Veramonte - 2008 Sauvignon Blanc

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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Bella Vineyards - 2006 Big River Ranch Zinfandel

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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Four Vines - 2006 The Sophisticate - Sonoma County Zinfandel

Four Vines in Paso Robles sources Zinfandel from all over the state to make their wines. What started as a small operation now makes over 40,000 cases of wine per year. Recently I looked at their Amador Zinfandel and their cuvee which incorporates fruit from a host of places. Today I'll look at their Sonoma Country Zinfandel. Four Vines 2006 The Sophisticate was made from fruit sourced in Sonoma County.  A small amount of Petite Sirah was blended in. This wine was aged for 14 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels.  The suggested retail price for this wine is $25.

Rich, ripe jam fruit, bramble and vanilla fill the nose of this Zinfandel. The palate is full flavored, opulent and mouth filling. Dark fruit notes dominate. In the mid-palate, black cherry becomes most the most prominent of these. These fruit flavors are very fresh and really burst from the glass. Clove, nutmeg, and white pepper spice along with emerging earth are part of the finish. This Zinfandel has good structure and a fair amount of acidity. Pair it with bigger foods for best results. Red meats, hard cheeses, and hearty stews come to mind.

What I like best about this Zinfandel is that it's big and bold without being over the top. A solid hour in the decanter really helps this selection show its charms. This wine isn't as impressive a value as the Old Vine Cuvee, or quite as distinct as the Amador County Zinfandel. It does however offer good varietal character, a sense of its Sonoma source and fair value. Drink this one over the next 2-3 years.

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Volteo - 2006 Tempranillo/Shiraz

When it comes to Spanish wines, Tempranillo is naturally the first grape varietal I think of. In addition to being the primary grape used in Rioja, perhaps Spain's best known region, it's used all over the country in a variety of different wines. Often times other varietals typical to Spain are blended in. Today I'm looking at a wine from the La Mancha region with more than a dollop of another varietal. The 2006 Volteo Tempranillo/Shiraz from Bodegas Rozam is 60% Tempranillo and the balance Shiraz. This wine has a modest alcohol level of 13.5, typical of European wines. This offering is finished with a synthetic cork closure and the suggested retail price is under $15.

Cherry jam along with vanilla fills the nose of this wine. The palate is medium bodied with both back and sour cherry notes intermingling throughout. Some bright raspberry notes emerge in the mid-palate. The finish brings out mocha, clove, mineral and earth notes. This wine has good acidity and nice balance. It'll match paella, roast chicken or a dish of pasta quite well.

The combination of Tempranillo and Shiraz in this wine works very well in my opinion. Each varietal brings distinct elements to the party. For the approximately $10 this wine can commonly be found for it's a nice everyday selection.

Imported by Quintessential Wines

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My Thoughts on Tasting and Reviews

Cat over at a.pair.i.tif.net has an ongoing series this week about tasting and reviewing wine. She asked several writers to contribute stories about our personal approaches. Mine is posted now. Please check it and the rest of her blog out.

Gnarly Head - 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

Gnarly Head Cellars makes a handful of wines. I looked at their Zinfandels in the past and found them to serve the intent they seemed to be aimed at. So when their Cabernet Sauvignon found its way to my desk I was intrigued to see what it was all about. The 2006 Gnarly Head Cabernet Sauvignon is made from fruit sourced in Mendocino, Paso Robles, Monterey and Lodi. Small amounts of Petite Sirah and Malbec, both from Lodi, are blended in. 100,000 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $12.

Blackberries and dark plum, underscored by cedar highlight the nose of this Cabernet. The palate is diverse and layered featuring hints of jam as well as chicory and mocha notes. It has a fairly rich mid-palate which packs a ton of flavor into a modestly priced package. The tannins in this wine are firm but approachable. The finish is loaded with earth and spice notes, particularly black pepper which is abundant. While this wine will match well with a burger or other meats I found I liked it best with dark chocolate.

One of the standouts about this Cabernet is that it has none of the green vegetal notes that are sometimes associated with Cabernet Sauvignon in this price category.

When 100,000 cases of a wine are produced it's a clear sign that the intent is to be considered as an everyday drinker or house wine. With the holidays coming up, this is the sort of wine I keep a few bottles of around in gift bags. You never know when someone is going to stop by unexpectedly and drop off a little holiday cheer. It can be hard to know exactly how to reciprocate those Holiday gifts you never saw coming. Having a few bottles of wine in the cellar in gift bags makes it easy to give right back. If you go with the Gnarly Head Cabernet, I'd suggest slipping a bar of dark chocolate in that gift bag too. They go really well together and it'll seem like a well planned present. Since this wine is commonly available for around $10 it's an affordable gift idea too.

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Dry Creek Vineyard - 2006 Taylor's Vineyard Musqué

There are several varietals that come to mind when I think of Dry Creek Vineyard. One of those is Sauvignon Blanc. They make three different offerings of this varietal. One is part of their Signature Wines series and the other two are part of their Single Vineyard offerings. I'm going to look at all three of the current Sauvignon Blanc releases this month. I'll start today with one of the single vineyard selections. The 2006 Taylor's Vineyard Musqué is 100% varietal. The grapes used represent a specific clone of Sauvignon Blanc that Dry Creek Vineyard isolated to produce this offering. This wine was fermented in stainless steel. 539 cases of this selection were produced and the suggested retail price is $25.

Honeydew melon and a host of tropical fruit notes lead an explosive nose that's underpinned by spices. The palate is rich, round and mouth filling throughout. This is a smooth, lush, opulent white wine loaded with guava, pear, pineapple and nutmeg from beginning to end. The finish on the 2006 Musqué is impressively long with lots of mineral and spice notes as well as a light undercurrent of subtle smoke. Tremendous acidity makes this an excellent match for many foods.

There are several things that make this wine stand out for me. The tremendous nose is one. The outstanding finish is another. At the end of the day though I'm most impressed by how unique this wine is. Sometimes wines produced from single vineyards or isolated clones aren't as individualistic as one would think they're going to be. That's not a problem here. The Taylor's Vineyard Musqué from Dry Creek Vineyard is both unique and impressive. I've tasted a boatload of Sauvignon Blanc this year, this is one of my 2 or 3 favorites. This is undeniably a wine to go out of your way to get.

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Lang Wines - 2005 Amador County Syrah

A couple of months back I looked at a Zinfandel from Lang Wines. It impressed me and was a standout during the 12 Days of Zin. With that in mind I was looking forward to tasting some of their other selections. Barbera, Syrah & Sauvignon Blanc are the other offerings they make. All together their production is around 1,500 cases. They're more of a grower and actually started producing wine as a way to show potential clients, the quality that could be produced using their grapes. Today I'm going to look at their current Syrah release. The Lang Wines 2005 Syrah is made from Amador County fruit. Purchases through their website are setup by the case. At $198 per case it works out to $16.50 per bottle.

Observing it in the glass, the Lang Syrah is a gorgeous cherry red hue. Strawberries and cream notes burst out of this wines nose. The palate is loaded with sweet berry fruit and accompanying spice notes. The finish features sour cherry, leather, tobacco, mineral, spice and earth in addition to substantial bakers chocolate notes. This is a great wine to drink on its own. It offers plenty of complexity and intensity to make a very interesting wine to simply sit and contemplate. That said it'll match well with a variety of foods, grilled meats in particular.

What I like best about the 2005 Lang Syrah is the stylistic line it straddles. The nose is big, bold and somewhat jammy bringing to mind Aussie Shiraz. Throughout the palate though, it more closely resembles a Syrah from the Rhone. A terrific wine and one of the more memorable examples of Syrah I've tried of late.

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Ravenswood - 2006 Vintners Blend Petite Sirah

There are a ton of wines out there to drink with your holiday meal this Thanksgiving. And it seems there are almost as many recommendations guiding your choices. That's important, but what about the next day? Come Friday the big Thanksgiving meal will be over and you'll have a refrigerator full of leftovers. You may choose to eat them as they are, make sandwiches or completely re-purpose some of the leftovers to create new dishes. Regardless of your choice, you'll probably want to enjoy some wine with that post-holiday feast. So I set out to write about a wine that would be an appropriate match for your leftovers. I wanted this to be a widely available wine that was also priced to move off the shelf. It should be the sort of selection you might consider drinking any day of the week. After tasting through a handful of wines I had lined up to write about, I chose the Ravenswood 2006 Vintners Blend Petite Sirah as my recommendation to match with your 2008 Thanksgiving leftovers. The Ravenswood 2006 Vintners Blend Petite Sirah is 92% varietal and the balance Syrah. This offering was aged in mostly French oak with 15% of it being new. The suggested retail price for this wine is $10.

Violet and plum notes fill the nose of this Petite Sirah. Dark fruit characteristics are prominent throughout the palate, along with subtler but present nutmeg and pepper. Dark chocolate notes emerge in the mid-palate and carry through the finish which also shows understated hints of sour cherry. Good acidity and a very approachable style make this an excellent match for a wide array of cuisine.

Most of us will have a wide array of leftovers staring at us this Friday. The Ravenswood Petite Sirah is a great choice to match up with whatever your refrigerator ends up stuffed with. At a suggested price of $10, this wine is a very nice value that offers good varietal character and lots of flavor. The selections in the Ravenswood "Vintners Blend" series are widely available, making this an easy go to wine wherever you're located.

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Rodney Strong - 2005 Alexander Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

One of the things I take into account when considering a wine is intent. What was the goal set out for that particular offering and was it achieved? Rodney Strong makes a wide range of wines in many price categories. Wines with a suggested retail price under $25 make up a substantial number of their offerings each year. Many of those in fact are under $20. So it's clear they're serving the everyday market with many of their wines. However the wine I'm looking at today is from their reserve line. The 2005 Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve was produced from Alexander Valley fruit. This selection is 100% varietal. It spent 24 months in a combination of French (93%) and American (7%) oak barrels. The suggested retail price for this Cabernet is $50.

Casis, cedar, vanilla and leather notes fill the nose of the Alexander Valley designated Cabernet along with subtle tobacco. Taking the first sip it's apparent this wine is a bit on the young side right now and thus a little tight out of the bottle. A solid 60-90 minutes in the decanter alleviates that and allows the wine to express it charms. Black cherry and dark plum are prominent throughout a rich mouth-filling palate. The finish which is lengthy brings out white pepper, mocha notes and an emerging earthiness.

This offering has excellent structure, firm but approachable tannins and good acidity. While it's delicious now, especially after decanting, it'll improve for the next couple of years and drink well for at least 6 or 7 after that. This is a fine example of Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

It seems Rodney Strong has set out to make a reserve Cabernet appropriate for special occasions and mid-term aging with more complexity, nuances and elegance than their entry level Alexander Valley Cabernet. By this measure they have succeeded. This will stand up to scrutiny against similarly priced Alexander valley Cabernet's.

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Opolo Vineyards - 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

Opolo Vineyards in Paso Robles is probably best known for their Zinfandels. That's no surprise as they make several Zins in a range of styles and designations. However, Opolo also makes a host of other wines. Some of their Bordeaux varietals and blends are particularly compelling. Today I'm looking at their current Cabernet Sauvignon release. The 2005 Opolo Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% varietal and all Paso Robles fruit. This wine spent 18 months in a combination of 40% new French oak and the balance in American oak. 1,035 cases of this offering were produced and the suggested retail price is $30.

Rich ripe casis fills and dominates the nose which is underpinned by eucalyptus, cedar, nutmeg and dark plum notes in a supporting role. The Opolo Cabernet is opulent and ripe throughout the palate offering a mouth filling experience. Dark, lavish berry fruit fills the mid-palate along with some dark bakers chocolate notes that carry on towards the finish, which lingers. That finish brings out a load of bing cherry notes and additional chocolate characteristics. This wine is fun to drink on its own but will also pair well with substantial food. A Steak would be perfect.

What I like best about this Cabernet Sauvignon is how smooth it is right now. It drinks incredibly easily for a young Cabernet and that's its intent. This is a big, bright, hedonistic Cabernet Sauvignon built to drink now. It'll certainly hold for a couple of years, but this one is not for long term aging. Drink it while it's young, bold and brash.

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Wild Horse Winery - 2006 Chardonnay

Wild Horse Winery in Paso Robles has a 25 year history of wine-making. That's well above average for a region that has been growing steadily in the last decade. They make five varietal wines in the "Wild Horse" category or designation. Today I'll look at their 2006 Chardonnay. The 2006 Wild Horse Chardonnay is mostly varietal with a small amount of Viognier blended in. The wine was aged in a combination of French, American and Hungarian oak with 25% of it being new. The suggested retail price for this wine is $16.

Pear, apple and nutmeg spice fill this Chardonnays nose. From the first sip forward good apple characteristics dominate the palate along with subtler but present Asian pear underpinning it. Vanilla notes emerges in the mid-palate along with a touch of tart granny smith apple. Baked apple, butter and general pie crust spice notes emerge on the finish and linger along with mineral characteristics that close things out. This wine sips well on it's own and will also be a match for a host of chicken dishes as well as pastas with cream based sauces.

While this wine retails at $16 it's generally available for a couple of dollars less. For that price, this is a solid fruit driven Chardonnay with enough complexity and varietal character to make it interesting. The new oak makes it's presence known a bit on the finish but doesn't detract from the bold fruit flavors that dominate.

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Four Vines Winery - Two Zinfandels

Four Vines Winery is a Paso Robles based Winery. While they make other varietals, Zinfandel stands at the heart of their production. In addition to Zinfandels produced from Paso Robles fruit they also make Zinfandels from several other regions. Today I'm going to look at two of their current releases. Up first is The Maverick. This is a 2006 Zinfandel made from fruit sourced in Amador County. 3,900 cases of this offering were produced and it has a suggested retail price of $25.00

Cedar, cherry and vanilla notes fill the nose of this hearty Zinfandel. It's a bit tight out of the bottle and an hour in the decanter does wonders to help it shine. Once it opens up, tons of black cherry appear from the very first sip and lead to persistent mocha notes that carry through the palate. These are followed by more dark berry fruit notes and spice characteristics. The finish brings out some earth as the spice notes emerge more prominently. White pepper is the most prominent of the spice characteristics, followed by subtler nutmeg. This wine is balanced by firm acidity and will be an excellent match for red meats and grilled fare in general.

Amador County is an excellent source of Zinfandel. Many fine examples emerge from there, some of them from tiny producers which don't always make it throughout the country. This is a fine example from Amador with a production large enough that it should be available to most people.

The second wine from Four Vines is the 2006 Old Vines Cuvee. Lots of wine from Amador, Paso Robles, Lodi, Sonoma & Mendocino were blended together to create this wine. 28,000 cases were produced and the suggested retail price is right around $15.

Berry Jam and vanilla notes fill this wines nose. The palate is full, rich and concentrated with tons of berry fruit. Pomegranate notes, sour cherry and black pepper kick in at mid-palate and carry through to the finish which also includes a subtle bit of earth.

While it has a suggested retail of about $15, the Old Vine Cuvee can commonly be found for around $12. At that price it's been an excellent value for a number of years now. What I like best is that it provides good varietal character at a modest price. This is a Zin you can open any night of the week without breaking the bank. With the number of cases produced, it won't be hard to find either.

I'll be looking at a couple of other Zinfandels from Four Vines in the upcoming weeks, look out for them.

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Sonoma Vineyards - 2007 Sonoma County Syrah

Sonoma Vineyards is owned by Tom Klein, who along with his family also owns Rodney Strong Vineyards. The wines under this label are Sonoma designated and aimed at the folks who are starting to discover their passion for wine to the point that their palate has graduated to varietal wines. In addition to the Syrah I'm looking at today, they produce Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and an un-oaked Chardonnay. The 2007 fruit for the Sonoma Vineyards Syrah was primarily sourced from Russian River Valley and Alexander Valley. It was barrel aged in a combination of French and American oak for 8 months. The suggested retail price for this selection is $15 and it's finished with a screw top.

Dark plum is the most prominent characteristic of this wines nose. The palate is loaded with dark berry, plum and currant notes. Black cherry emerges on the mid-palate and lingers throughout. Spice, mocha, tobacco and leather notes emerge on the finish followed by a touch of sour cherry that provides the very last note. This wine is solidly built with good balance. It drinks nicely on it's own and will pair with an array of foods.

There's a sea of mediocre wine out there in the $15 and under price range. Finding the bargains is always fun. The Sonoma Vineyards Syrah is a solid little wine that provides good varietal character, a fair amount of complexity and a good finish in its price point. This wine is built to drink now. It seems the intent of this offering is to provide solid everyday drinking for a reasonable price. Sonoma Vineyards has achieved that goal.

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Visiting Bouchaine Vineyards

A couple of days ago I visited Bouchaine Vineyards in the Carneros region of Napa Valley. Carneros is in many ways Napa's answer to Burgundy. There are vast differences of course, but in simplest terms, both regions are best known for their production of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Each is also known for emphasizing the impact that a specific place has on the profile of a wine. In Carneros this is a newer movement than in Burgundy where it's been that way for generations. While I spent time with a number of the folks that work in varying positions at Bouchaine, most of my time was spent with winemaker Mike Richmond. Mike has been with Bouchaine Vineyards since 2002. He has over 30 years experience in the Wine industry, much of it within the Carneros appellation. Touring the vineyards and facility at Bouchaine it was clear that Mike has guided this winery in the direction of making the best wine they can from their little spot on the map. From planting the vines, picking the grapes to selecting barrels from different coopers and countries with varying degrees of toast, every decision is constantly in flux from vintage to vintage with the aim of producing world class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

While I referenced Burgundy earlier it would be a bit of an misnomer to say they are making wines in a Burgundian style. The similarity is not so much the style as it is the intent. That is to get the best out of what nature gives them in Carneros within their vineyards. While they make a host of other varietals and several distinct Chardonnays and Pinot Noir's, the Estate designate version of each are at the heart of what they do. Everything else strikes me as working off of those two wines and helping to illustrate the wines that Bouchaine is making.

At some point I lost track of the number and variety of barrel samples we tasted through. In some cases, the samples were different clones, in others the same varietal and clone in varying barrel types. What this exercise illustrated is the machinations and live experimentation they go through on a continual basis to not only improve the wine and make the best wine from a particular vintage, but also to ultimately learn more about the place they are making wine and what sort of fruit it yields.

Their Estate Chardonnay, was amongst 2 or 3 that stood out among the sea of them I tasted on my recent trip to Napa & Sonoma. Quite frankly it's right in my sweet spot for Chardonnay. It features excellent fruit, restrained used of oak, plenty of complexity in the form of spices and mineral notes as well as a long lingering finish. It was lovely on its own, but it'll go well with a wide array of lighter foods. The Estate Pinot Noir was also impressive and true to what this varietal can be when made in a pure style without trying to turn it into something it's not.

Single vineyard efforts as well as wines made in small quantities in slightly different styles were a fascinating case study of the directions one can sculpt wine in. A limited production dry Rosé was amongst my favorites of the small lot offerings I was poured. In truth, each wine I tasted at Bouchaine was a quality offering that told parts of their story. The balance of their story was filled in by Mike, a gracious host who clearly loves what he does as well as showing it off.

The bottom line is that if you have the opportunity to visit Bouchaine Vineyards and taste wine by all means, do so. If you get the chance to speak to Mike while you're there and take a tour, better yet. But if for some reason you can't see the place, taste their wines. Whether it's the Estate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or one of the smaller production wines, drinking them will not only be enjoyable, but tell you a lot about their origin. If you enjoy pure and true expressions of these varietals, Bouchaine is a name to look out for.

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Visiting Nicholson Ranch Vineyards

One of my first stops this week after the Wine Bloggers Conference concluded was Nicholson Ranch Vineyards. I'd had a couple of their wines previously, but had never been to the tasting room. They really straddle the line over at Nicholson, and I don't mean their wine. They're situated in Carneros, right on the appellation line really, in Sonoma, but not very far from Napa. Not surprisingly for a Carneros based producer, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are at the heart of their operation. Their 2006 Estate Chardonnay was the first wine I tasted and it featured lots of ripe fruit, good balance, acidity and a spicy finish. Next I went though three Pinot Noirs. Pinot was the varietal that first attracted me to Nicholson. The Russian River, Estate and Sonoma Coast were all from the 2006 vintage. My preference leaned towards the Estate Pinot which featured dark, brooding fruit as well as some smoke and spice on the finish. The Sonoma Coast is quite nice as well but seems like it needs a bit more time to fully resolve itself and shine.

Once I had tasted through the Burgundian selections I tried a few other offerings. A 2004 Estate Syrah featured tobacco, leather and dark fruit in the nose. Nutmeg and continued dark fruit notes filled the palate which led into a brambly, earthy finish. This Syrah turned out to be quite indicative of the examples of the varietal I'm finding on this trip. That is, they are often well balanced, earthy and reminiscent of their Rhone counterparts.

The last wine I sampled at Nicholson was a 2005 Estate Merlot. Black Cherry notes were the most prominent characteristic of this offering. At 3 years of age it's still a very youthful wine with a solid structure. It's tasty now but will definitely benefit from cellaring.

Wine wise the 2004 Syrah was my favorite of the selections tasted at Nicholson Ranch. It has a $40 price-point and delivers plenty of complexity, pleasure and potential age-ability to justify that cost.

The tasting room at Nicholson Ranch Vineyards is a bright, cheery place to visit. The staff is friendly, eager to please and knowledgeable about the wines. Most importantly though, they feature well made wines. This a good stop, recommended for those looking for a spot to hit in the Carneros region.

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Visiting Palmaz Vineyards

There are many pleasures to be had when visiting a wine region. Tasting wine is certainly one of the big ones. Interacting with and getting to know people at a winery who work in some aspect of the operation is another. For me, having travelled to Napa & Sonoma many times, the discovery of a new winery often stands at the top of the heap in terms of wine country excitement. So I listened intently when Palmaz Vineyards was recommended to me as a must visit. After looking them up, I made an appointment. When I arrived at Palmaz Vineyards I was greeted by Florencia Palmaz who founded the winery along with her parents and brother. Florencia gave me a tour of their facility which is situated mostly underground in the side of a mountain. It was built this way to maximize vineyard space which is somewhat scarce within the rough terrain of the Palmaz Vineyards property relative to the overall size. The site had been a winery many years ago but lay fallow after prohibition.

After the tour, which included information about all aspects of the winery and the history of the vineyard site, Florencia and I tasted through their wines. While Cabernet Sauvignon is their bread and butter, we also went through several small production offerings that don't reach distribution.

Riesling was the first wine we went through. It's color was lovely with a very pale, almost white hue. This is a dry wine that makes an appealing choice to serve at the beginning of a meal or with light appetizers. It's nose is effusive and really leaps from the glass.

Chardonnay was next up and it truly hit my sweet spot for this varietal. While also light in color, it's incredibly rich in flavor. Oak treatment is barely apparent and provides some added complexity, but never intrudes. The finish is lengthy enough to be impressive with mineral notes as the highlight.

Cabernet Sauvignon is their benchmark wine and I tasted four consecutive vintages of their trademark release. 2002, 2003, 2004 and the about to be released 2005 were the years I sampled. There was a connective tissue of style linking them all together. Elegance, grace, richness and restraint are all characteristics that come to mind. Each wine was well balanced and clearly has the ability to age. The not yet released 2005 showed a much richer and fuller palate than many of the other 2005 Cabernet's I've sampled so far on this trip. So many of the 2005's I've tasted are softer in style with less richness than their respective wineries previous vintages. The Palmaz is just as rich if not more so than their previous vintages and may well prove to be the best of the four I tasted.

All of the Cabernet's above are Bordeaux style blends. Florencia also poured the limited Gaston Cabernet Sauvignon for me. This is a 100% varietal wine limited to under 400 cases. While it's not quite as complex as the flagship wine, it's not meant to be. Instead it's an expression of their best Cabernet Lots from 2002. In that regard it's a fascinating look at a place and time for Cabernet Sauvingon.

Palmaz Vineyards also makes a Cedar Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon. This was the name of the original winery on the site. As an homage to their predecessors this wine bears the original Cedar Knoll logo and a photo of the founder. This was a solid Cabernet Sauvignon and may well be an entry point to the winery for some folks.

The last wine I tasted was a Muscat Canelli dessert wine. This offering features a huge nose and a much lighter touch across the palate than most dessert wines. It has sweetness but in a very restrained manner. It certainly stands apart from most other dessert wines with it's gentle touch.

Across the board, the wines of Palmaz Vineyards are impressive. In addition to that, the hospitality of the Palmaz family which I experienced by spending well over 3 hours with Florenica is beyond reproach. If you're visiting Napa Valley, I urge you to do yourself a favor and schedule a tour and tasting at Palmaz Vineyards. The wines are terrific and the experience is filled with a personal touch not every winery provides.

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Bella Vineyards - Two 2006 Zinfandels

Today the 12 Days of Zin returns for another stop in Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley. There are many regions in California that make top shelf Zinfandel. Some of them turn out Zinfandel as good as those from the Dry Creek Region. It's hard to argue though that any region is consistently turning out better Zins than the best of what Dry Creek has to offer. Today I'll be looking at two releases from Bella Vineyards. Bella is a small family run operation situated right in the middle of the Dry Creek Valley. While they make several other releases, Zinfandel is at the heart of what they do. The 2006 Bella Vineyards Two Patch Zinfandel is 100% varietal with the fruit being sourced from two vineyard sites in the Alexander Valley. One vineyard features century old vines while the other features vines over 50 years in age. This Zin was aged for fourteen months in a combination of French and American oak. 800 cases of this offering were produced and the suggested retail price is $35.

The Two Patch Zinfandel from Bella Vineyards shows at it's best right now after a solid hour in the decanter. Once it does open up the nose is filled with plum, fig and a potpourri of spice notes. The palate is loaded with blackberry jam and mocha notes throughout. A ton of nutmeg and pie crust spice notes come out on the finish along with plenty of earth as well as mineral notes. That finish is long, lingering and quite expressive. Good acidity and excellent balance stand out, making this an excellent accompaniment for a wide range of foods. After this Zinfandel had been open for a full 24 hours I tasted it again. Not only had it held up, but it had improved markedly from the day before.

The Bella Vineyards 2006 Lilly Hill Estate Zinfandel is 85% varietal and 15% Syrah. All of the fruit is from Dry Creek Valley. The wine was aged in a combination of French and American oak for 16 months. Approximately 20% of the barrels were new. This is a limited production Zinfandel with a suggested retail price of $36.

The Lilly Hill Estate Zinfandel is a bit more immediately accessible at the moment than the Two Patch. That said an hour in the decanter still does wonders to nudge along this wines expressive nature. Dark fruits such as plum and blackberry dominate this Zinfandels nose. Baker's chocolate, dry blackberry fruit and vanilla spice notes fill the palate of this wine. This Zin is rich and full throughout with tremendous mouth feel, good acidity and impeccable balance. The excellent, persistent finish lingers for a substantial length of time with sweet berry and light earth notes starring. While this wine is drinking well now I'd expect it to improve over the next 3-5 years and drink well for several more after that.

Both of these Zinfandels from Bella Vineyards are very impressive. They showcase the best of what Sonoma County Zin can offer. They do so for reasonable prices compared to the quality and longevity they offer.

Next month I'll be looking at two more Zinfandels from Bella Vineyards. Based on the quality of these two, my mouth is already watering.

And Thus, The 12 Days of Zin Concludes.

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Lolonis Winery - 2 Zinfandels

The 12 Days of Zin stops in the Redwood Valley of California today. It's there that Lolonis Winery & Vineyards have been since the early 1920's. I've looked at several Zinfandels from Mendocino during the 12 Days of Zin. By and large they've been well made, good values. So I was looking forward to seeing what Lolonis had to offer along those lines. I'll be looking at two of their Zins today. The 2005 Lolonis Redwood Valley Zinfandel is 100% varietal. The fruit was sourced from 40 year old organically grown vines.  It was aged in a combination of French and American oak. 4,000 cases of this Zin were produced and the suggested retail price is $18.

Strawberries, plum, cedar and vanilla notes come out in droves from this wines nose. The plate features fresh lively fruit flavors. Cherry is amongst the most prominent of these. Spice notes abound from the mid-palate through to the smooth, appealing finish which also features some subtle earthiness. This wine features excellent acidity and nice balance. I found it to be a good match for a dish of pasta with meat sauce.

The second offering from Lolonis is the 2005 Heritage Vineyards Tryfon Zinfandel. The fruit is sourced from dry farmed vines planted in 1920 by Patriarch Tryfon Lolonis. This wine is 100% Zinfandel and was aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels. 800 cases of this offering were produced and the suggested retail price is $28.

Aromas of dry raspberry, vanilla and cedar will the nose of this wine along with a subtle underpinning of wild strawberry. Rich red raspberry fruit along with white pepper notes are the main and most prominent features of the wines palate.  It's a lush, concentrated and complex wine throughout featuring an impressive array of layers. Mocha notes emerge on the finish along with dried fruit characteristics, earth, and bramble that becomes more prominent as it has a chance to open up. The Tryfon Zinfandel has tremendous acidity and excellent balance. This is truly, a food wine in the best sense of that term. This will marry with a wide array of cuisine and not overwhelm it.

Both Zins from Lolonis proved to be fine examples of the varietal from Mendocino. They're good values in their respective price points. The Tryfon in particular overdelivers on it's $28 retail price by a very wide margin. What I like most about the 2 Lolonis Zins is their abaility to marry well with food, complementing what I was eating and never overshadowing it.  

Up Next: The 12 Days of Zin Continues!

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Gnarly Head - Two Zinfandels

Today the 12 Days of Zin is making stops in both Lodi and Sonoma. Lodi California is well known by those who love robust Zinfandel as an appellation that has many true old vine vineyards. Lodi also happens to be an area that produces a lot of wines that often find their way onto best buy lists. Sonoma is an area the 12 Days of Zin has returned to several times as it's the home of an incredible number of great Zins. The producer I'm looking at right now is Gnarly Head. They make wines that are modestly priced and widely available. The question will be what you can get for the money they are charging. The Gnarly Head 2006 Old Vine Zinfandel is sourced from vines with 35-80 years of age on them. The vines are head trained and sustainably farmed. 100,000 cases of this offering were produced and the suggested retail price is $11.99

Plum, vanilla and light cedar notes fill the nose of this wine. Cherry and red raspberry are prominent throughout the palate and underscored by subtler but present spice notes. The finish continues the rich jam-laden berry fruit notes characteristic of Zinfandel from the Lodi appellation. This is a smooth, pretty well balanced Zin with good acidity.

The bottom line for me on the 2006 Gnarly Head Zinfandel is that it retails for $11.99 and is often available for closer to $9. For that price it not only provides bang for the buck, it also features more than sufficient varietal character. Add its wide availability to the equation and it's clear this is exactly the sort of wine you'll feel great about opening on a Tuesday night with pizza.

The second wine from Gnarly Head I'm looking at today is the 2005 Gnarlier Head Zinfandel. Fruit for this selection was sourced from Sommer's Vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley. This wine spent 14 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels. 30% of it being new. 4,200 cases of this Zin were produced and the suggested retail price is $19.99.

Blueberry, raspberry, eucalyptus, cedar, and vanilla notes dominate the nose of this single vineyard offering. The palate is filled with many of the classic elements of Dry Creek Zinfandel. Rich berry fruit, alongside dust and earthy bramble make for a mouth filling wine. Mocha notes emerge on the finish and they become more prominent as the wine has a chance to open up. Spice notes are also prominent from the mid-palate through the finish. This is a terrifically well balanced wine. It'll go best with ribs, wild mushroom based dishes or a Paella.

The Gnarlier Head Zin retails for a few dollars more and is available in the mid-teens. For those extra dollars you get a more refined, complex wine that will also lay down in your cellar, improving for a couple of years and drinking well until at least 2011.

Both of these efforts from Gnarly Head are worth picking up. The Old Vines Zin is a contender for a house wine you can purchases by the case considering its reasonable price and adaptability with food. The Gnarlier Head is a sleeper purchase that you'll be glad you have a couple of bottles of tucked away considering it's also priced pretty modestly.

Up Next: The 12 Days of Zin Continues!

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