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Sonoma Trip

Sonoma County, CA

Tasted May 3, 2013 - May 6, 2013 by aagrawal with 664 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 USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
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 USA, California, 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 USA, California
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 France, Loire Valley, Touraine, 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 USA, California
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 Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Niagara Peninsula VQA
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 USA, California, Napa Valley
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 - Sparkling
N.V. André Brut USA, California
75 points
Sweet, no yeast, thirst-quenching. Decent. Good for mimosas.
White
2007 Renner Winery Viognier Canterbury Vineyards USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Calaveras County
flawed
Oxidized. Sherries, nutty, caramel; full bodied, nutty. Too late.
White
2010 Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Arneis Paicines USA, California, Central Coast, 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 USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County
80 points
Spicy nose, red fruits, simple; palate is smooth, sweet, simple. 80-81

Flight 2 - Ledson (8 notes)

White
2011 Ledson Napa Valley USA, California, 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 USA, California, Sonoma County, 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 USA, California, North Coast, Redwood Valley
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 USA, California, Sonoma County, 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 USA, California, San Francisco Bay, 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 USA, California, Sonoma County, 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 USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
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 USA, California, North Coast, 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 USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
86 points
Melon, full, round; citrus, fresh, good acid. Nice refreshing wine. 86
White
2010 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay Robert Young Vineyard USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
84 points
Apple, floral; oaky, full bodied, toasty. Decent. Would not buy. 84
Red
2010 Chateau St. Jean Pinot Noir Durell Vineyard USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
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 USA, California, 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 USA, California, Sonoma County
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 USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
82 points
Sweet peach, balanced clipped palate. 82
White
2012 Chateau St. Jean Gewürztraminer Sonoma County USA, California, Sonoma County
87 points
Very aromatic, floral; better acid, refreshing. 87

Flight 4 - Loxton (5 notes)

White
2010 Loxton Chardonnay USA, California, Sonoma County
80 points
Over-oaked, unbalanced. 80
Red
2009 Loxton Zinfandel Sonoma Hillside Vineyards USA, California, Sonoma County
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 USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
89 points
Smoky, spice; full bodied, rich, black fruits, balanced alcohol. Nice. 88-89
Red - Fortified
2011 Loxton Port USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
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
N.V. Loxton Lot 6 USA, California, Sonoma County
84 points
Intense spice nose, port-like; fruity, full bodied, slightly soft. 84

Flight 5 - Kenwood Winery (5 notes)

White
2010 Kenwood Gewürztraminer USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
84 points
Aromatic, Chenin blanc nose, flowers, fruit; sweet, white fruits. 84
Red
2006 Kenwood Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
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 USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
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 USA, California, Sonoma County
85 points
Sweet, nondescript white fruits, delicate bubbles. 85
White
2011 Kenwood Moscato zacchera USA, California
84 points
Floral; sweet, simple. 84
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