2000 Petite Sirah: dark fruit, blackberry, juicy, black currant, tannins.

2001 Terranova: Juicy, red fruit, spicy, tannins, raspberries, red currant, earth.

2002 Petite Sirah: very perfumey, spicy, blackberry, black fruit, spice, earth, chocolate, really well done. We took some home.

2004 Reserve Zinfandel: dark earth, mint, eucalyptus, very dark, spicy, black cherry.

2005 Cabernet Sauvignon: black current, pepper, red berries, juicy, spice, very different. Really liked this one and we took some home.

2006 Terra Luna: Banana, red fruit, smooth, juicy, blackberry, blueberry.

2005 Home Ranch Zinfandel: spicy, earthy, big fruit, blackberry, some sweetness. Too some of this home too!

2009 Terre Melange $30: very spicy, peppery, red fruit, cherry, raspberry, strawberry.

2009 Zinfandel $30: chocolate, pepper, blueberry, blackberry, black cherry, spice.

2009 Petite Sirah $30: very dark fruit, earth, spice, blackberry, pepper, cocoa.

2009 Cabernet Sauvignon $38: very tannic, red fruit, red currants, dark strawberry, dark berries, spice.

2009 Block 4 $38: mint, spice, black raspberry, black cherry, earth.

I didn’t take any notes on the barrel samples, but my notebook is covered with red circles as a reminder of them! Be sure to check out David Coffaro if you are in Dry Creek Valley. Buying futures from the winery has been one of the most cost effective ways I’ve stocked my cellar full of wine.

I have a problem. I’d call it an addiction actually. I joined another wine club while in CA. In my defense, we had just broken up with 3 others, so it felt like it was time to mix things up a bit. I first ran into Thumbprint Cellars perhaps 3 years ago when they sent me a bottle of wine. I really liked it, so on our last trip out to CA we swung by their tasting room in downtown Healdsburg. The rest of their line up was just as impressive, so we signed up for their wine club and took home a few bottles, including this 2010 Thumbprint Cellars Gewurztraminer bottled under screw cap and clocking in at 14.2% alcohol by volume. It retails for $24, though I paid a bit less than that with the club discount, and the grapes hail from Sara Lee’s Vineyard (where I’ve actually visited and had lunch courtesy of the Wine Blogger Conference in 2008!).

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) Check out Thumbprint Cellars. They have some great things going on, including this Gewurz.

2.) I’ve really been digging Gewurz from CA lately. This, Cartograph Cellars, and Toulouse are some excellent examples.

3.) The nose on the Thumbprint was classic Gewurz. All lychee, honeysuckle, spice, and pepper.

4.) Picture a swampy, hot, humid day and you on a porch relaxing with a refreshing glass of white wine. Make it a glass of thei Thumbprint Gewurztraminer.

On the nose I got lychee, honeysuckle, honey, flowers, pineapple, spice, and white pepper. A delicious nose. In the mouth I got lemon, other citrus, spice, white pepper, tropical notes, white peach, and pineapple. This was a true dry Gewurz with tons of acidity to spare.

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from the winery.

Spring. Glorious spring. Long warm days, with cool nights and sipping rose on the porch. Who could ask for more? Well, if you haven’t got some of the 2011 Vin Gris de Cigare Bonny Doon Rose in your glass, then your certainly could ask for more. You should have some. Especially at a price point of about $14 on various online wine shops.  The wine has a screw cap closure and clocks in at 13.5% alcohol by volume.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) Pair it with BBQ ribs. The acidity will be a great foil to the sweetness of the BBQ sauce.

2.) My glass on a Saturday afternoon on the porch is perfection.

3.) Screw caps are great for parties.

4.) Randall Graham really hit it out of the park with flavors and balance of acidity and structure with this one.

On the nose I found watermelon, strawberry, raspberry, spice, and red cherry. In the mouth I got strawberry, red cherry, tangerine, watermelon, raspberry, and a bit of pepper.  You can tell just from the nose of the wine that the palate will have great acidity, and without fail, it follows through.

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from the winery.

Although it’s spring here in the DC area, we are still experiencing (more) than our fair share of cool nights. Which calls, in our house, for a bold red wine.  What fit the bill tonight was the 2008 Rodney Strong Symmetry, a Mertiage blend from Sonoma. The wine has a real cork closure, clocks in at 15% alcohol by volume, and retails for around $40.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) This Meritage blend really showed the influences of the Cabernet Franc and the Petit Verdot in the blend.

2.) The Symmetry had the the kind of nose that made me want to dive in and swim in my glass.

3.) I served this with steak. It was a good choice.

4.) At $40ish I think this offers a great value for this type of blend from Sonoma.

On the nose I got spice, earth, black plum, sage, mint, cedar chest and chocolate notes. The herbs on the nose got me excited for my summer herb garden. In the mouth I found spice, licorice, earth, black plum, black berry, black cherry, and more spice. In fact, I wrote “spicy, spicy, and spicy” as the last three words in my notes.

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from Cornerstone Cellars.

Today turned out to be a gorgeous day in the nation’s capital, so it seemed a perfect time to bust out some Rose. I plucked the 2010 Cornerstone Stepping Stone Corallina Rose from it’s resting place in the basement to join us on the back porch for some afternoon sipping. The Corallina Rose retails for $18, has a real cork closure, clocks in at 13.9% alcohol by volume, and is made from 100% Syrah.

1.) If you like your Rose with acid to spare, this one is for you.

2.) The palate mimicked the nose perfectly in this wine.

3.) The Stepping Stone line from Cornerstone is pumping out some great wines, my fav is the Cabernet Franc.

4.) We just stopped by Cornerstone on our latest Napa trip, look for that post soon.

On the nose and in the mouth I got lime, raspberry, cherry, strawberry and spice. The red fruits smelled delicious coupled with the racy acidity on this Rose. Pair with BBQ this summer for a great treat.

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from the winery.

As a prelude to our recent CA trip, I pulled this bottle of 2009 Jordan Chardonnay from the basement, since we had plans to visit Jordan while in the area.  The wine has a real cork closure, clocks in at 13.5% alcohol by volume, and retails for around $25. I have lots to tell you about our visit to Jordan, but that is (mostly) for another post!

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) Jordan does two things: Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. They do them well.

2.) This wine was like an excellent apple pie in a glass.

3.) I don’t think I have ever seen as many stainless steel tanks in one room before, prior to visiting Jordan.

4.) With well-integrated oak lending body and structure to the wine, I think this would appeal to a wide spectrum of Chardonnay drinkers.

On the nose I got pineapple, spice, apple, fresh pear, baked apple pie, baking spice, and lemon curd. In the mouth I found apple, pear, spice, yellow apple, and slight cream on the finish.  The wine had great structure and body, with a long, smooth finish.

Sorry for the radio silence this past week. Mr. Wannabe Wino and I took our annual trek out to Sonoma last week and I tried (as much as possible for someone as addicted as I am) to disconnect from the computer. Helped along by spotty wireless, it wasn’t that difficult! To start back down the Sonoma trail, I thought I’d tell you about a wine I had recently that was just absolutely lovely. Lurking in my basement was the 2008 Bella Ten Acres Pinot Noir Dunah Vineyard. I purchased this wine in club shipment, it clocked in at 14.6% alcohol bu volume, and had a real cork closure.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) Bella’s specialty is Zin, but this wine showed the depth of their wine-making program.

2.) In an attempt to find out more about Dunah Vineyard, I learned that the family makes it’s own wine as well. I must try it soon.

3.) Russian River Valley Pinot Noir rocks.

4.) Despite the higher alcohol content, this wine was very well balanced.

On the nose I found cedar, smoke, warm from the sun raspberries, chocolate powder, herbs, sage, and cherries. In the mouth I got pepper, black cherry, raspberry, herbs, more cherries, and a chocolate note. The wine had great acidity and I found the fruit to be fresh and juicy.

Our warm weather disappeared. How disappointing. So to lift my spirits, I dug around in the basement for something bigger and red. Nothing like a bottle of Zin, my first red wine love, to brighten and warm up a day. Tonight I chose the 2007 Talty Filice Connolly Vineyards Zinfandel, which we picked up on our last trip out to Sonoma (the vineyard is in Napa though) in 2010. I paid around $35ish for this bottle, it has a real cork closure, and clocks in at 14.5% alcohol by volume.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) This bottle reminded me why I need to explore more Zins from Napa. I stick to Sonoma mostly, but Napa has many good offerings as well.

2.) Talty is a winery I’ll be keeping my eye on. Perhaps another visit next week is in order!

3.) There’s just something about your first (wine) love.

4.) This wine had all the black fruit and spice that made me head over heels for Zin in the first place, plus a nice hit of chocolate.

On the nose I found blackberry, black plum, spice, chocolate, black currants, black cherry, and cedar chest.  In the mouth I got black cherry, black currant, spices, pepper, chocolate, and other black fruit. Plenty of tannins on the finish made me think this could mellow in the basement for quite a bit longer. I have another bottle that I will let rest down there for another year or so.

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample.

I originally tasted this wine for a Taste Live event late last year, but the kind folks at Benziger sent 2 bottles in case something was off with one. So I stuck the 2nd bottle into the pile ‘o wine (aka my basement) and figured I’d get to enjoy it at a future date. And enjoy it we did.  I’ve actually had the Benziger Sauvignon Blanc many times in the past as it’s one of my “go to” wines at restaurants.  Tonight we guzzled the 2010 Benziger Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma County. It clocks in at 13.5% alcohol by volume, has a real cork closure, and retails for $25.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) Pair it with a creamy dish.

2.) Or an afternoon spent rocking on your porch.

3.) Lots of acidity and clean crisp fruits make this ideal for the 80 degree day we are experiencing today.

4.) This wine disappeared really quickly at my house. I don’t think I got my fair share!

On the nose I got grass, lemongrass, lemon, melon, and slight green pepper. In the mouth I found white peach, melon, lemon, grass, and herbs.  The wine had a great grassy note on the nose and mouth and fantastic acidity.