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Sonoma Trip
Sonoma County, CA
Tasted May 3, 2013 - May 6, 2013 by aagrawal with 666 views
Introduction
A lovely trip to Sonoma with friends along with some wine tasting.
Flight 1 - Our wines (11 notes)
These are wines that we opened over the course of the trip.
White
2011 Charles Krug Winery (Peter Mondavi Family) Sauvignon Blanc
88 points
Already open. Nose is actually quite nice, grassy, some citrus fruits; palate has good acid, fresh; short-med length finish. Nice wine, I would consider buying. 87-88
White
2011 Cupcake Vineyards Chardonnay Central Coast
80 points
Subtle nose, slight butter; palate is rich, mild flavor. Reasonably balanced, but lacks flavor and concentration. Would not buy. 80
White
2010 Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay Vintner's Reserve
83 points
Light golden color; nose of buttered popcorn, medium intensity, slight toast; palate has surprisingly good acidity, moderate flavors of oak; persistent finish. Not a bad entry level chard for people who love oaked California Chardonnay.
Red
2011 Le Paradis Chinon
87 points
Pale purple; nose of cherry red fruits, high toned acid, slight green but not stemmy; palate is light-medium bodied, high acid, medium tannin, good red fruit; short-med finish. Good for the price, but not a particularly unique wines. I would buy a bottle or two for everyday wines. 87-88
White - Sweet/Dessert
2007 Viansa Frescolina
75 points
Orange-gold; fresh fruit, ice-wine like freshness, low-medium intensity; palate is unbalanced, alcoholic. Very poor. 75
White - Sweet/Dessert
2006 Peller Estates Vidal Blanc Icewine Oak Aged Andrew Peller Signature Series
88 points
From 200 ml bottle. Orange color; intense nose, strawberry, lovely perfumed nose; sweet but balanced palate, short-med length, simple and falls off quickly; short finish. Very enjoyable, but not the best icewine and expensive for its quality. 87-89
White - Sweet/Dessert
2008 Robert Mondavi Winery Moscato d'Oro
87 points
Pale yellow color; nose is subtle, floral; palate is intense, fabulous intensity, fresh, short white fruits; finish is short. This is intense, but short length. A good food wine, but I would rather buy a good German Riesling. 87
White
2007 Renner Winery Viognier Canterbury Vineyards
flawed
Oxidized. Sherries, nutty, caramel; full bodied, nutty. Too late.
White
2010 Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Arneis Paicines
79 points
Subtle fresh and minerals on nose, not much fruit; palate has good acid, refreshing, but lacks flavor; finish is medium length but a bit bitter. 79-80
Red
2010 Château Julien Royalty Red
80 points
Spicy nose, red fruits, simple; palate is smooth, sweet, simple. 80-81
Flight 2 - Ledson (8 notes)
White
2011 Ledson Napa Valley
90 points
Grassy, citrus, med nose; med rich body, refreshing acid. Short-med finish. Solid wine. 90
Red
2009 Ledson Sangiovese Knights Valley
88 points
Nice spicy red fruits, intense nose, a little stemmy which is nice; med bodied, tannic, dry, low-med fruit; Med finish. Nice. 88
Red
2007 Ledson Zinfandel Ricetti Old Vine
85 points
Subtle, red fruits, overripe; med bodied, red fruits, not crisp or fresh enough. Would not buy. 85
Red
2008 Ledson Zinfandel Old Vine Bertetta Vineyard Russian River Valley
90 points
Far more interesting, great fruits, mint, eucalyptus; palate is fresh, ready now, not too tannic but has good structure. Interesting, has character. 89-90.
Red
2009 Ledson Zinfandel Old Vine Oakley Contra Costa County
88 points
Less of a nose; palate is smooth, fruity, a good early drinker. 88
Red
2007 Ledson Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley
91 points
Nice blackberry nose, slight spice; palate is full bodied, med soft and approachable tannins, black fruits; finish is medium length. Quite a good young drinking cabernet, but not worth the price. 90-91
White
2009 Ledson Riesling Demi-Sec
80 points
Fresh, citrus, not as concentrated fruit as I expected, minerals; palate is short, watery. Poor wine. 80
White - Sweet/Dessert
2010 Ledson Orange Muscat Mendocino County
82 points
Orange blossoms; thin, dilute, orange flavor. 82-83
Flight 3 - Chateau St. Jean (7 notes)
White
2010 Chateau St. Jean Pinot Blanc Robert Young Vineyard
86 points
Melon, full, round; citrus, fresh, good acid. Nice refreshing wine. 86
White
2010 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay Robert Young Vineyard
84 points
Apple, floral; oaky, full bodied, toasty. Decent. Would not buy. 84
Red
2010 Chateau St. Jean Pinot Noir Durell Vineyard
89 points
Spicy red fruits, some stems, v nice nose; fresh red fruits, no green, decent acid. Nose>palate. Short finish. Expensive for the Quality. 89-90.
Red
2009 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County
88 points
Smoky nose, black fruits in the background; smooth, full bodied, tannic in the midpalate, ready now or in the short term. 88
Red
2009 Chateau St. Jean Eighty-Five Fifty-Five
86 points
Flat nose, some red fruits, lacks character; palate is soft, lacks definition. Not worth it, but an enjoyable red. 86
White - Sweet/Dessert
2012 Chateau St. Jean Johannisberg Riesling Alexander Valley
82 points
Sweet peach, balanced clipped palate. 82
White
2012 Chateau St. Jean Gewürztraminer Sonoma County
87 points
Very aromatic, floral; better acid, refreshing. 87
Flight 4 - Loxton (5 notes)
Red
2009 Loxton Zinfandel Sonoma Hillside Vineyards
87 points
Black pepper, spicy, sweet blackberry; palate is balanced, good, nothing unique. Worth the price to try it. 87
Red
2009 Loxton Syrah River Rock Block Parmelee-Hill Vineyards
89 points
Smoky, spice; full bodied, rich, black fruits, balanced alcohol. Nice. 88-89
Red - Fortified
2011 Loxton Port
88 points
Port made from Syrah grapes and a neutral grape spirit. Red fruits, smoky, not too alcoholic; palate is balanced, sweet, simple but enjoyable. 88-89
Red
Flight 5 - Kenwood Winery (5 notes)
White
2010 Kenwood Gewürztraminer
84 points
Aromatic, Chenin blanc nose, flowers, fruit; sweet, white fruits. 84
Red
2006 Kenwood Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series
86 points
Balanced black fruits, med intensity; tannic, young, not enough fruit to turn this into something great. 86
Red
2007 Kenwood Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series
87 points
Denser red fruits, dusty; palate is approachable, slight tannins, hard to judge. Decent. 87
White - Sparkling
N.V. Kenwood Cuvée Brut Yulupa Sonoma County
85 points
Sweet, nondescript white fruits, delicate bubbles. 85