Buying Guide > All Editors > Virginie Boone
Contributing reviewer Virginie Boone ("Practical Hedonist") began her writing career wandering the world for Lonely Planet, contributing to guidebooks on South America, Northern California, France and America's Deep South. She figured it'd be just as much fun to write about her own backyard, Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino, and that led quite naturally to wine, a subject she's covered regularly for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, a New York Times regional newspaper. Her work also appears in Savor Wine Country Magazine and on zester.daily.com; she is the author of Napa Valley and Sonoma: Heart of California Wine Country.
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Alienor 2009 Cote de Castelero Syrah (Lake County)
- $45
The wine is stunning, full of bright red fruit and a soft tinge of French bread, tightly structured with dark wood and a leathery component. A beautiful example of what can happen when the right winemaker and site collide: The finish is long and the wine is one to remember.
— V.B.
(6/1/2012)
Joseph Jewell 2009 Elk Prairie Vineyard Pinot Noir (Humboldt County)
- $39
Joseph Jewell’s 2009 Elk Prairie is even better than its 2008, which is saying something. This vintage opens with perfumed cola spice and cinnamon that evolves in its lightly textured, lush mouthfeel into decadent strawberry in crème Anglaise. Bright, with a lingering finish, this Pinot Noir only gets better while in the glass.
— V.B.
(6/1/2012)
Easton 2010 Monarch Mine Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc (Sierra Foothills)
- Online Exclusive
- $18
This crisp white is inviting and dry, with aromas of citrus, fig and fennel. Reminiscent of a fine Sancerre, it’s finely structured, steely and still lushly textured and full enough in the mouth to enjoy with seafood, a creamy goat cheese salad or entirely on its own.
— V.B.
(6/1/2012)
Terre Rouge 2010 Grenache Blanc (Sierra Foothills)
- Online Exclusive
- $22
This is a lovely wine, dark golden in color yet fresh on the palate, with piercing flavors of green apple, apricot and flowers, its long finish laced with honey. A wine of noticeable depth and balance that gets better in the glass and would make for an unexpected apéritif.
— V.B.
(6/1/2012)
Couloir 2010 Oppenlander Vineyard Pinot Noir (Mendocino County)
- $38
A very earthy Pinot Noir from the gorgeous Oppenlander Vineyard. The wine—from mostly Pommard clones—is a heady mix of aromatic mushrooms growing in dirt and bright cherry-strawberry notes, finished by a lilting lift of rose petal and supple spice. An elegant wine that would be tempting to drink early and often.
— V.B.
(6/1/2012)
Phoenix Ranch 2010 Bechthold Vineyard Cinsault (Lodi)
- Online Exclusive
- $21
This 100% old-vine Cinsault preserves the vineyard’s earthiness in a unique wine aged in neutral French oak. It’s light and bright, tasting of savory rhubarb, with soft layers of spice and a lingering, easy finish.
— V.B.
(6/1/2012)
Claudia Springs 2010 Lolonis Vineyard Viognier (Redwood Valley)
- Online Exclusive
- $24
From a cool, inland section of Mendocino County, this Viognier opens with gorgeous aromatics—heavenly honeysuckle and grapefruit—and offers up crisp, dry, borderline bracing acidity that pulls back just at the right moment. Nicely textured, the finish lingers.
— V.B.
(6/1/2012)
Twisted Oak 2009 *%#&@! Red (Calaveras County)
- $18
A deliciously priced blend of 60% Mourvèdre, 13% Syrah and 27% Grenache that’ll be tricky to ask for by name but is worth the effort to find and share. This blend shows off brooding dark dollops of spicy fruit, herb and tobacco that are tenaciously balanced by the cherry tones from the Grenache. A fun wine to pass around at parties and barbecues.
— V.B.
(6/1/2012)
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2009 Merry Edwards Flax Vineyard
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