Bby John W N Holmes
Last year’s report only scratched the surface of the Sonoma County Wines, so we came back to further explore the area as well as to visit a few of the stars from last year. Once again, we stayed in Healdsburg which is one of the main centres of Sonoma County being close to the Russian River and Alexander Valley. We decided to have one day in Calistoga as a variation on the Pinot/Zinfandel theme. It also gave us a chance to see how Napa had changed from our last visit. One notable restaurant this year was the Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg. Sumptuous food and a brilliant wine list at very reasonable prices. Once again you will find in part II this article I have summarised the wines and given my view on the best reds, white and best value wines (link at bottom of page). The points are my relative markings. I welcome feedback and would love to hear your comments on the various wines and tasting rooms we visited.
Sebastiani
We first visited Sebastiani in 2007 and it’s a great place to stop on the way north to Healdsburg. The tasting room is spacious and welcoming with a great array of wines on offer. If you twist their arm enough they may let you try the wonderful ’06 Cherryblock Cabernet which was the star of the tasting for me. 
Loxton Cellars
Australian Chris Loxton is the third generation in his family to produce wines. The previous two made Shiraz in Australia so it was only natural that Chris’s passion lies around Syrah. The tasting room is laid out in the barrel store and gives real sense of where this wine is coming from. Although the Syrahs were very good, I found the 08 Chardonnay and the 07 Late Harvest to be the best on offer.
Mauritson
First thing Monday morning is always a ‘testing’ time. The tasting room at Mauritson however made it an easy start. In previous years I always felt I had been too harsh on the first few vineyards as we go into the swing of tasting this year however the hostess was knowledgeable and the wines offered were perfectly acceptable. Pick of the crop was the 07 Rockpile Ridge Zinfandel although the $17 Sauvignon Blanc gave it a good run for its money. All in all a good experience with wines all representing good value across the range. 
Nalle
We were fortunate to meet Doug Nalle who showed us his range of wines. The tasting room is an amazing above ground cave almost like a bomb shelter covered in earth so that the temperature and humidity are constant throughout the year. Doug was a great host and the wines all scored above average marks. We all liked the 07 Pinot and at $35 a bottle it is good value. He also has a vertical available from 05, 06 and 07 and a French style chardonnay which is still young and we probably tasted it too soon. I think that will develop further.
Kokomo
A cheery smile and friendly face greets you when you enter Kokomo. The tasting room is on a small industrial unit along with three or four other producers and you are surrounded by the barrels of wine. I enjoyed the 07 Mounts Vineyard Zinfandel and also the 08 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc. One added attraction is the very large but equally friendly dog which greets everyone. Overall good value wines and a pleasant tasting experience.
Unti
We had an appointment at Unti but it was difficult to understand why this was necessary. No-one seemed to really bother about the times or numbers. The wines were generally just OK and nothing special here to tickle the palate. The tasting room was one of the low points of the week and the host seemed to not be really bothered at all. All in all a poor experience and one of the low points of the week. 
Dutcher Crossing
I have always had this ‘thing’ against wineries who sell aromatic candles in tasting rooms, whereas I appreciate the commerciality it really does affect the ability to get the most from the wines. Dutcher Crossing had unfortunately fallen into that trap. We had planned to stay there for lunch but the smell in the tasting room put us off our wine so we moved on. Predictably the wines didn’t score well and that was all down to candles !
Truett Hurst
An unplanned ‘drop-in’ recommended to us. Some recommendations fall flat but this one fully lived up to our expectations. The tasting room was well thought out, light, comfortable and spacious. The host and hostess were really friendly and knew their subject. We went through all their range (11 wines) and stayed in their lovely picnic area for lunch. We chose the 3 Vineyards Zinfandel for lunch, a $25 blockbuster wine, which went down really well with the cheese and pate. Full marks Truett Hurst.
Preston
First impressions say a lot about a vineyards and the feature we all remembered from this tasting was the vast amount of signs all saying “Don’t do this” or “No xxx” or “xxx not allowed” Anyway back to the wines. We tasted the four wines on offer which all exhibited high tannins with a lower level of fruit than I would care to have. Nothing on offer here enticed us to purchase and although the tasting room was very comforatble, the wines failed to live up to expectations.
Michel Schlumberger
The location of this winery created a good tasting area in a beautifully tranquil setting surrounded by wildlife. The wines on offer were mature wines and although the ambiance was good the wines didn’t really compliment this at all. This was our last tasting for the day and perhaps our taste buds were getting fatigued but the wines came across as aggressively tannic. The best wine was the 06 Syrah which, at $32, was better value than the 04 Deux Terres at $75.
McPhail
Once again James MacPhail has produced the goods. MacPhail pays fantastic attention to quality and detail in preparing pinots which just take your breath away. James and Gabe’s 2007 offerings were among the best we tasted this year, if not the best. The Vagon Lit was exceptional and the San Giacomo was not far behind. Medal Winners for sure. We were also given a hint of what is to come with a chardonnay ! James certainly has the midas touch and the whole operation is friendly and inviting. Anyone coming to Sonoma must put this on their list. 
Hop Kiln
A somewhat commercial style wine tasting room, as you are aware I have an aversion to tasting rooms which have sell loads of goodies. In the case of Hop Kiln this included really hot mustards which would certainly kill the taste and smell senses. The wines were in the ‘value’ range with most $16-$25. A good drinking wine was the “Big Red’ at $20
Rochioli
Rochioli set the stage last year with some great wines, and we joined their waiting list (only 7 years wait!) After this last showing I am not sure if the wait is worth it. The wines were satisfactory in their overall quality but fell in the ‘nothing exceptional’ band. It’s a shame really as we have high hopes for this repeat visit. The tasting room is still spartan but does the job, best to sit on the terrace though.
Arista
Another repeat visit from last year as it made our top 10. The gardens here are superb and we also got to taste some of the new Mark David Wines which were really good, in particular the Sauvignon Blanc which was complex and had great melon and grapefruit undertones. They also produce a great Cabernet Franc which was full of blackcurrants and cedar.
Thomas George
Massive construction when we were there completing the new caves. My only hope is that the caves will improve the wines. The most expensive wine at $55 only rated a meagre 88 points and on the whole they struggled for aromas and were too subtle for my taste. The tasting room was large and very comfortable.
Moshin
On our previous visit Moshin was a firm favourite, sadly this year we came away thinking that this year’s wines didn’t really live up to expectation which is surprising given the excellent vintage. The best was definitely the 07 Carreras Vineyard which was a wild collection of raspberries and raisins. Tasting rooms are very spacious and convivial to tasting although some of the stories about mixing desert wines with vodka left me wondering why one would ruin a perfectly good desert wine!
Copain
Probably one of the most serene views in Sonoma, just the way to end a perfect day sitting watching the sun go down over the Copain view. In general they represent lighter French style wines but of exceptional quality. The favourite was Kiser 07 which had great black cherry flavours. “Tous Ensemble Pinot Noir” represented great value at $25 a bottle.
Williamson Wines
Located just off the Healdsburg main town square, Williamson Wines is a wine and food pairing experience which is well worth a visit. We went through 8 wines all mixed with small pieces of food to complement the wines. Top of the list was the 08 Inspire and also the 06 Shiraz, which as one would expect from Australian stock, was a full bodied wine with heaps of flavour. Dawn runs a great tasting room and it is very popular. Best to go early before the crowd get in though. 
Rodney Strong
One of the larger wineries in Sonoma, Rodney Strong has always produced good quality wines which are available in most shops. We wanted to taste the reserve wines to see how these stacked up. In general the quality was good but not exceptional. They were however reasonably priced and could be classed as ‘reliable’ wines. Favourites were the Knotty Vines Zinfandel and the Gentleman’s Ruby Port. The views from the tasting galleries showed the winery and it is set up for large groups of visitors.
Marimar
When we visited Marimar last year it was a disappointing experience however on reading the feedback from last year’s report Marimar Torres wanted to improve the area and invited us to return to see the changes. I am pleased to say that the new tasting room is now a very pleasant experience. We were fortunate to get a guided tour of the area and get to taste the wines along with Marimar’s personal recipes. Our favourite was the 05 Christina with its spicy dark cherry flavour.
Walter Hansel
Nothing extravagant about the Walter Hansel tasting experience but don’t be fooled by the laid back approach. The vineyard was hard to find but I’m glad we did as the wines represented excellent value. The Sauvignon Black was a 90 point wine all for $16. Excellent.
Inman
By the time this is written the tasting rooms will have moved to their new location at the vineyard. Talking with Kathleen gave us an insight into the ethos of her wines and how important every little detail is. The wines were delicate and fine, dare I call them feminine wines without offending people. I really liked what Kathleen was doing and enjoyed the wine tasting experience.
Hawkes
Large spacious tasting room, full of light and pleasant decorations. The wines were ‘crisp’ if slightly too tannic for my taste but those people who enjoy ready to drink wines will love these offerings. The high end wines didn’t represent good value in my opinion as at $60 a bottle they face stiff competition from gold medal winners at the same price.
Robert Young
Small intimate tasting room set in the grounds of a wonderful home. The wines were consistent and full of classic flavours whereby one could identify the wines easily by their flavours. The Scion was the favourite here and we walked out with some verticals of this great Cabernet. The host was most knowledgeable and friendly. One to visit.
Chalk Hill
Set in the middle of the countryside Chalk Hill caters also for larger coach parties. The wines were, in my opinion, overpriced with desert wine topping out at over $80. The Pinot Gris did nothing for me at $40. At least the sauvignon blanc was very drinkable but was not competitively priced at $33 compared to others like Hansel. 
Verite
It’s not often one gets to meet an iconic winemaker. We were just enjoying the offerings at Verite when in walked Pierre Seillan, winemaker extraordinaire. This is the Frenchman who challenged his own countryman with his range of wines to compare with Petrus, Cheval Blanc and the other big guns. Oh yes and by the way he won! We were treated to a tasting the 97 La Joie which is a fantastic wine. My tasting notes started off “wow”! This is a classic Bordeaux Blend of 70% Cabernet and 30% merlot and it is a star. Robert Parker gave the 07 100 points and it’s easy to see why! I ran out of superlatives for these wines so suggest you go and try them for yourselves. Not cheap but, then again, high quality never is.
Lancaster Estate
One of the most ultra modern tasting rooms we have ever seen. Initially there was a problem with the booking as there is a new tasting room being constructed. The wines were spread well across the price range from $24 to $100 although I feel the Nicoles Red Blend of Cab and Malbec ($100) didn’t represent good value. I preferred the Sophia Hill at $48 but still this is among strong competition.
Davis Family Vineyards
I forget how I first heard of the Davis Family vineyard but I need to take note of their other recommendations. This was a great tasting experience. They have an exceptional range of wines right from a New Zealand style Sauvignon Blanc through genuine Riesling and ending up with a Russian River Syrah. One of the most impressive consistent ranges I have seen in Sonoma. 
Chateau Montelena
Impressive building and gardens don’t always reflect the quality of wines. In this case however they are a direct correlation. Good quality wines with a futures style marketing approach. An opportunity to purchase the wines at discounted prices in advance. The Montelena Cabernet was a 91 point wine and, if purchased in the futures style, was fairly priced.
WH Smith
The WH Smith shop located in Calistoga offers oenophiles a tasting and sensory experience which few have copied. The wines themselves represent excellent value and all were in the 90 point area while costing between $30 and $60. The Kaley 00 Zinfandel was interesting and is holding up well although needs to be drunk now.
Twomey
With lovely gardens you would expect to find some seating and opportunities to have food with some of their wines. Regrettably this is not the case. The wines were good standard Twomey quality and well balanced. The Sauvignon Blanc was the best of the bunch and was reasonably priced at $25. Tasting room was clean and spacious.
Summers Estate
Summers has a large tasting room which was quite empty when we arrived. Unfortunately, there was nothing on offer which really was worth writing home about. I think we found out why it was empty. The Muscadet desert wine was cheap and cheerful and good for summer day drinking, apart from that, the wines were lacklustre.
Storybook Mountain
Wonderful setting tucked onto the side of a mountain. The wine tasting experience in the cave was memorable but we could have done with a bit more light to write notes and look at the colours of the wine. The wines tasted good and our selection here was the 06 Anteus ($40). 
Del Dotto
One of the most difficult reviews to write. The word opulence doesn’t even begin to describe the surroundings of the new Del Dotto wine tasting experience. This is barrel tasting like no other. Rob, the host was enthusiastic and knowledgeable and kept us entertained throughout the experience. I would thoroughly recommend it for the sheer novelty. As for the wines it was a good opportunity to experience the “same grapes – different barrel” story which seemed to go above most people’s head. Go there with an open mind and enjoy the education offered. Although I am not certain I would remember which wines to buy I did take notes but it’s pointless sharing them as each barrel is unique and sold once enough people buy the bottling.
Summary
Once again Sonoma County really delivered the goods. At the end of the week we all reflected what a great experience it was yet again. We debated whether we should go back again next year and the resounding answer was YES. There is so much more to see and so many more vineyards to visit. In general the smaller vineyards have the more interesting wines and greater variety but the larger more commercial vineyards have the safer more consistent wines. Sincere thanks to the people who played their part in making this a great experience. Special thanks
The wines
| Wine | Yr | $ | Pts | Comments | ||||
| Sebastiani | ||||||||
| RRV Chardonnay | 08 | 18 | 88 | Unoaked with green apple tang | ||||
| Carneros Chardonnay | 07 | 25 | 87 | Pears and nectarine undertones | ||||
| Carneros Pinot Noir | 07 | 26 | 88 | Spicy cherries and oak | ||||
| RRV Pinot Noir | 07 | 30 | 88 | Toasted cherries | ||||
| Alexander Valley Merlot | 06 | 24 | 87 | Plums but little life | ||||
| Dry Creek Zinfadel | 07 | 24 | 88 | Raspberries but tannic | ||||
| Secolo (Cab/Merlot) | 06 | 35 | 88 | Cherry and plum flavours | ||||
| Cherryblock (Cab Sauv) | 06 | 75 | 90 | Blackberries and cigar box | ||||
| Loxton cellars | ||||||||
| Chardonnay | 08 | 24 | 90 | Citrus and apple, light oak | ||||
| Zinfandel | 07 | 25 | 88 | Full ripe and slightly too tannic | ||||
| Syrah | 06 | 28 | 88 | Deep Syrah, black fruit | ||||
| Late Harvest Zinfandel | 07 | 20 | 89 | Good balance, lighter style | ||||
| Cab Shiraz | 06 | 30 | 88 | Blackcurrants and peppers | ||||
| Port | 07 | 27 | 89 | 100% Syrah, good keeper | ||||
| Mauritson | ||||||||
| Sauvignon Blanc | 08 | 17 | 88 | Melon and butter, slight acidic | ||||
| Chardonnay | 07 | 25 | 88 | Citrus fruit dominated | ||||
| Charlie Clay Pinot Noir | 08 | 40 | 89 | Bright fruit dominated wine | ||||
| Rockpile Ridge Zinfandel | 07 | 35 | 90 | Long finish, black fruit & vanilla | ||||
| Jacks Cabin Zinfandel | 07 | 37 | 88 | Keeper wine, well balanced | ||||
| Westphail Ridge | 07 | 37 | 89 | Big fruit with balanced tannins | ||||
| Cemetery Zinfandel | 07 | 39 | 88 | 16% alcohol, big wine ! | ||||
| Nalle | ||||||||
| Hopkins Ranch Chardonnay | 07 | 37 | 86 | Too acidic lower fruit | ||||
| Pinot Noir | 07 | 35 | 89 | Nice balance, leather & cherries | ||||
| Zinfandel | 07 | 35 | 88 | High tannic structure | ||||
| Henderlong Zinfandel | 06 | 40 | 88 | Full bodied food wine | ||||
| Zinfandel Reserve | 06 | 45 | 89 | Good solid wine | ||||
| Kokomo | ||||||||
| Peters Vineyard Pinot Noir | 07 | 48 | 90 | Leather and cherries | ||||
| Windsor Oaks Pinot Noir | 07 | 36 | 89 | Acidic with cherries and plums | ||||
| Mounts Vineyard Zinfandel | 07 | 30 | 91 | Raspberries and cherries | ||||
| Green Pastures Syrah | 05 | 27 | 86 | Mineral nose almost vegetal | ||||
| Dry Creek Cabernet | 06 | 29 | 89 | Reluctant nose but good balance | ||||
| Petit Syrah | 07 | 27 | 90 | Sweeter style with open nose | ||||
| Late Harvest Sauv. Blanc | 08 | 28 | 91 | Honey and peaches. Yum | ||||
| Unti | ||||||||
| Cuvee Blanc | 08 | 24 | 87 | Dry with low fruit | ||||
| Grenache | 06 | 30 | 85 | High tannins and low fruit | ||||
| Zinfandel | 06 | 26 | 86 | Overpowering tannins | ||||
| Syrah | 06 | 26 | 85 | ‘Meaty’ flavour. Not my style | ||||
| Benchland Syrah | 05 | 35 | 86 | Good finish but high tannins | ||||
| Dutcher Crossing | ||||||||
| Sauvignon Blanc | 08 | 22 | 82 | Flabby and weak nose | ||||
| Costello Chardonnay | 07 | 28 | 85 | Pears and oak and oak and oak | ||||
| Stuhlmuller Chardonnay | 07 | 34 | 89 | Best of chardonnays, nutty pears | ||||
| Maple Zinfandel | 07 | 40 | 88 | Blackberries and vanilla. Oaky | ||||
| Proprietors Res Cab Sauv | 06 | 29 | 87 | Blend Cab/Syrah little nose | ||||
| Nevins Cab Sauvignon | 06 | 43 | 89 | Early days but a keeper | ||||
| Port | 06 | 32 | 89 | Chocolate ruby style | ||||
| Truett-Hurst | ||||||||
| Black Sheep Pinot Noir | 07 | 40 | 89 | Strawberries and flowery vanilla | ||||
| VML Boudreaux Pinot Noir | 08 | 45 | 90 | Great single vineyard style | ||||
| VML Swicegood Pinot Noir | 08 | 45 | 91 | Full fruit, balanced strawberry | ||||
| Dark Horse Blend | 07 | 40 | 89 | Flowery wine Rhone blend | ||||
| 3 vineyard Zinfandel | 06 | 25 | 91 | Good jammy flavour with pepper | ||||
| Red Rooster Zinfandel | 06 | 29 | 89 | Lighter style, mineral flavour | ||||
| Rattler Rock Zinfandel | 06 | 29 | 90 | Great cherry falvour | ||||
| Burning Man Petit Syrah | 06 | 33 | 87 | Tannins aggressive | ||||
| Stonegate Cabernet | 03 | 60 | 87 | Tough tannin structure | ||||
| Petit Verdot | 04 | 60 | 87 | Black fruit and oak | ||||
| Desert Wine | 05 | 36 | 90 | Great classic port style | ||||
| Preston | ||||||||
| Sauvignon Blanc | 08 | 22 | 86 | Low fruit content | ||||
| Rhone Blend | 07 | 34 | 86 | Really aggressive tannins | ||||
| Syrah | 06 | 32 | 86 | Alcohol kills taste | ||||
| Petit Syrah | 07 | 32 | 86 | Just nothing there | ||||
| Michel Schlumberger | ||||||||
| La Brume Chardonnay | 07 | 32 | 87 | French oak, malolactic style | ||||
| Le Fou Pinot Noir | 06 | 32 | 86 | Good nose, poor finish, tannic | ||||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | 05 | 40 | 87 | Tannic style, low fruit | ||||
| Deux Terres | 04 | 75 | 85 | Way too tannic aggressive | ||||
| Estate Cabernet | 00 | 50 | 87 | Fruit forward but too tannic | ||||
| Syrah | 06 | 32 | 88 | Unbalanced | ||||
| MacPhail | ||||||||
| Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir | 07 | 39 | 92 | Great lingering strawberries | ||||
| Ferrington Pinot Noir | 07 | 49 | 91 | Needs longer but a keeper | ||||
| San Giacomo | 07 | 49 | 93 | Mineral undertones | ||||
| Pratt Vineyard | 07 | 49 | 92 | Complex red fruit, raspberries | ||||
| Frattey Shams | 07 | 49 | 91 | Keeper wine, great balance | ||||
| Vagon lit | 07 | 59 | 94 | Wow, just great fruit | ||||
| Chardonnay | 07 | ** | 92 | Unreleased but will be great | ||||
| Hop Kiln | ||||||||
| Sonoma Chardonnay | 07 | 28 | 85 | Lean fruit, oaky | ||||
| Chardonnay | 08 | 20 | 87 | Pineapple and bananas, long | ||||
| Sauvignon Blanc | 08 | 18 | 84 | Unique flavour ! peel undertones | ||||
| Rosa Bellisima | 08 | 16 | 83 | Grenache but not obvious | ||||
| Thousand Flowers | 08 | 16 | 85 | Too flowery for my taste | ||||
| Grenache | 07 | 22 | 88 | Black cherries on taste | ||||
| Pinot Noir | 08 | 40 | 86 | Lacks fruit for $40 | ||||
| Malbec | 07 | 25 | 86 | Ripe cherries and plums | ||||
| Rushin Red | 07 | 23 | 85 | Ripe fruit tannic undertones | ||||
| Big Red | 07 | 19 | 89 | Good value wine (Zin/Syrah) | ||||
| Rochioli | ||||||||
| Sauvignon Blanc | 09 | 26 | 89 | Grapefruit and mineral style | ||||
| Chardonnay | 08 | 36 | 88 | Basic buttery malolactic flavour | ||||
| Pinot Noir | 08 | 48 | 90 | Still young. Cherries & vanilla | ||||
| Arista | ||||||||
| Pinot Gris | 08 | 28 | 86 | Pear drops & acetone finish | ||||
| Bacigalupi Pinot Noir | 07 | 56 | 87 | Strawberries, low fruit | ||||
| Sonoma Coast La Cruz | 07 | 56 | 88 | Long finish of dark berries | ||||
| Perli Vineyard | 07 | 56 | 89 | Mineral Style pinot | ||||
| RRV Syrah | 07 | 34 | 87 | Dominated by tannins, pity | ||||
| Mark David Sauv. Blanc | 09 | 34 | 93 | Great depth and complexity | ||||
| Mark David Cab Franc | 07 | 56 | 91 | Balanced balck fruit and cedar | ||||
| Thomas George | ||||||||
| Sauvignon Blanc | 08 | 25 | 84 | Acidic and tannic, avoid | ||||
| Pinot Noir | 07 | 38 | 88 | Leather and strawberries | ||||
| Viognier | 08 | 28 | 87 | Struggles on nose but balanced | ||||
| Zinfandel | 07 | 27 | 87 | Peppery chocolate flavour | ||||
| Allen Vineyard Pinot | 07 | 55 | 88 | Rose petals, mineral style | ||||
| Moshin | ||||||||
| Larrick Sauvignon Blanc | 08 | 22 | 89 | Apples and dried fruit. Balanced | ||||
| Sonoma Coast Pinot | 07 | 40 | 89 | Cherries and smoke | ||||
| Halo Hill | 07 | 44 | 89 | Smoky flavour | ||||
| RRV Pinot | 07 | 36 | 88 | Came across flat, little flavour | ||||
| Zinfandel | 06 | 30 | 87 | Tannins too high. | ||||
| Carreras Zinfandel | 07 | 35 | 90 | Best wine, Raisins and raspberry | ||||
| Petit Syrah | 07 | 38 | 88 | Peppery plums and blueberries | ||||
| Moshin Poshin #7 | 32 | 88 | Too sweet on this occasion | |||||
| Copain | ||||||||
| Rossane James Berry | 07 | 35 | 89 | Nutty and light, good finish | ||||
| Monument Tree | 07 | 50 | 90 | Black tea and red fruit. Long | ||||
| Wentzel Pinot | 07 | 50 | 89 | Pomegranate and cranberry ! | ||||
| Kiser | 07 | 60 | 90 | French style, black cherries | ||||
| Tousensemble Pinot | 07 | 25 | 89 | Good value French style pinot. | ||||
| Williamson | ||||||||
| Sauvignon Blanc | 08 | 28 | 88 | Ginger on nose | ||||
| Chardonnay | 07 | 38 | 88 | Butterscotch, smooth | ||||
| Rapture Pinot Noir | 08 | 45 | 90 | Rounder balanced mineral flavour | ||||
| Merlot | 05 | 40 | 87 | Low on nose, plums and dark fruit | ||||
| Cuvee (Bordeaux style) | 05 | 47 | 89 | Redcurrants and cedar | ||||
| Inspire | 08 | 85 | 91 | Classic Bordeaux style. Good | ||||
| Stagecoach | 05 | 125 | 88 | Too tannic not ready yet | ||||
| Shiraz | 06 | 47 | 90 | Vanilla and long peppery finish | ||||
| Rodney Strong | ||||||||
| Sauvignon Blanc | 08 | 18 | 87 | Good nose little taste | ||||
| Reserve Chardonnay | 07 | 35 | 87 | Buttery malolactic and apples | ||||
| Reserve Pinot | 07 | 40 | 90 | Good balanced wine | ||||
| Estate Alexander Valley | 07 | 25 | 89 | Pepper and vanilla, toasty | ||||
| Alexander Crown (Cab) | 05 | 35 | 89 | Keeper, blackberries | ||||
| Reserve Alexander Valley | 06 | 45 | 89 | Blackcurrant and cedar | ||||
| Symmetry | 06 | 55 | 89 | Blackberries and plums | ||||
| Knotty Vines Zinfandel | 07 | 19 | 89 | Great value Zin. Pepper & Jam | ||||
| Reserve Zinfandel | 07 | 30 | 88 | Spicy vanilla | ||||
| Gentleman’s Port | 06 | 30 | 89 | Powerful Zinfandel based port | ||||
| Walter Hansel | ||||||||
| RRV Pinot Noir | 07 | 36 | 88 | Good nose, raspberries | ||||
| Sauvignon Blanc | 09 | 16 | 90 | Great value NZ style. Grapefruit | ||||
| Cuvee Alyce Chardonnay | 07 | 36 | 88 | Toasted almonds and buttery | ||||
| Inman Family | ||||||||
| Pinot Gris | 08 | 25 | 87 | Smooth delicate style | ||||
| RRV Pinot Noir | 07 | 30 | 90 | Delicate floral wines | ||||
| Thorn Ridge Ranch | 07 | 52 | 91 | Sage flavour, black tea | ||||
| Estate Vineyard | 07 | 52 | 89 | Mineral earthy flavour | ||||
| RRV Blend Meredith | 06 | 52 | 90 | Balanced, strong raspberry fruit | ||||
| Hawkes | ||||||||
| Chardonnay | 07 | 20 | 90 | Unoaked, crisp and light | ||||
| Alexander Valley Merlot | 05 | 30 | 87 | Powerful tannins, too much? | ||||
| Alexander Valley Cab | 02 | 55 | 86 | Fruit is overpowered by tannin | ||||
| Alexander Valley | 05 | 40 | 86 | Younger wine, fruit too low? | ||||
| Stone Vineyard Cab | 05 | 60 | 88 | Older vine redcurrants | ||||
| Robert Young | ||||||||
| Chardonnay | 06 | 40 | 86 | Heavily oaked, creamy | ||||
| Area 27 Chardonnay | 07 | 42 | 88 | Lighter oak style, citrus flavour | ||||
| Scion Cabernet | 05 | 58 | 90 | Cherries and chocolate | ||||
| Scion Cabernet | 06 | 58 | 89 | Open and mellow wine | ||||
| Big Rock Cabernet | 06 | 58 | 89 | Black fruit leather and cherries | ||||
| Big Rock Cabernet | 05 | 100 | 90 | Mellow balanced wine drink now | ||||
| Chalk Hill | ||||||||
| Sauvignon Blanc | 07 | 33 | 90 | Citrus fruit and buttery layer | ||||
| Pinot Gris | 06 | 40 | 86 | Tastes of……..nothing | ||||
| Estate Chardonnay | 07 | 48 | 89 | Butter, pineapple and expensive | ||||
| Merlot | 06 | 51 | 88 | Pure Merlot, unfortunately | ||||
| Estate Cabernet | 05 | 65 | 87 | Low nose and too tannic | ||||
| Botrytis Semillon | 06 | 80 | 89 | Honey but just too expensive. | ||||
| Verite | ||||||||
| La Muse | 06 | 200 | 95 | Merlot based, great structure | ||||
| La Joie | 06 | 200 | 97 | Classic Bordeaux, superb | ||||
| Archipel | 06 | 200 | 96 | Stunning balance, keeper | ||||
| Le Desir | 06 | 200 | 94 | Cab Franc keeper | ||||
| La Joie | 98 | 150 | 98 | Wow ! Nothing else to say | ||||
| Lancaster Estates | ||||||||
| Sauvignon Blanc | 08 | 24 | 87 | Acid levels too high | ||||
| Sophia Hill Cabernet | 06 | 48 | 90 | Good cherry and dark fruit | ||||
| Estate Cabernet | 06 | 70 | 89 | Complex with tannic structure | ||||
| Nicole’s Propriety Red | 06 | 100 | 89 | Just not at this price point | ||||
| Davis Family | ||||||||
| Sauvignon Blanc | 07 | 20 | 90 | Classic NZ Style | ||||
| Cote Rose | 07 | 18 | 88 | Almonds and rose petals | ||||
| RRV Chardonnay | 07 | 35 | 90 | Boneya nd citrus. Balanced | ||||
| RRV Pinot | 06 | 40 | 90 | Good red berry flavour | ||||
| Riesling | 07 | 24 | 91 | Yummy classic dry Riesling | ||||
| Old Vine Zinfandel | 06 | 30 | 91 | Mellow fruit and tannins | ||||
| RRV Syrah | 07 | 36 | 89 | Fruity Syrah with peppers | ||||
| Napa Cabernet | 06 | 50 | 89 | Redcurrants, great drinker | ||||
| Zinfandel port | 05 | 30 | 88 | Lighter style port | ||||
| Chateau Montelena | ||||||||
| Potter Valley Riesling | 08 | 24 | 88 | Apricot, dry and apples | ||||
| Chardonnay | 07 | 50 | 89 | Stone citrus and apples. Pricy? | ||||
| Zinfandel | 06 | 30 | 90 | Balanced smoky vanilla flavour | ||||
| Napa Cabernet | 06 | 49 | 89 | Good balanced wine | ||||
| Montelena Cabernet | 06 | 135 | 91 | Old vines producing great wine | ||||
| WH Smith | ||||||||
| Sonoma Coast Pinot | 07 | 32 | 89 | Good entry level pinot | ||||
| Umino Pinot Noir | 08 | 48 | 91 | Smooth mineral style | ||||
| Hellenthal Pinot | 07 | 48 | 91 | Well balanced pinot | ||||
| Kaley Cellars Zinfandel | 00 | 35 | 90 | Mellow drinker. Plums & prunes | ||||
| Howell Mt. Cab | 06 | 42 | 88 | Low on nose and acid | ||||
| Maritime Pinot | 07 | 54 | 88 | Dark Cheery tannic pinot | ||||
| Purple Label Cabernet | 06 | 64 | 90 | Smooth, good balanced taste | ||||
| Twomey | ||||||||
| Sauvignon Blanc | 08 | 25 | 88 | Reluctant nose, acidic undertone | ||||
| Pinot Noir | 06 | 55 | 89 | Balanced strawberries & tannins | ||||
| Merlot | 05 | 50 | 89 | Plums and balanced tannins | ||||
| Summers Estate | ||||||||
| Reserve Chardonnay | 08 | 32 | 85 | Peas !!! and vanilla | ||||
| Estate Rose of Cabernet | 08 | 18 | 85 | Too sweet for rose and why? | ||||
| Villa Adriana Charbono | 07 | 28 | 89 | Rare grape, blueberries/tomato | ||||
| Villa Adriana Zinfandel | 06 | 34 | 85 | BBQ wine | ||||
| Knights Valley Merlot | 06 | 30 | 86 | Aggressive tannins | ||||
| Reserve Cabernet | 05 | 65 | 88 | Way over priced | ||||
| Petit Syrah Port | 06 | 36 | 88 | Too sweet for port, more desert | ||||
| Muscat Canelli | 07 | 20 | 89 | Classic muscat reasonable price | ||||
| Storybook Mountain | ||||||||
| Zinfandel Mayacamus | 07 | 34 | 90 | Boysenberry flavours | ||||
| Eastern Exposure Zin | 07 | 45 | 89 | Viognier gives flowery hint | ||||
| Anteus | 06 | 40 | 90 | Well balanced red/blackcurrants | ||||
The Top 10
| Verite La Joie | 120 | 98 | Stunning wine, up there with the best | |
| MacPhail Vagon Lit | 07 | 59 | 94 | Amazing wine for $59 |
| Mark David Sauvignon Blanc | 09 | 34 | 93 | Classic Sauvignon Blanc at great price |
| MacPhail San Giacomo | 07 | 49 | 93 | Mineral style Pinot from a great vineyard |
| WH Smith Hellentahl pinot Noir | 07 | 48 | 91 | Well balanced, soft tannin structure |
| Chateau Montelena Cabernet | 06 | 135 | 91 | Great Cabernet from old vines |
| Davis Family Riesling | 07 | 24 | 91 | The way dry Riesling was intended |
| Inman Family Thorn Ridge Ranch | 07 | 52 | 91 | Beautifully crafted wine, delicate style |
| Truett Hurst 2 Vineyard Zinfandel | 06 | 25 | 91 | Bargain Zinfandel for this quality |
| Kokomo Late Harvest S. Blanc | 07 | 28 | 91 | Honey and peaches. Scrumptious |
Best Bargains (under $20)
| Walter Hansell Sauvignon Blanc | 09 | 16 | 90 | New Zealand Style with grapefruit |
| Sebastiani RRV Chardonnay | 08 | 18 | 88 | Unoaked with apple and citrus style |
| Hop Kiln Big Red | 07 | 19 | 89 | Great value blended wine |
| Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Zin | 07 | 19 | 89 | Peppery jam and good balance |
| Loxton Late Harvest Zinfandel | 07 | 20 | 89 | Balanced light style |