Flora Springs – as poured by Julie
Garvey, Flora’s daughter!
1997 Sangiovese Napa Valley – dense purple color – super-ripe, almost
pruney Sangiovese fruit on the nose – but very well balanced and pretty on the
palate, without any raisiny or overripe qualities.1997 Pinot Grigio – does not warrant notes.
1997 Rosata – a pleasant
quaff, but not much more than that.
Renwood
Winery – and happy to see Gordon Binz
again. He is one of a distinguished group of winemakers who have "graduated"
from Ridge Vineyards to achieve success on their own. Other
notables include Steve Kistler, David Noyes (Kunde), and Mike Dashe (Dashe Cellars).
1996 Sangiovese Amador County Clock Spring
Vineyard – pretty colors - typical varietal fruit in the nose with
pleasant dusty overtones – lovely sweet fruit on the palate – very nice balance
and a clean finish – this is a very pretty wine.
1996 Barbera Amador County –
dark color – somewhat shy in the nose, but stylistically very similar in the mouth
– sweet forward fruit in good balance – some unresolved but smooth tannins on
the palate – should evolve into a nice bottle of wine.
1995 Barbera Amador County Linsteadt
Vineyard – even darker color – shows some wonderful very ripe, but
not overripe fruit in the nose with hints of coffee and toast – pretty and dark
Barbera flavors on the palate with some tannins that need time to resolve.
1996 Nebbiolo Amador County
– lovely ripe and forward fruit in the nose – very smooth entry – broad
flavors on the palate – this is really a delicious and very accessible wine that I
could drink with dinner right now.
Santino 1995 Muscato Del Diavolo
– a "Festive Muscat Canelli" - regrettably, I think there is a problem with
this wine. I got the last pour from a 375ml bottle, and it was a little ‘corky"
– so I requested another pour from a fresh bottle, and this taste still showed a
musty, cardboard-like quality. I can only draw the conclusion that the wine may have
become contaminated somewhere in the process, perhaps from barrel?
Otherwise the wine shows pleasing sweetness, but fairly simple peach
and light citrus notes, but cannot overcome the musty quality.
Conclusions... |
