Duckhorn 2005 Merlot Napa

Really enjoyed this merlot. It had a dark berry almost like chocolate covered cherries on the nose. The taste was fruit and acid in perfect harmony. The tannins were big, but not aggressive. The finish lasted a while, making me want more. Really easy to recommend with Lamb Chops and Filet. Filet especially with a fruit component in the sauce.
8.6

Girard 2005 Artistry Red Blend

Dark red fruit, earth and a nice dose of mint on the nose. This wine has 14% petite verdot which I usually do not like. However, this bordeaux blend was harmonious in it's blend. The Girard was fuller than the Newton Claret, another blend. The Girard had a nice long finish with oak and fruit balenced pretty well. I would serve lamb stew or chops.

8.4

2005 "A" by Acacia Pinot Noir

Nice easy drinking California Pinot. We use it as our house pinot and it is pretty good. I had another taste today. Nose was fruity with a little pepper. Red berries and light minerality and balenced acidity make this a good earner. I recently tasted a good Mercury that was on par with this American. All in all, I would buy this for home for casual dinner. Chicken, veal and pork dishes. Especially with a mushroom sauce.

8.3

Newton Claret 2005

Pepper and eucalyptus on the nose. Easygoing tannins and ripe fruit with a small dose of minerality. There does not seem to be much after the mid palate, but still a good tasting wine. Would go well with filet.

8.2

Sonoma Coast Winery Pinot Noir 2005

The best California Pinot I've tasted this year.
Nose reminded me of our leather tack room when I was little. There was also some minerality too. The tannins were very silky smooth, yet big enough for this to go with a sirloin.
9.0

2005 Yoakim Bridge Zinfindel

Wow. What a great bottle. Natalie brought this back from a trip to the winery. I went to school with David and Diane, so I am a bit biased.

Opened it Sunday to have with Jackie's lasagna(Angie's recipe). However, to my surprise, my Aunt & Uncle brought a bottle of the 06 Zin, so we drank the 05.

Lots of dark fruit on the nose, almost dry dark fruit, with pepper and a little leather. I was so happy not to taste an amaroneish sweet raisiny zinfandel. The taste had this sensation of layers of flavor just going on and on. Black plum, Black raspberry, Black cherry, get the idea. The tannins were big, but manageable with a nice jolt of acidity at the mid palate. Almost like a light show for your mouth. The Zin went very well with the lasagna, especially with the sausage component. I think the fennel in the sausage and Zin get along well. This wine reminded me of another from the area, Edmeads, which was a nice bottle too.

Can't rate this one because they are friends, but .......

Clos Pegase 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Mitsuko's Vineyard

The Club is having a wine dinner in March. A presentation of history of wine in art will be given by the owner of Clos Pegase. Thought it might be nice to try the wine and see if there was something we could add to the list now, as well as taste for the upcoming dinner.
Stephanie Skiptunis who is a representative of the winery brought a big bag of wine to taste.

Clos Pegase's Sauvignon Blanc first hits your nose with a dose of peach and pee. This was a really good food wine with a nice level of acidity and a really long finish of peachy citrus. I would try this with a grilled white fish with a cream sauce. 8.2

2005 BV Rutherford Cabernet

Tasted the 2005 BV Rutherford Cabernet with James and V from Diagio. Also poured were BV Tapestry and Rosenblum Cab.

The BV Rutherford really stood out in the tasting. The dark fruit aroma came through on the palate. The 2005 was ready to drink now, with smooth tannins and balanced acids. It had that "this is a well made wine" taste.

8.7

The Tapestry was OK to me. It has more varietals in it to form a Bordeaux blend. The nose was tight with some fruit. The palate lacked the fruit and balance of the Rutherford. 8.2