Introduction

Fort Ross 2003 Symposium Pinot Noir - $25.95 ** opened with alison and ann while having wine and cheese for dinner on our first night on vacation in san diego. Dark red in color but looks very thin. No real apparent smell to the nose. High acidity, bright fruit, dark cherries. Significant complexity developed after it was open about an hour. The bottle went too fast for more notes. 90 pts.

Foley 2005 Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir Rancho Santa Rosa - $26.95 ** opened at the rental after eating mexican in old town in san diego. It was a very large pn with high alcohol (14.5%). Spicy and earthy. I like the dark fruit. Alison thought it was too much. 90 pts

Chasseur 2005 Chardonnay russian river valey - $31.95 ** opened for pre dinner cocktails and dinner of bbq chicken, sweet potatoe and salald on the deck in san diego. It was a very large, complex chard. Light golden color. Nose of flowers. Tasted of fruit and oaks. Medium acidity. It evolved as it warmed up and was open. Great bottle of wine. 91 pts.

Keller 2006 Chardonnay Estate Oro de Plata sonoma county - $14.95 ** opened after we got back from the padres game and sat on the deck/drank with ann -- no food. It was dark so no color notes. There was a huge amount of acidity and upfront fruit that hit you right away but finished very quickly with not much complexity. It was like watching a batter who swings for the fences on every pitch. For 15 this was a nice bottle. I would give it an 87 which is great qpr. I also think this wine would be great with meals.

Patz & Hall 2005 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch - $31.95 ** best chardonnay of the week. Opened the last night of our summer vacation trip to san diego. Complex, rich, bright and oaky/buttery (not in a bad way as oak/butter isn't normally my style). Long, long finish. Heavy chard that demands food and would work well in the winter too. Not a sit by the pool sipper. Picks up additional complexity after it has been opened a while. I taste more toasty glycerins as it warms up. It hits a lot of high notes. Nice balanced wine. Labeled as a (high) 14.3% alcohol wine but I don't detect any heat. I will pick up some more. 93 pts.

Crocker & Starr 2006 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley - $26.95 ** brought back to home to austin and opened with Ali when we got the kids down to bed. Clear pale golden yellow. Floral scents of perfumed flowers. Ali said it smelled like the Balinese flowers from amankila. This is a buttery SB. Very complex. I think it tastes close to a chardonnay. Long finish. Huge acidity and glycerine. What a winner. . 92 points.

Merry Edwards 2005 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - $78 ** bought and drank with Ali on our date night at the Maritime Room Restaurant in La Jolla. Great bottle ow wine. Light in color for a pinot. No nose notes. The wine was full of fresh fuits (strawberry). I seem to like all the merry edwards wines I try. 92 pts.

Jordan. 2005 Chardonnay - $50 ** ordered at Jake's of Del Mar Restaurant. I had mahi mahi. Alison had tuna. Good bottle of restaurant wine. Didn't take notes but would buy it again 90 pts.