Tasting Notes

Our 2007 Mokelumne River Albariño exhibits its distinctive varietal character with delicate aromas of cantaloupe, pineapple and apricot. It is medium-bodied in the mouth with a pleasing tropical lushness, followed by a lingering finish. This Albariño shows excellent balance, and its vivid, crisp acidity makes it a wonderful accompaniment to seafood.

About Albariño:

Albariño is an aromatic white wine that is straw-gold in color with a green tinge. It is typically found in the Rias Baixas area of Galicia in Northwestern Spain and known as Alvarinho in Portugal. Thick-skinned and small-berried, this varietal has aromatics similar to a Riesling and is thought to actually originate from Germany. Documentary evidence suggests that German monks planted the grape in 1185 on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. This...

Tasting Notes

Our 2007 Clements Hill Albariño exhibits its distinctive varietal character with delicate aromas of Bosc pear, Fuji apple and mandarin rind. It is medium-bodied in the mouth with a pleasing tropical lushness, followed by a lingering finish. This Albariño shows excellent balance, and its vivid, crisp acidity makes it a wonderful accompaniment to seafood.

About Albariño:

Albariño is an aromatic white wine that is straw-gold in color with a green tinge. It is typically found in the Rias Baixas area of Galicia in Northwestern Spain and known as Alvarinho in Portugal. Thick-skinned and small-berried, this varietal has aromatics similar to a Riesling and is thought to actually originate from Germany. Documentary evidence suggests that German monks planted the grape in 1185 on the pilgrimage route to Santiago...

Tasting Notes

The Carica 2006 Sauvignon Blanc is made in a classic style like the great wines of Poilly Fumé and Sancerre. With clean, tropical flavors and crisp acidity, Carica Sauvignon Blanc opens with floral notes and aromas of pineapple, grapefruit and gooseberry with a hint of toasty oak. Tasting of guava, fig and passion fruit, the wine has a prolonged, refreshing lime accented finish.

Carica Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect accompaniment to lighter fare such as poultry, shellfish and other seafood. Because of its intensity and clean finish, it will also pair well with richer cream-based preparations.

From the Winery

Critically aclaimed, limited production, single-vineyard wines. Hand-crafted from sustainably farmed hillside vineyards in Sonoma County.

Carica Wines was started in 2005 by two friends, Charlie...

Tasting Notes

"Mandrake? You listening? Purity of Essence. That's what this Verdelho has. You'll never catch a Commie drinking this Verdelho. Why, Mandrake? Because it's full of exotic aromas of bananas, citrus, lilac. And, it is bursting with crisp, fresh fruit flavors of apricots and honeydew melon. Mandrake, this is the purest expression of fruit from a vineyard as you will ever taste. Drink it now, like a man!"

Food Pairings: By itself! As an aperitif - clam chowder - oysters and other aphrodisiacs - Spanish and Asian foods!

Click HERE to read reviews of the 2005 vintage!

From the Winery

We've found that most people cut straight to the chase and call this Verdelho simply, "Bordello." While it is true that this sinfully delicious wine...

Tasting Notes

This tall, exquisite silk-screened bottle is a delight to the eye! As Deerfield Gold is poured, your senses will be tantalized by its golden hue and lush aromas of ripe apricots, dried peaches and tropical flowers. The taste is exotic - sweet though not cloying, like dried apricots over Cream Brulée. It’s rich and sumptuous, with nutty nuances and a long, well balanced finish. Gold doesn’t just go with dessert, such as fruit tarts, Bavarian Creams and Creme Brulée - Gold is dessert!

From the Winery

Deerfield Gold is a unique wine made from over-ripe, super sweet, botrytis-engulfed grapes. Common to most growing regions, Botrytis mold (or "Noble Rot" as it's sometimes called) concentrates the sugars as it extracts water from the grapes. The super...

Tasting Notes

Our 2006 Sauvignon Blanc is bright and crisp, yet fuller and more generous than you might expect! With a smooth mouthfeel and an uncommonly long finish, this wine truly provides an unrivaled complexity and an exceptional depth.

From the Winery

2006 was an exceptional vintage, especially for early ripening varietals like Sauvignon Blanc. The spring was warm and the summer mild. Winter rains waited until the last grapes were harvested.

Perfectly vine-ripened grapes were hand sorted and whole-cluster cold pressed. Multiple yeast fermentation started in a tank with the temperature slowly lowered to 45 degrees. The final stage of fermentation was in neutral oak barrels in our cool cave. Fermentation took five months, producing a generous amount of glycerin, which contributes to the viscous...

Tasting Notes

Bold, tangy with hints of guava and gooseberry. Intense layers of bright fruit and mineral flavors. Gold with hints of lime, fresh and crisp, with long lasting flavors.

From the Winery

Vinum, cantus, amor - wine, song, love. Trademark words for Ceja Vineyards and the Ceja Family, third generation winegrowers in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. We match vines to terroir, planting each variety where it grows best. Fruit is handled gently to create our limited collection of hand-crafted wines. Enjoy with family, friends and your favorite dishes. ¡Salud!

Tasting Notes

Aromas of honeydew melon, almond marzipan and baked apple pie. The palate showcases citrus blossom, mineral and flinty characteristics. Creamy yet tart qualities abound with a lush finish.

From the Winery

Vinum, cantus, amor - wine, song, love. Trademark words for Ceja Vineyards and the Ceja Family, third generation winegrowers in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. We match vines to terroir, planting each variety where it grows best. Fruit is handled gently to create our limited collection of hand-crafted wines. Enjoy with family, friends and your favorite dishes. ¡Salud!

Tasting Notes

"It's like going into a department store, and before your can say 'Stop!' some perky thing in a floral print blasts you with the latest from Yves St. Ralph!" Not this Viognier! Sure, you will detect a hint of jasmine, but apricots and grapefruit take center stage upstairs in the Aroma Dept. Meanwhile, in the Flavor Dept. (1st floor, just past Lingerie), you'll taste those apricots and grapefruits along with a touch of clove spice. Perfect for your holiday, or everyday, shopping experience!

Food Pairings: He said creamy! Soft creamy cheeses, BBQ'd Chicken, Spanish or Asian dishes.

From the Winery

Just sip one glass and you'll hear a tale. A tale of a tasteful trip. That started with this Viognier, aboard this winery ship....

Tasting Notes

Vare 2005 Bianco is a robust blend of Ribolla Gialla, Pinot Grigio, Tocai Friulano, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, all of which were slowly fermented in once-used French oak barrels. The wine, which was bottled at the end of May 2006, is medium bodied, with floral flavors and a long finish. Serve lightly chilled as an aperitif, with appetizers or with medium-bodied main dishes.

From the Winery

Vare Vineyards is a small, focused project of George and Elsa Vare, making hand-crafted Italian-style white wines from the vineyards around their house in the Napa Valley. These wines are fashioned after special wines made by their winemaking friends in Collio (Friuli, Italy and Slovenia). The Vares are constantly experimenting with different cultural practices in the vineyards, differing harvest...

Tasting Notes

Ribolla Gialla, grown primarily in the Collio region of Friuli, Italy and Slovenia, dates back to the 13th century, and Vare Vineyards is the only winery in the US producing it! The grapes were whole cluster pressed and had a long, cool fermentation in once-used French oak barrels, with the wine being bottled at the end of May 2006. Our Ribolla Gialla is a full-flavored, medium-bodied, dry, slightly spicy, citrus-flavored white wine with a long, creamy finish.

Try Ribolla Gialla with appetizers, soups, salads, especially seafoods, and even hearty white meat entrees. Above all, experiment and enjoy! You can still sip it on its own - serve lightly chilled!

From the Winery

Vare Vineyards is a small, focused project of George and Elsa Vare, making...

Tasting Notes

Crisp acidity, highlighted by aromas of honeysuckle and passion fruit, make this easy-drinking wine a great choice as an aperitif or the perfect accompaniment to spicy Asian, seafood or chicken.

From the Winery

Iberian varietals. California terroir. Incredible wines.

Barreto Cellars is a Central Coast Winery dedicated to producing premium-quality wines featuring grape varietals from the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). Having relatives who migrated to America from these regions, we have a strong connection and desire to develop wines utilizing these varietals, a number of which are grown in small amounts in select vineyards throughout California.

The Mediterranean climate and soil is very similar to much of California, providing us with the opportunity to create new varietal wines and blends unfamiliar to many wine...

Tasting Notes

Winemaker's Notes:
Jeriko Estate's "Old River Block" Chardonnay is the mother of this outstanding Blanc de Blanc cuvée, America's first and only sparkling wine made from certified organically grown grapes! This keenly crafted Brut is crisp and rich, with compelling fruit wrapped around a gentle almond, yeasty quality. It was produced méthode champenoise - extremely limited production - and is as unique as it is delicious.

Aromas:
Light, lemony yeast with a hint of toasted almonds.

Flavors:
Crisp citrus with a touch of hazelnut.

Finish:
Bright acid and luxurious effervescence.

Pair With:
Serve as an apéritif, with a dewy summer fruit plate or oysters on the half-shell.

From the Winery

Jeriko Estate produces hand-crafted artisan wines from 100% organically grown and certified grapes from our vineyard...

Tasting Notes

Winemaker's Notes:
This rich yet refreshingly crisp Chardonnay is completed by a long, creamy and complex finish. The moderate palate weight, when coupled with an intense mouth-feel, creates a perfectly food-friendly Chardonnay.

Aromas:
Intense lemon and tropical fruits dominate the nose but hint at the softness imparted from partial malolactic fermentation.

Flavors:
A burst of crisp acidity is balanced by pear and peach flavors, followed by similar lifted, perfumed aromas.

Finish:
A long and intense finish of crisp fruit is beautifully balanced by creamy developed notes.

Pair With:
Roasted poultry with herbs, plain shellfish, mildly spiced fusion dishes or a medium-flavored herbed goat cheese.

From the Winery

Jeriko Estate produces hand-crafted artisan wines from 100% organically grown and certified grapes from our vineyard in beautiful...

Tasting Notes

2006 Croze Sauvignon Blanc is light, crisp and well balanced. The moderate structure compliments its bright fruit character, which is in keeping with the winemaker's philosophy and style. Its bouquet reveals fresh aromas of citrus and grapefruit with a hint of newly-mown grass. As the wine warms in the glass, melon and pineapple flavors emerge. The finish is agreeably long and full.

This Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with poultry, fish and pasta dishes. It's perfect with rich sauces and soft cheese. It's also great for sipping - share a cool, refreshing glass with a friend!

From the Winery

Sauvignon Blanc is said to be one of the parents of Cabernet Sauvignon - the other being Cabernet Franc. Our premier Croze Sauvignon Blanc is an elegant...

Tasting Notes

Our 2006 Viognier jumps from the glass with hints of peach, apricot, honeysuckle and pear. The addition of Sauvignon Blanc lends a citrus note that finishes crisply, leaving you thirsting for more! Grown in a region quickly being recognized as one of the best sites for Viognier in California. Enjoy!

From the Winery

Hannah Nicole Vineyards is a family-owned winery producing award-winning Bordeaux and Rhone varietal wines in the eastern portion of Contra Costa County, California. On the edge of the California Delta Waterways, we enjoy long warm summers with cool evenings. During the average growing season, we receive less than 1 inch of rain! We enjoy daytime temperatures that occasionally rise to triple digits and then drop more than 40 degrees in the evening,...

Tasting Notes

Our 2004 Fumé Blanc is a blend of 88% Sauvignon Blanc and 12% Viognier. Ripe with flavors of grapefruit, citrus and vanilla, this wine is as flavorful as is promised by its aromas. Barrel fermented and aged in new and used French Oak for 7 months, this wine has a smooth and rounded texture with a crisp dry finish.

From the Winery

Hannah Nicole Vineyards is a family-owned winery producing award-winning Bordeaux and Rhone varietal wines in the eastern portion of Contra Costa County, California. On the edge of the California Delta Waterways, we enjoy long warm summers with cool evenings. During the average growing season, we receive less than 1 inch of rain! We enjoy daytime temperatures that occasionally rise to triple digits and...

Tasting Notes

This exquisite Chardonnay is bright golden yellow in color, and aromas of ripe, juicy apples and ripe tropical fruits jump out at you. These ripe fruit flavors fill the palate along with vanilla, caramel and cream derived from aging 10 months in high-quality French oak. The texture is supple with a smooth, silky feel in the mouth.

This is a complete and opulent wine that releases its sweet, spicy oak and pineapple flavors before leading to a long, insistent finish. This well-balanced wine has layers of complexity and richness that demonstrate the care and attention to detail in the making of this wine.

Bonneau Chardonnay goes well with Brie and fruit, as well as light pasta, rich seafood, poultry & veal. Enjoy the wine now - however,...

Tasting Notes

This Pinot Grigio is vibrant and refreshing. It has lively aromas of ripe pear, peach and apricots. The wine is full-bodied yet has crisp acidity. Melon and citrus flavors linger on the finish.

From the Winery

The 2006 Esca Pinot Grigio was made from 100% Sonoma County grapes grown in the Russian River AVA. The wine was fermented in stainless steel and aged for 8 months in neutral French oak barrels.

Esca means "allurement" or "bait" in Italian. Just as the nectar of the Hibiscus flower attracts the bee on the label, these wines entice the enophile.

Tasting Notes

The 2005 Chardonnay is fruity, crisp and full-bodied. Focused aromas of light pear, ripe cantaloupe, and a touch of honeysuckle are woven between earthier elements. The flavors are complex and savory, revealing tropical and citrus fruit intertwined with a mineral quality. The palate is balanced, with a backbone of acidity evident in the lingering finish. This makes for a fresh, crisp and refreshing Chardonnay. Drink from mid-2006 onwards.

From the Winery

Dorcich Vineyard Chardonnay is the definitive expression of a fresh, crisp Chardonnay. Our goal is to craft a consistent expression of our distinctive terroir through a wine that is elegant, complex, and balanced. The fruit is blessed with rich floral and citrus fruit flavors from this 45-acre vineyard.

Winemaking for our Dorcich Vineyard...

Tasting Notes

The 2005 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is a delightfully flavorful and complex wine that pairs perfectly with seafood and poultry. It possesses a complex nose redolent of cantaloupe, cream, lime, tangerine, vanilla and oak. A long refreshing finish complements the viscous, full-bodied mouthfeel. We blended in 2% Semillon from the Granite Hills Vineyard to maximize complexity and enhance that full-bodied texture.

Tasting Notes

"It's like going into a department store, and before your can say 'Stop!' some perky thing in a floral print blasts you with the latest from Yves St. Ralph!" Not this Viognier! Sure, you will detect a hint of jasmine, but peach and grapefruit take center stage upstairs in the Aroma Dept. Meanwhile, in the Flavor Dept. (1st floor, just past Lingerie), you'll taste those peaches and grapefruits along with a touch of clove spice and a touch of oak. Perfect for your holiday, or everyday, shopping experience!

Food Pairings: Give it the bird! Chicken, turkey, quail. Pad Thai, shrimp enchiladas, fettucini Alfredo, with or without SPAM!

From the Winery

Just sip one glass and you'll hear a tale. A tale of a...

Tasting Notes

These tasting notes are often based on the winemaker's notes. Well, this time he told me that this %@#$! had aromas of peaches and butter. Have you ever buttered a peach? Just weird if you ask me. Then he goes on to mention creamy flavors of pear and truffles. Okay, now we have peaches and butter and pears and mushrooms. Is this insane or what? Well, I can tell you that this %@#$! is a lot yummier than that, and has body and character almost like a red wine. And it will even lay down for a few years. How cool is that?

Food Pairings: Just About Anything! Hearty salads, risottos, pork, Thai food, seared Ahi tuna...sweet and sour SPAM!

From the Winery
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Tasting Notes

This wine shows bright aromatic tropical fruit, with green apple and citrus flavors. It is eminently refreshing and cleanses the palate with each sip. We highly recommend pairing this wine with sharp cheeses, antipasta, and fresh seafood (particularly shellfish like prawns or oysters and clams on the half-shell). It is also a natural compliment to lighter fare and spicy cuisine.

From the Winery

Egret Chardonnay displays the crispest, fruitiest, most unadulterated flavors of our vineyard thanks to stainless steel fermentation and only a mild hint of oak. Quite simply, this is Chardonnay in its purest, cleanest form - as all of the flavors come directly from our Los Carneros vineyard.

This wine honors the Great White Egret, now predominant in Sonoma County. These magnificent birds...

Tasting Notes

The fruit for this wonderful wine was harvested from the Distant Bay Vineyard in the Arroyo Seco appellation of Monterey County. Characterized by rich notes of apple, white flowers and hazlenut, this wine will age beautifully for 2-5 years.

From the Winery

The 2005 Pinot Blanc was barrel-fermented in a combination of older French and American oak barrels. Because we wanted to emphasize the round, ripe fruit notes, the wine saw limited sur-lie again, being racked off the lees and back into barrel after about 60 days. The absence of malo-lactic fermentation was a wine-making decision intended to emphasize the balancing acidity with which Arroyo Seco blessed the fruit. The wine has a satisfyingly unctuous texture to it; the wine's balancing acidity is fully...

Tasting Notes

The 2004 vintage was significantly different than 2003 in its nearly ideal stability of temperature without significant temperature spikes and lack of rainfall during the growing season. The seamlessness of the season is reflected in the wine. Redolent with aromas of fig, lime peel, orange water, and roasted nuts, the brightness of fruit upon entry (think lemon oil and pear) leads immediately to a massive middle.

In the mouth, this wine grows abundantly, an organoleptic equivalent of the Greek O. The biscuity flavors of 18 months of aging on the lees couple with the exotic flavors of cardamom and crushed stones and continue upward and outward, carried on the back of a streak of acidity. The wine finishes very long with minerally notes of lime leaves and...

Tasting Notes

This is an elegant Chardonnay made in the French Burgundy style rather than the typical California style. There are layers of flavor without edges or gaps. It's fresh without being tart, will age well, and compliments food. This is one Chardonnay you won't have to finish drinking before the meal.

From the Winery

Sonoma Valley is our favorite appellation for Chardonnay. It has the perfect combination of soil and weather to grow perfectly balanced Chardonnay grapes. The soil is volcanic, with elevated levels of trace minerals, and relatively shallow soils without too much vigor. The weather is cool at night, often overcast or foggy in the morning, and warm in the afternoons, between 75 and 90°F in the summer. It rains a lot in the...

Tasting Notes

The nose starts off pure Sauvignon Blanc with vivacious grapefruit and mineral components. After a few minutes, more citrus and lemon grass aromatics develop along with a swirl of vanilla cream. The citrus scents translate into full citrus flavors with a refreshing "zing"; almost a touch of pine that later opens into a creamy pine-nut like texture on the mid-palate. This mid-palate creaminess is quickly followed by a clean, lingering and mineral finish, making this a perfect summer refresher.

From the Winery

Our 2005 Estate Sauvignon Blanc is our first Bordeaux-Graves style Sauvignon Blanc, except that we blended it with Chardonnay instead of Semillon. This is a crisp, yet complex warm weather wine.

Tasting Notes

The 2003 Estate Chardonnay greets you with a rich golden honey color - a hint of what's to come. The nose supports the richness of the color with orange-blossom honey aromatics and undertones of pineapple and stone minerals. The mouth feel of the wine confirms the perception of richness with a lush honey texture and flavors of orange-blossom honey. This is accompanied with creamy hints of pineapple and vanilla. The luxurious finish is clean and exceptionally well balanced, with bright mineral acidity.

Tasting Notes

Ripe anju pear, marzipan and créme brulee are attributes of the warm fall. The long cool Carneros growing season provided the crispness and lemon citrus flavors. Brilliant, radiant gold with citrus orange zests and a finish that doesn't finish.

From the Winery

Vinum, cantus, amor - wine, song, love. Trademark words for Ceja Vineyards and the Ceja Family, third generation winegrowers in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. We match vines to terroir, planting each variety where it grows best. Fruit is handled gently to create our limited collection of hand-crafted wines. Enjoy with family, friends and your favorite dishes. ¡Salud!