Gary Farrell 2003 Pinot Noir – Russian River Valley / Russian River Selection

This extremely drinkable wine managed to be nicely fruity without being sweet, delicate while still holding up well to food without sacrificing fullness with a touch of spice. Smooth and long on the tongue the fruit is well balanced. Color is gorgeous and dark. While I’m sure it opened up with time, this wine was great the minute you opened the bottle and I didn’t notice a significant change over time, though I must admit, it didn’t last all that long. This is the kind of wine I really love because you can enjoy it will most meals or just as easily drink it alone and fully enjoy what this wine has to offer. This was the first Gary Farrell wine I have tried and I will try others, it was a welcome surprise to stumble across this bottle.


Winemaker’s Notes

Intense aromas of ripe cherry, raspberry and strawberry fruit. The incredible richness of this wine centers around succulent dark berry flavors, enhanced by lavish, spicy oak elements. This deeply colored pinot noir has evolving layers of complexity, with a silky, sensual, lengthy finish. The wonderful balancing acidity ensures excellent compatibility with a wide range of foods, including salmon, lamb and pork dishes.

Score: 9/10

Bottled: July 2004
Released: June 2005
Alcohol: 14.2%
Case Production: 5068
Winery Name: Gary Farrell
Wine Maker: Gary Farrell

Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County

Restaurant Retail Price: $75.00
Acid/pH: 0.67 / 3.45

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David Bruce 2004 Central Coast Petite Sirah

Deep red color with a light but noticable spice characterizes this wine. Upon first consumption this Petitie Sirah is noticeably less fruty than others I have tried, however dry the tannins are present but light. The finish is more present on the front of your tounge and very smooth on the back. Berry flavors are again a little absent relative to other PS’s but the light spice is quite nice and would accompay red meat very well.

Vitner’s notes: “The resulting components display notable differences,some exuding bright,spice-tinged fruit while others are jammy,earthy and dense.The blend in many ways exceeds the sum of these parts,offering blackberry,blueberry and white pepper aromas,with a supple and balanced feel coming from our gentle handling of the fruit.Limiting the influence of new oak allows the fruit to shine through,making this wine versatile with foods,and ready to drink now.”

I’d agree with the white pepper but I just didn’t get the frut in this one, even as described by the Vinter.

Winery Name: David Bruce
Wine Maker:
Dean de Korth
Apellation: Napa Valley
Suggest Retail Price: $20.00
Case Production: 13,824
Type of Oak: French and American
Time in Oak: 3 months
Alcohol: 13.77%

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Charles Krug – Napa Valley Cabernet

Deep red in color with strong berry aroma. This wine is full bodied with a big mouth feel. Berry flavors are in the background keeping this cab not overly fruity or berry intense. Tannins from oak aging are ever present and spicy.

Vitner’s notes: “Beautiful deep red rose petal color with very concentrated berry aromas and traces of cocoa and vanilla. Silky palate with blackberry fruit and chewy tannins. Full bodied structure of both elegance and depth. A round and graceful Cabernet Sauvignon with sweet vanilla oak and wood spice.”

Winery Name: Charles Krug
Owner: Peter Mondavi
Varietal Content: 80% Cab. Sauv, 18% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Syrah
Apellation: Napa Valley
Barrel Process: 22 Months in 97% French, 2% American, 1% Hungarian Oaks
Bottled: April 2003
Released: November 2003
Suggest Retail Price: $24.00
Production: 30,000 cases

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BV Reserve Dulcet

Originally established by the famous Geroges de Latour in 1900, Beaulieu Vineyard is a Napa Valley staple. This Reserve Dulcet is wonderful bottle of wine at a reasonable price for a reserve wine. The grapes are 100% Napa Valley and this Dulcet has been given all the care and detail of higher end reserves including aging in small oak barrels. Deep ruby in color, this Dulcet is balanced with strong berry intensity and very smooth tannins. Hints of vanilla come from a mild almost creamy oak flavor, not nearly as oaky as I would have anticipated. The wine is smooth, medium bodied, and very drinkable alone and paired with food.

Winery Name: Beaulieu Vineyards
Appellation: Napa Valley
Vintage: 2000
Grape: Cabernet / Shiraz blend
Timing: Now or this year
Drinkable Score: 8/10
Price: $40 retail

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