Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Trione 2007 Block Twenty One Cabernet Sauvignon
The Award-Winning Wine:
Trione 2007 Block Twenty One Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley
Reason for Reviewing:
Trione 2007 Block 21 Cabernet Sauvignon earned a Best of Class, Cabernet Sauvignon, at the 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
Noteworthy:
For 35 harvests, three generations, Henry Trione, sons Mark and Vic, and Mark’s daughter Denise have farmed and managed grapes in Sonoma County and earned a reputation for producing premium Russian River Valley and Alexander Valley wines.
Winery Notes:
"Aromas of currant, sage and allspice dominate the nose. The palate is vibrant and with velvety tannins. This wine is drinking wonderfully now and will age gracefully over the next 5-10 years."
AlaWine Notes:
Trione 2007 Block Twenty One Cabernet Sauvignon shows as a dark garnet color in the glass. A bouquet of ripe berries, herbs and spice grace the nose. Abundant flavors of dark berry and cherry fill the palate in a smooth opening and linger across a long dry finish with a toasty oak highlight.
Bottom Line:
Trione 2007 Block 21 Cabernet Sauvignon is a statuesque Cab with rich flavors and interesting layers and complexities. Can be enjoyed best on its own, or if with food, grilled steak. Suggested retail price is $58. Overall composite score: 97 points.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Christopher Creek Winery 2010 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel
The Award-Winning Wine:
Christopher Creek Winery 2010 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel
Reason for Reviewing:
Christopher Creek Winery 2010 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel was named a "Best of Class" winner at the 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
Noteworthy:
The winery is owned by the Wasserman Family who, in addition to growing grapes, has been farming oranges and olives in the Central Valley of California for the past 35 years and lives on a Cabernet vineyard (Finlay’s Vineyard) in Dry Creek Valley.
Winery Notes:
Tastes of strawberry and raspberry fruits with hints of vanilla and spice.
AlaWine Notes:
Christopher Creek Winery 2010 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel is a dark ruby color on pouring into the glass. Aromas of ripe brambleberry and fruitcake lift to the nose. Rich red berry flavors wash across the palate and hold persistently through a dry, spicy, light pepper finish with a leather highlight.
Bottom Line:
Christopher Creek Winery 2010 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel is a full-flavored Zin with interesting layers and a satisfying finish. Quite quaffable and a good value at a suggested retail price of $28. Overall composite score: 95 points.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Sobon Estate 2009 Fiddletown Zinfandel
The Award-Winning Wine:
Sobon Estate 2009 Fiddletown Zinfandel, Lubenko Vineyard
Reason for Reviewing:
Sobon Estate 2009 Fiddletown Zinfandel won a Best of Class award among Zinfandels at the 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
Noteworthy:
Founder Leon Sobon was a Senior Scientist with the Lockheed Research Lab. His wife Shirley is the lead Tasting Room, Gallery & Museum Manager, and their two sons and one son-in-law manage the business.
Winery Notes:
The 2009 vintage ...has intriguing aromas of spice, cherry, and concentrated fruit: restrained, but very complex. The multiple flavors feature a toasty, dusty cherry component typical of the Fiddletown area. The finish is long and lingering...
AlaWine Notes:
On pouring, Sobon Estate 2009 Fiddletown Zinfandel displays as a medium-dark ruby color. Ripe berry aromas radiate to the nose. Loads of rich berry-cherry flavors fill the palate in a super-smooth opening, and hold persistently through a nice long, dry finish.
Bottom Line:
Sobon Estate 2009 Fiddletown Zinfandel is a round, flavorful Zin, with a plethora of ripe fruit, with a light-spice (pepperless) oak finish. An excellent value at a suggested retail price is $22. Overall composite score: 97 points.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Rodney Strong Vineyards 2009 Reserve Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
The Award-Winning Wine:
Rodney Strong Vineyards 2009 Reserve Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
Reason for Reviewing:
The Rodney Strong Vineyards 2009 Reserve Chardonnay Russian River Valley earned Double Gold honors at the recently completed 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
Noteworthy:
Rodney Strong, one of the pioneers of Sonoma County’s modern wine industry, established Sonoma County’s 13th bonded winery in 1959.
Winery Notes:
Frequent stirring of the lees during barrel aging added a creamy texture to an already full-bodied wine, making for a rich, round mouth feel, balanced with vibrant acidity. Powerful aromas of spiced apple, pear, and pie crust join minerally lemon-cream and toasty oak on the palate...
AlaWine Notes:
Rodney Strong Vineyards 2009 Reserve Chardonnay pours into the glass as a light, straw-yellow color. Tart apple aromas lift to the nose. Lemon and melon flavors wash across the palate with a smooth texture, accented by a crisp acidity.
Bottom Line:
Rodney Strong Vineyards 2009 Reserve Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, is an elegant wine, quite quaffable, flavorful, and bright. Suggested retail price is $35. Overall composite score: 96 points.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Gracianna 2010 Suzanne's Blend Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
The Award-Winning Wine:
Gracianna 2010 Suzanne's Blend Chardonnay Russian River Valley
Reason for Reviewing:
Gracianna 2010 Suzanne's Blend Chardonnay earned Best of Class honors at the 2011 Sonoma County Harvest Fair Wine Competition.
Noteworthy:
"Gracianna wine is for those who have something to be grateful for. Gracianna - Grace, Graciousness, Gratitude"
Winery Notes:
Suzanne’s Blend is a lovely classic Russian River Chardonnay with a hint of tropical floral scents and citrus. There is also a slight butter cream flavor to round out this savory straw colored wine. Our judicious use of oak balances the fresh and crisp finish.
AlaWine Notes:
Gracianna 2010 Suzanne's Blend Chardonnay pours in the glass as a light-straw yellow color. Aromas of melon, peach, mango are revealed in a swirl and carry across on the palate, with some tropical fruit flavors, in a creamy mouth. A bright acidity accents the fruit and lingers through a very long finish.
Bottom Line:
Gracianna 2010 Suzanne's Blend Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, is a very elegant, and well integrated, wine from beginning to end, in taste, texture and finish. Suggested retail price is $34. Overall composite score: 95 points.