An example of California Barbera at its best, this is brawny and muscular and rich in flavor, which makes it perfect for roasts and hearty pasta dishes. With firm tannins and crisp acidity, this one is filled with rewarding currant, mocha, olive tapenade and spice flavors.
— S.H.
(7/1/2008)
Dry, crisp and with no oak influence, this stainless steel-fermented wine is rich in apricot, nectarine, pineapple, vanilla, macadamia nut and honey flavors. It’s a nice, versatile white wine to have with a variety of food.
— S.H.
(7/1/2008)
Syrah is an easy grape to ripen in fruit, but a lot harder to get a good structure. This polished wine does both. It rewards with blackberry, cassis, cherry and chocolate flavors, but has a wonderful acid-tannin-oak architecture that gives it elegance. With its direct, easy flavors, drink now.
— S.H.
(7/1/2008)
Made from the winery’s vineyard in Calaveras County, this white wine is dry and crisp to the point of tart, in the manner of a Pinot Grigio. Offers flavors of citrus fruits, white peach and spices, with a tangy bite of nasturtium flower.
— S.H.
(12/1/2009)
A barrel-fermented Chardonnay, with a drop of Viognier. Shows Chard flavors of pears, peaches and citrus with a tropical flower note and lots of vanilla cream. There’s some bitterness throughout.
— S.H.
(7/1/2008)
Barrel fermented with wild yeast, there’s something wild about the wine itself. The flavors are all over the place, suggesting pie filling apricots, peach jam, bread dough, acidic Meyer lemons, white pepper and smoky caramel. It’s a pretty good, sippable wine, but lacks a focus, a center of gravity.
— S.H.
(7/1/2008)