St.
Clement
1997 Oroppas
Napa Valley, CA, 2867 St. Helena Hwy.
North St. Helena
CA, 94574 -
800-331-8266 www.stclement.com
Deep Ruby red colors with, ripe fruit front aromas dominating
the nose with a subtle vanillin accent. A spicy supple entry
leads to a velvety silky full-bodied mouthfeel with important
character. A rounded voluptuous finish, drink it now, but
it will be heavenly if held. Elegance in the bottle and it
looks even better in the glass.The St. Clement Tasting Room
is a Victorian building that sits on the western side of the
Napa Valley north of St. Helena. This winery reflects the
charm, romance and wonder of Historical Napa Valley. Varietal
blend: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc.
Released July 1999. Retail: $40
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Bartholomew
park Cabernet Sauvignon Parks Vineyard 1996, Sonoma Valley
(707) 935-9511
Deep purple in color. Complex berry, chocolate and anise flavors
underlying. This wine is elegant on the palate with excellent
balance and flavor. Close to raisiny black fruit with candied
cherry notes. |
Meridian
Vineyards, 1999 Santa Barbara Chardonnay
Paso Robles, CA.
(805)
237-6000
A well-crafted wine with distinct classic aromas
and flavors. Aromatic ripe fresh pear and apple with juicy-pineapple
touched with rich sweet-vanilla flavors, followed by a long
toasted oak finish. Pair this wine alongside creamy pastas
and grilled halibut with caramelized fennel
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Cline
Cellars 1998 Syrah California 24737
Arnold Dr., Sonoma, CA 95476, 707-935-4310, A wine with a
nice friendly nose. A varietal with dark cherry and raspberry
flavors with smoky nuances. Medium-bodied wine will drink
well over the next 3-5 years. Retail:
$10.00 ClineOnline
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Cline
Cellars
1996 Carignane California
(24737 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, CA 95476, 707-935-4310) This is
a serious wine and was an interesting surprise. The low yields
have created a medium dark ruby wine. Brimming with chocolate
and black cherry spicy nutmeg and clove with orange rind flavors.
The wine has fresh earthy aromas medium tannins with a lingering
vanilla finish. Drink this now but in 3-7 years this will
be very nice indeed. ClineOnline
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Joseph
Phelps 1996 Le Mistral -
CA
(P.O.
Box 1031, 200 Taplin Road, St. Helena, CA 94574, 707-963-2745)
Deep purple red hue to the rim. Forward perfumed red fruit
with a very romantic nose. Earthy vanilla aromas with a mild
wood accent. Very smooth attack with nice legs leads to a
full-bodied taste abundant with velvety tannins. Long flavorful
finish. This is rich elegant and complex. Wonderfully made
with the latest in soft extraction techniques. Drink it now
or later. This wine will grow even better with age.
JPV-Online |
Barwang
97 Cabernet Sauvignon-Hilltops
Australia (Dist. by Canyon Rd Winery, 707-856-9463 - Geyserville,
CA) Dark
ruby and crimson color with mint, berry fruit aromas. Ripe
cherry and berry flavors accented by light oak. Complex flavors
that don't let up through the finish. Good structure and solid
tannins. Should cellare well or drink now.
Retail $20.00 |
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Carmenet
98
Reserve
Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
Paragon Vineyard / Edna Valley -
2750 Las Amigas Road, Napa, CA 94559,
707-226-9991 www.chalonwinegroup.com
Soft palate with layers of crisp character together with
aromas of ripe melon, lemon and gooseberry. Added complexity
from Malolactic fermentation leads to pleasant acidity and
a versatile yet likable drinking style with an extended
finish. We had it with grilled fish...mmm good. This Sauvignon
Blanc would pleasantly surprise a "wine snob."
Retail: $17.50 |
Pedroncelli,
1999 Zinfandel Rosé
Sonoma County Vintage Selection
Geyserville, CA
(707) 857-3531
The
Pedroncelli winery has been producing Zinfandel Rose since
1955, longer than any other winery. This experience and
refinement of style is evident in the abundant fresh fruit
flavors of ripe red berries and spicy accents with a long,
pleasant, velvety finish on the palate. |
St.
Clement, 1999 Sauvignon Blanc
St. Helena, CA
(707) 967-3033
This is a wine of subtle complexity allowing it to stand
out from other Sauvignon Blancs. Deep floral and fruit emanate
both in aroma and while in the mouth, allowing this wine
too effortlessly compliment rich shellfish such as, Dungenous
crab or barbecued oysters. From beginning to end this refreshing
wine exhibits a wealth of character and flavor and is ideally
balanced and ready to drink now. |
Edna
Valley Vineyard 1998 Chardonnay -
Paragon - San Luis Obispo-CA (2585 Biddle Ranch Rd., San
Luis Obispo, CA 93401, 805-544-5844) Highly concentrated
fruit and use of partial malolactic fermentation have allowed
for full development of complex flavors. A full-bodied wine
with rich aromas of pineapple tropical fruits with lime.
The mouth is rich with hints of topical fruit ,bananas and
peaches. The presence of oak combined with cinnamon form
a fresh and long balanced finish. A unique vintage. Buy
it, drink it and enjoy.
Retail: 14.50 |
Lonetree
Winery 1997 Syrah
- Mendocino (Address: P.O. Box 401, Philo, CA 95466, 888
686-9463)
They call it their "Elegant Monster" and from
the inky color to the juicy flavors of dark fruits and earth
this wine delivers a rich and inviting palate. Light oak
lead by a lot of flavor. Very drinkable now and into the
future. Retail: 18.50. |
Echelon
1998 Syrah Calif.
(
P.O. Box 518, Soledad, CA 93960) A blend of 75% Syrah, 20%
Grenache, 5% Petite Syrah. The wine reflects longstanding
Rhône winemaking tradition. The wine has nice deep
color with aromas of pepper and perfume. It has full heady
nose of fruit with a body to match. It will make for great
quaffing at casual meals but will stand up well with meats
at the more formal dinners. We recommend you drink this
straight away, but this wine can hold for many years. Retail:
14.50 |
Dry
Creek Vineyard 1997 Reserve Zinfandel -
Dry Creek Dry Creek Vineyard, (3770 Lambert Bridge Rd, Healsburg,
CA 95448 707-433-1000) This superlative blend of 90% Zinfandel
and 10% Petite Sirah will be released March 1st. High aromatics
of spice, fruit and wild berry leap from the glass. Richly
structured and soft on the entry with a medium palate of
black cherry, raspberry and spice. Delightful in every aspect!
Retail: 30.00 Dry
Creek Online |
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