 hours. In both cases, this Petite Sirah had simply continued to evolve and was even more exciting to drink. This wine will likely improve in the bottle for at least four or five years. I'd expect it to drink well for a decade or more. When you choose to drink it is going to come down to personal taste. It's deep, dark, bold and brash right now. A decade from now it should have more subtle fruit and more prominent earth characteristics. Either way this is an excellent example of Petite Sirah. Barra of Mendocino is making some really nice, reasonably priced wines, I recommend checking them out.
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Pinot Noir is the next release I'm tasting from Barra of Mendocino. Along with Chardonnay, this Burgundian varietal is one that can be very hit and miss for me. While I love both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir when they are well made, there are way too many poor examples out there clogging up wine shop shelves. These poor examples often bastardize the grapes by over oaking them. In the case of Pinot Noir some wineries 
blend in Syrah or even Petite Sirah to darken the color. All that said I approach every Pinot with a combination of great anticipation and little bit of fear.
The 2006 Pinot Noir from Barra of Mendocino is 100% varietal. This wine was aged in small French oak barrels. Just under 2,000 cases of this offering were produced and the suggested retail price is $22.
Aromas of wild strawberry and cola fill the nose of this wine along with lighter vanilla notes. Throughout the palate black cherry dominates along with spice notes. The finish lingers and provides light mushroom as well as continued cherry and a hint of cedar and mocha. This is a very well balanced wine with terrific acidity. Decanting this wine for 45 minutes is recommended to get it to really open up and shine.
What I like best about this Pinot Noir is its balance. Truth be told that has been a hallmark of each wine I have tasted from Barra of Mendocino. I retasted this wine after it had been open for a full 24 hours and found it to be even more expressive. It's drinking very well right now, but some earth should emerge over the next couple of years, if you're patient enough to lay it down. Another lovely wine from Barra of Mendocino.
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A couple of months back I tasted a Zinfandel from Barra of Mendocino. It was my first experience with their wines. I knew immediately it wouldn't be my last. After tasting well over 50 Zinfandels in a short period of time, the modestly priced selection from Barra emerged as one of my favorites. Over the next couple of days I'll look at three more releases from this family winery. Their current release of Chardonnay will be the first.
The Barra of Mendocino 2006 Chardonnay is 100% varietal. 280 cases of this offering were produced and the suggested retail price is $18.
Dueling apple and pear notes underscored by vanilla fill the nose of this aromatic Chardonnay. Throughout the palate this wine is soft and lush. Orchard fruit notes are prominent along with spice characteristics that all come together towards the middle for a striking reminder of apple pie. The finish features more abundant spices that bring fruitcake to mind as well as toast, mineral and a richness that builds as this Chardonnay lingers quite awhile. Excellent acidity and good balance make this wine a good selection to pair with lighter foods or medium strength cheeses. It also drinks quite nicely on its own.
This Chardonnay from Barra of Mendocino hits my sweet spot for the varietal. It's full of fruit and spice notes. The oak is clearly present and adds complexity but never detracts from all of the fresh flavors. This wine is a clear bargain. It offers much more complexity and charm than the average Chardonnay in its price range. Stay tuned for looks at their current Pinot Noir and Petite Sirah releases.
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A couple of weeks back I looked at one of the Sauvignon Blanc's from Dry Creek Vineyard. Today I'll look at one of the others. They make three different Sauvignon Blanc's. What's impressive about that, is the distinction between them.
The 2006 Estate Fumé Blanc DCV3 from Dry Creek Vineyard is produced from fruit sourced in a single vineyard. The DCV3 stands, in fact, as the very first vineyard in Dry Creek Valley planted to Sauvignon Blanc. This wine was fermented in stainless steel. It's made of 100% Sauvignon Blanc. 497 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $25.
The nose of this Estate Sauvignon Blanc is predominately filled with grapefruit and lemon notes. Throughout the palate both citrus and grassy notes are resplendent. White pepper accompanies incredibly fresh citrus flavors from the mid-palate through the finish. That long, persistent finish has drying mineral notes and a final hint of grass. This wine is crisp, clean and buttressed by excellent acidity.
A couple of things stand out above everything else about this particular Sauvignon Blanc. First of all it does an excellent job of combining both the grassy and citrus laden sides of the varietal. That leads to the second thing that impresses me. This wine has a vast array of subtle layers and complexity that reveal themselves if you take the time to consider this wine.
Compared to the Musqué the DCV3 Estate Sauvignon Blanc is leaner and crisper. Each is impressive in its own right, it just depends on what you're looking for. Stay tuned as I'll look at a third Sauvignon Blanc from Dry Creek Vineyard later this month.
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Rosenblum Cellars makes a wide array of wines. Some are vineyard designated, some are region specific. Most people probably know them best for 
their Vintner's Cuvee Zinfandel which is widely available, and has been a positive value vintage after vintage for many years now. They've recently expanded that series and I'm looking at a couple of those wines,
The 2006 Vintner's Cuvee from Rosenblum Cellars was made from fruit sourced from throughout California. The suggested retail price for this wine is $12. As with the Chardonnay it can often be found for $10 or less.
Black cherry, hints of cigar and emerging jam fruit elements make up the nose of this wine. Throughout the palate blackberry, cassis and white pepper are prominent. The finish has continued hints of each along with emerging dust and earth. This wine has light tannins and fair acidity. It'll match with lighter meats, pasta or a slice of pizza.
What I like best about this wine is how smooth it is for its price category. The elements of fruit sourced from throughout the state make themselves known in different aspects of this wine. For $12 or less this wine has enough varietal character and complexity to keep things interesting. Its wide availability makes it a safe bet to locate.
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While it would be great to drink high end wines everyday that's simply not the reality for most people. The majority are looking for bargains on the shelves, or at the very least a reasonable value for their everyday drinking dollar. Today and tomorrow I'll look at two modestly priced wines from Rosenblum Cellars and see if they get the job done. First up is a Chardonnay.
The 2007 Vintner's Cuvee Chardonnay from Rosenblum is 100% varietal. The fruit was sourced from vineyard sites throughout the state. It was aged in a combination of 60 gallon French and American oak barrels. The suggested retail price for this wine is $12.
Chardonnay is one of the varietals I'm personally most finicky about. Unfortunately the world is flooded with a sea of mediocre Chardonnay. Some of them are so over oaked I swear wood chips cling to the side of the glass. When they're great though, they can really speak to me.
This wine from Rosenblum isn't meant to set the world on fire and blow people away. The intent appears to be providing a widely available quality wine that people can afford to drink any night of the week. If that's the case, Rosenblum succeeds. This Chardonnay leads with a nose full of apple notes, underpinned by vanilla. The palate has crème brulee and apple pie crust notes. Spice and mineral notes along with some restrained toasty oak emerge in the finish.
The Rosenblum Vintner's Cuvee shows a fair amount of varietal character and is made in a crisp, clean style. If you're looking for any everyday Chardonnay that's often available for $10 or less, here's one worth trying. If this wine stays near as consistent as their Vintner's Cuvee Zinfandel has been over the years it'll be one to keep in mind.
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Willowbrook Cellars was founded in 2001 by Winemaker Joe Otos along with partners John Tracy and John Sillari. Their focus is on Pinot Noir. Specifically they've honed in on Russian River Valley as their primary region for sourcing Pinot Noir. However they look for fruit sources outside of that area that offer unique micro-climates and opportunities to make interesting expressions of Pinot Noir. Today I'll look at two of their current Pinots. Both of them are from outside the Russian River appellation.
The 2006 Willowbrook Cellars DuNah Vineyard Pinot Noir is a single 
vineyard offering. The fruit was sourced from the DuNah Vineyard located in the Sonoma Coast. Fruit from select blocks was used. This offering was aged in French oak. A mere 190 cases of this wine was produced and the suggested retail price is $44.
The DuNah Vineyard Pinot opens with a nose of black cherry and vanilla. The palate is filled with plum, nutmeg spice and classic sour cherry throughout. Good spice, mineral and light truffle notes emerge in the finish accompanied by a bit of cola at the very end. This Pinot has tremendous acidity and nice balance.
This is an example of the style of Pinot Noir I like to sip on my deck while I'm contemplating life. A truly lovely wine made in a classic style.
The second Pinot Noir is also from 2006. The Marin County Pinot Noir was sourced from the northernmost part of Marin County. This selection spent 11 months in French oak. 245 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $38.
With only 200 acres in Marin County under vine this wine is a window into what sort of wine can be made from this region. In fact this wine is the first that Willowbrook Cellars has released from this source.
The nose opens with wild raspberry notes along with mushroom and vanilla. In contrast to the DuNah which was ready to go immediately, this offering wants some air. A minimum of 45 minutes in the decanter makes a huge difference. The palate has rhubarb, black raspberry and white pepper notes. Compared to the DuNah the Marin County offering is more tightly knit with darker, slightly sweeter berry fruit. The finish brings on more prominent layers of mushroom and additional dark fruit flavors. It has nice acidity and a firm structure.
Both of these Pinot Noir's from Willowbrook Cellars are laudable efforts. Each is made within a style that strikes me as genuine for Pinot Noir. Choosing amongst them is going to come down to personal preference of course. Those looking for a delicate, gentle approach to Pinot are going to lean toward the DuNah Vineyard offering. Someone preferring a bolder selection with darker fruit and a bit more structure will go for the Marin County Pinot Noir. In each case you're getting an authentic expression of this grape that speaks to the fruit's place of origin.
Joe Otos also makes wine for Owl Ridge. I'll take a look at a couple of their Cabernet Sauvignons in the near future.
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Ridgeline Vineyards is a boutique producer with the same ownership group as the well known and regarded Artesa Winery. Unlike Artesa which cuts a wide swath in terms of wines produced at varying tiers, Ridgeline is tightly focused on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
The 2004 Merlot from Ridgeline was produced from fruit sourced in several prime Sonoma vineyard sources, Alexander Valley and Sonoma Mountain amongst them. Less than 2,000 cases of this wine were produced. The Suggested retail price is $24.
Pouring this wine into your glass and lifting it to your nose, scents of blackberry, eucalyptus, vanilla and cedar simply burst out. When you take the first sip it's immediately apparent how smooth, silky and elegant this wine is. That said it's big, rich and round in the mouth, filling the senses with loads of flavor. More blackberry is joined by plum, mocha and gingerbread spice notes. White pepper and earthiness are the prominent flavors on a long, lush finish. Hints of smokiness come also emerge which is typical of Alexander Valley fruit. This is a wine that will stand up to a steak or other similarly hearty cuisine.
What most impresses me about this wine is that it's a truly classic example of pure Merlot at a really nice price for the quality. This wine has the structure and heft to impress Cabernet Sauvignon drinkers, yet it has no rough edges. Ridgeline Vineyards Merlot is the sort of wine you can use to blow away your Wine Geek friends. It's simply an awesome wine, and at this point Ridgeline is still a bit under the radar. This would be a perfect wine to tuck away for a special occasion. It's drinking well now and will continue to improve and drink nicely for at least 7 or 8 years. If you've been turned off to Merlot because of all the industrial tasting offerings out there, here's one that might bring you back.
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Over years the number of wines on US shelves from South American countries has increased. Value, quality and availability often 
fluctuate. Some producers stay on the shelves and provide a consistent product year after year. In the case of today's wine from Veramonte it hit US shelves in 1998, exactly a decade ago. Today I'll look at their Sauvignon Blanc.
The 2008 Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc is made from fruit sourced in Chile's Casablanca Valley. This wine is 100% varietal. This offering is fermented entirely in stainless steel. 70,000 cases of this wine were imported and the suggested retail price is $10.99.
The Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc has a delicate pale straw color in the glass. The nose is filled with citrus and honeysuckle notes. It really wafts from the glass beckoning you in for a sip. Citrus notes along with gooseberry and honeydew melon are prominent throughout the palate. This Sauvignon Blanc finishes with a clean, crisp acidic bite. It satisfies and calls you back for another sip. This will be a nice wine as an aperitif or matched with lighter dishes such as an entrée salad or goat cheese puff appetizers.
If you're a fan of Sauvignon Blanc made in a style that leans towards citrus flavors this is a good example to check out. This wine is often available for around $8 and with 70,000 cases imported it won't be hard to find. A good bet as a house white. Vermaonte has been a consistent producer from Chile worth investigating from vintage to vintage.
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During the 12 Days of Zin I looked at a couple of wines from Bella Vineyards & Wine Caves. They were in a word, impressive. So I'm happy to have more offerings from them to look at. While they make a number of other varietals, I'm looking at another one of their Zinfandels today.
The 2006 Big River Ranch Zinfandel is made from fruit sourced at in Alexander valley. Big River Ranch is a hillside vineyard that overlooks the Russian River. 14 acres of the Zinfandel vines are 110 years old. 11% Petite Sirah and 4% Syrah were blended in. This wine was aged for 18 months in oak, 20% of it new, with a large percentage of it from Virginia. The suggested retail price for this Zinfandel is $38.
The Big River Ranch Zin is tight out of the bottle and decanting is highly recommended to get the most of out of this wine if you're drinking it now. An hour is what I'd suggest. Once it has opened up, raspberry and black cherry jump out in the nose along with cedar and light bramble notes. An avalanche of berry comes out in the palate along with mocha and more prominent bramble. The finish is long, lingering and lusty, loaded with spice, earth and black tea notes as well as hints of mineral. This Zinfandel has excellent acidity and terrific balance.
What I like best about the Big River Ranch Zinfandel from Bella Vineyards is how layered, lush and complex it is. It has some big fruit notes but it's ultimately a very proportionate wine. Each of the wines I've tasted from this producer has been fantastic. This is definitely a Zinfandel to seek out if you like classically styled versions of the varietal. This wine should have a pretty nice shelf life ahead of it. I expect it to improve over the next 2-3 years and drink well for at least 5 after that.
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