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Grape Expectations
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Grape Expectations |
| With local wines getting better and more diverse and a new Washington winery opening about every other day, it is sometimes hard to remember that our neighbors to the south are still growing and crushing grapes. But in fact California still makes a lot of really good wine. Between twobuckchucks and over-oaked and overpriced Napa behemoths, there are some really nicely made wines and they don’t cost a fortune. Come join us this Saturday and try a line up of California wines that we think are both good wines and good values. Lisa Janke from Grape Expectations will be there with wine lore galore. |
| 2005 Dry Creek Vineyards, Fume Blanc, Sonoma County $10 |
| Started in 1972, Dry Creek Vineyards is a family owned winery that “consistently produces distinctive wines that over deliver on quality”. Each wine then gets a label with a different sailing ship. It is worse than having a dog on the label. Despite the packaging, the Fume Blanc displays a wonderful bouquet of zesty citrus, grapefruit and lemongrass. The lemon-lime flavors and peppery spice notes echo the aromas, creating a sense of depth and balance. The crisp finish incorporates hints of gooseberry and a touch of minerality. |
| 2004 Alexander Valley Vineyards, Syrah $15 |
| A family owned estate winery in northern Sonoma since 1962; Alexander Valley Vineyards produces consistently great Cabernet and Syrah. The 2004 Syrah comes from both hillside and valley floor vineyards, each site lending its own unique characteristics to the wine. The fruit from the hillside vineyards contribute aromas of blackberries, red cherry and violets. Meantime, those on the valley floor add notes of plum, black cherry and eucalyptus and a touch of earthiness. Following the Northern Rhone, they blend a small amount of Viognier with the Syrah which adds floral notes. |
| 2004, Lockwood, Partners Reserve Red $20 |
| Out of Monterey County, Lockwood produces a line of rich wines at reasonable prices. We’ve been carrying their basic Cabernet and Chardonnay for quite a while. Now here’s a chance to try their fancy meritage blend. The Partners Reserve is an explosion of black cherry, plum and red currant fruits with elegant aromatics of wild thyme and herby spices that open into a layered wine with balance and strength, firm tannins and just a little toasty American oak. |
| 2003 Viano Vineyards, Petite Syrah $15 |
| Viano is a 4th generation family run estate winery in Contra Costa County that makes small production hand crafted wines at incredibly reasonable prices. Their Petite Syrah is dry farmed from head pruned vines. The wine is broodingly full bodied with flavors of dark ripe fruit, subtle tannins and a lingering spicy finish. |
| 2004 Sausal, Private Reserve Zinfandel $23 |
| A third generation family run winery in Alexander Valley, Sausal consistently produces high quality Zins and Cabs. The Sausal Private Reserve is ripe and soft, laden with berry-jam fruitiness. This estate Zinfandel is produced from dry farmed 90-year-old vines and aged for seventeen months in French oak barrels, yielding an opulently rich Zinfandel. |
| 2003 Viano Vineyards, Zinfandel Port $15 |
| Viano makes some rich and delicious Zinfandels and their Zin Port is even more so. This is a 750ml bottle for only $15. Unbelievable. |