A Guide to Wine, Food & the Good Life
To subscribe and be notified anytime we post a new article, enter your email address in the box below, then click on Subscribe Now.

Distinctive New Wines

Similar Articles:

  1. 2020 DOMAINE FREDRICK ESMONIN
  2. TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD - FALL RELEASES
  3. CHANIN WINE COMPANY
  4. DOMAINE ANNE & HERVE SIGAUT
  5. TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD
  6. 2019 BURGUNDIAN RED WINES
  7. TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD
  8. GREAT DISTINCTIVE NEW WINES - RED, WHITE, AND ROSÉ
  9. GREAT DISTINCTIVE NEW WINES - RED, WHITE, AND ROSÉ
  10. SPRING 2021 DISTINCTIVE NEW WINES FROM RIDGE AND TABLAS CREEK
  11. LOVELY NEW WINES FROM DOMAINE SAUMAIZE-MICHELIN
  12. 2019 ROSÉS - PART 3
  13. 2019 FRENCH ROSÉS - PART 2 - BARGAINS UNDER $10
  14. 2019 ROSÉS – PART 1
  15. TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD 2020 FALL RELEASES
  16. RIDGE VINEYARDS FALL RELEASES
  17. THE 2018 RED BURGUNDIES ARE STARTING TO ARRIVE AND WE ARE OFF TO A GREAT START - DOMAINE FRÉDÉRIC ESMONIN
  18. RIDGE VINEYARDS: GREAT RECENT RELEASES
  19. GREAT NEW RELEASES FROM TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD – ROSÉ, WHITE, AND RED
  20. IT’S ROSÉ TIME & MORE
  21. ANOTHER GREAT VALUE PRICED WINE FROM TOAD HOLLOW
  22. 2018 ROSÉS – THE GRAND FINALE
  23. GREAT NEW WINES – RIDGE & TABLAS CREEK
  24. TOAD HOLLOW VINEYARDS
  25. CHANIN WINE COMPANY
  26. 2018 ROSÉS – PART 3
  27. BONNY DOON VINEYARD LAUNCHES A NEW LE CIGARE VOLANT & LE CIGARE BLANC
  28. 2018 ROSÉ – Part 2
  29. RIDGE VINEYARDS – SPRING 2019 RELEASES
  30. TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD – SPRING 2019 RELEASES
  31. HAT TRICK WINES FROM TOAD HOLLOW VINEYARDS
  32. TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD – FALL 2018 RELEASES
  33. RIDGE VINEYARDS – FALL 2018 RELEASES
  34. 2017 ROSÉS – PART II
  35. 2017 ROSÉS – A REMARKABLE VINTAGE PART I
  36. RIDGE VINEYARDS – SPRING 2018 RELEASES & MORE
  37. TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD – SPRING 2018 RELEASES
  38. TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD FALL RELEASES
  39. DOMAINE ANNE ET HERVÉ SIGAUT
  40. RIDGE VINEYARDS - FALL 2017 RELEASES & MORE!
  41. 2016 ROSÉS: A GREAT VINTAGE AND MANY BARGAINS
  42. 2016 ROSÉS – TIS THE SEASON & WHAT A SEASON IT IS!
  43. TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD SPRING 2017 RELEASES
  44. DOMAINE BALLOT MILLOT & FILS – THE 2014S ARE HERE!
  45. CHANIN WINE COMPANY AND LUTUM WINES – AN OUTSTANDING GROUP OF 2014 CHARDONNAYS AND PINOT NOIRS
  46. MOUNT EDEN VINEYARDS AND DOMAINE EDEN: A DYNAMIC DUO
  47. 2015 ROSÉS AS SUMMER ENDS AND THE FALL SEASON BEGINS
  48. RIDGE VINEYARDS: SUPERB NEW RELEASES & WINE INGREDIENT LABELING
  49. NEW RELEASES FROM DOMAINE-SAUMAIZE MICHELIN
  50. TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD: FIVE OUTSTANDING NEW RELEASES
  51. MORE 2015 ROSÉS
  52. CALERA – LATEST RELEASES
  53. RIDGE VINEYARDS - SPRING 2016 RELEASES
  54. TIS THE SEASON: 2015 ROSÉS ARE HERE
  55. NEW RELEASES FROM TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD
  56. CALERA WINE COMPANY
  57. DOMAINE BALLOT-MILLOT ET FILS: THE 2013S ARE HERE
  58. 2014 ROSÉS – IS IT THE SEASON OR THE END OF THE SEASON?
  59. TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD
  60. 2014 FRENCH ROSÉS
  61. MORE 2014 ROSÉS
  62. WINE IN A BOX?
  63. 2014 ROSÉS
  64. RIDGE VINEYARDS – SPRING 2015 RELEASES
  65. DOMAINE FRÉDÉRIC ESMONIN
  66. NEW RELEASES FROM THE CENTRAL COAST - CALERA AND TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD
  67. ROSÉ TIME?
  68. TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD
  69. SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAIN VINEYARD AND QUINTA CRUZ
  70. MOUNT EDEN VINEYARDS AND DOMAINE EDEN
  71. MORE 2013 ROSÉS
  72. TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD
  73. 2013 FRENCH ROSÉS
  74. UNDER THE RADAR CHAMPAGNE
  75. 2013 ROSÉS
  76. MORE 2012 ROSÉS
  77. 2012 ROSÉS
  78. UNDER THE RADAR AND VALUE PRICED WHITE WINES, SPARKLING WINES, AND RED WINES FOR SPRING
  79. DOMAINE FRÉDÉRIC ESMONIN
  80. MORE OUTSTANDING 2011 BEAUJOLAIS
  81. NEW WINES AS WE APPROACH 2013
  82. RíAS BAIXAS & ALBARIÑO – SPANISH GEMS
  83. NEW WINES FOR THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS
  84. RED WINES FOR THE FALL
  85. UNDER THE RADAR & VALUE PRICED ROSÉS AND WHITE WINES
  86. A FEW NEW ROSÉS & WHITE WINES FOR THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER
  87. A VARIED SELECTION FEATURING SOME GREAT WINE VALUES
  88. SOME GREAT NEW WINES FROM OLD FRIENDS AND A FEW NEW SURPRISES
  89. SPRING WILL SOON BE HERE: THESE ARE WINES FOR THE SEASON
  90. A PAIR TO DRAW TO – ALBARIÑO AND TORRONTÉS
  91. MORE TERRIFIC 2010 BEAUJOLAIS, ANOTHER 2009 CHINON, AND A 2007 SAINT JOSEPH PLUS A COUPLE OF INEXPENSIVE RED WINES AND A 2009 SANCERRE FROM ONE OF THE GREATEST PRODUCERS
  92. A SHORT LIST OF NEW WINES TO START THE YEAR
  93. NEW WINES TO CONSIDER AS WE RAPIDLY APPROACH THE END OF THE YEAR
  94. MORE NEW WINES TO FALL INTO
  95. CHANGING OF THE SEASONS - HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS TO FALL INTO
  96. TWO FAVORITE CHAMPAGNE HOUSES
  97. 2010 ROSÉS -- A ROSE IS A ROSE, IS A ROSE, IS A ROSE…BUT A ROSÉ IS A ROSÉ
  98. An Eclectic Selection Of New Wines
  99. Call For Torrontes, Other Terrific Inexpensive White Wines, An Old Friend Chardonnay, And A New Friend Pinot Noir
  100. One New Star Producer For White And Red Burgundy, Revisiting An Old Favorite Producer For Affordable White and Red Burgundy, And Trying To Get Back A Best In Class Rosé
  101. You Don't Know Jura?
  102. Five Lovely Red and White Wines from Northern California
  103. Champagne -- Any Time Is Time For Champagne
  104. More 2009s And A Few Others
  105. More 2009 Beaujolais
  106. Under The Radar 2009 Wines
  107. Even More 2009 Rosés
  108. More 2009 Rosés and Other Wine Bargains
  109. 2009 New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Inexpensive 2009 White Wines
  110. A Selection of Reasonably-priced, Premium Wines
  111. Recession Busters/Best Buys
  112. Ah, Spring, The Vintage of the Century Is In the Air!
  113. A Selection from California and France
  114. Bargain Wines/Best Buys
  115. California and French Wines

Five Lovely Red and White Wines from Northern California

Wyatt Peabody • 1/6/11        Print This Post Print This PostComment Bookmark and Share

The five wines tasted here from Northern California were a delightful surprise to me.  My palate usually leans toward European wines.  I like earth, unadulterated purity, varietal correctness, balanced alcohol and wines that are made to be aged.  I have had the great pleasure of drinking decades’ old Mayacamas, Diamond Creek, Inglenook, Freemark Abbey and the like.  Contemporary California wines can sometimes be lost on me, with the great exception being producers like Dalla Valle and Ridge, the latter of which I believe to be the most important producer in the Americas, bar none.  But, I must say I really liked these wines from Dry Creek Vineyard and Rock Wall and they are worth searching out.  You won’t be disappointed.

Rock Wall Wine Company.

Established in 2008, located in an airplane hangar on what was once a Naval Air Base in Alameda County, this boutique winery produces wines from some of California’s top grape growing regions.  Noted wine industry veteran Kent Rosenblum is the consulting winemaker.  Rock Wall’s Zinfandels come from Sonoma County and Contra Costa County

Rock Wall 2008 Sonoma County Zinfandel (15.6%)
Vibrant, wild aromas of pure fruit—black cherries, blackberries and plums—with additional nuances of briar, cassis, figs and blueberries.  The palate is big and chewy, with stout tannins and structure, offering ripe blackberry, with undertones of candied boysenberry.  The sweet, clean fruit lingers well past the long, delectable finish.  $25

Rock Wall 2008 Jesse’s Vineyard Contra Costa County (16.3%)
If you like big wine—and love complexity—run to find this wine.  The nose is intense, revealing a labyrinth of aromas: concentrated, ripe black fruit, plums, figs, spice, subtle chocolate and faint candied undertones.  As for the palate—wow—big! Immense tannins, acid and fruit, with a long, broad finish.  This has to calm down. I really want to see where this wine is in ten or fifteen years.  After a few hours in the decanter—some of the candied, extracted nuances burned off, leaving voluptuous layers of pure, ripe fruit.  Built to last, today this wine will stand up beautifully to grilled meat and spice.  $28

Dry Creek Vineyard

Founded in 1972 by David Stare, Dry Creek Vineyard, the first winery built in Dry Creek Valley after Prohibition, revitalized the region’s wine industry which was just a few family farms and prune orchards at that time.  Stare purchased an old prune orchard and began planting vines inspired by trips to the Loire Valley in France.

Dry Creek Vineyard 2009 Dry Chenin Blanc
Surprisingly elegant nose with faint floral spice; subtle nuances of apple and nectarine are pure and clean, followed by subtle salt water taffy.  The palate echoes salt water taffy, which is predominantly overpowered by clean fruit—balanced, good acids and a nice, crisp finish.  A lovely wine.  $12

Dry Creek Vineyard 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Dry Creek Valley
An unexpectedly distinctive nose—question: can Sauvignon Blanc show umami?  Hardly typical New World varietal expression; but rather: fat, rich, sensual aromas with faint undertone of racy candied fruit.  The palate is rich in yellow fruit and nectarine, with faint nectar.  The wine finishes a bit short; but nice and clean.  Great food wine!  $16

Dry Creek Vineyard 2009 Fumé Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County
Shows pleasant aromas of yellow fruit and dried flowers with undertones of sweet nectarine.  The palate is well balanced—fairly soft with good structure, mid-palate and a fairly long, sweet finish—not cloying, but crisp.  With time, additional characteristics of tart green apples and the slightest hint of peach—subtle candied undertones.  Very interesting complexity.  $12

Post a Comment

One comment so far for “Five Lovely Red and White Wines from Northern California”

  • tlover tonet says:
    Your comment is awaiting moderation. This is a preview; your comment will be visible after it has been approved.
    I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your site. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme? Fantastic work!
  • Bill Smart says:

    Hi Wyatt,

    A great review of our wines. I am with you on the balance and food friendliness aspect of wine as well. I find it an honor to be mentioned in the same breath as the other producers you list above. They are among the great producers of California. The hallmark of Dry Creek Vineyard has always been to produce wines that are balanced and food friendly, adhering to the integrity of the varietal, and most importantly, overdelivering in terms of value to the consumer. That’s our mantra and we live it every day.

    Thanks for the review and kind words.

    Cheers,

    Bill Smart
    Dry Creek Vineyard

  • Post a Comment

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published.