Tasting Room
Holiday Gift WinesWINE OF THE WEEK
Chalone Vineyard
2005 Monterey - Pinot Noir ($15)
A showy pinot with elegance. Flavors of black cherry, black plum, wild strawberry, cola, ginger and anise. Great balance. Integrated tannins.
2002 Sonoma County - Cabernet Sauvignon ($45)
A very appealing cabernet. Aromas and flavors of cherry, plum, sage and toasty oak. Good acid. Medium complexity.
2003 Sonoma County - Cabernet Sauvignon ($64)
Rich, vibrant, cherry fruit. Complex, rich and showy. Full-bodied. Pronounced oak. Bold tannins. Even better with age.
2003 Sonoma County - Merlot ($25)
Ripe and showy. A full-bodied, rich merlot. Great structure. Notes of plum, cranberry, boysenberry and camphor.
2004 Red Truck, California - Merlot ($13)
A tasty merlot. Juicy, with notes of blackberry, red currant, chocolate and vanilla. Medium complexity.
2003 Reserve, Private , Dry Creek Valley - Zinfandel ($34)
Has a wonderful zin character. Notes of black plum, spicy herbs and sweet oak. Just a bit tart.
2005 White Table Wine, California - Other white wines ($28)
Showy, with tropical aromas and flavors. Notes of orange blossom, oak and anise. Balanced. Great food wine.
2003 Three Palms, Napa Valley - Merlot ($80)
Great complexity. Notes of black plum, blueberry, boysenberry, cherry, chocolate and spice. Nice weight.
2005 California - Pinot Grigio ($12)
A classic old Italian wine. Medium-bodied. A bit one-dimensional. Lots of acidity. Some off aromas.
2005 Oregon - Pinot Gris ($16)
Elegant and showy. Floral and gewurztraminer-like. Notes of rose petal, mineral and green apple. Lively acidity.
2005 Napa Valley - Pinot Grigio ($18)
A classy pinot grigio. Flavors of white peach, kiwi, lemon, hay and honey. Medium-bodied. Varietally correct.
2003 Oakville - Cabernet Sauvignon ($40)
Rich and ripe. aromas and flavors of dark plum, black cherry, tobacco and spice. Hints of ripe strawberry. Toasty finish.
2003 Pagani Vnyd, Sonoma Valley - Zinfandel ($45)
A full-bodied, jammy zin. Nice acidity. Prominant oak. Ripe and spicy. Notes of vanilla, chocolate and coconut.
TASTING PANEL: The wines listed are a compliation of top-rated wines from tastings over the past six months. There should be a good supply of these wines in the North Bay.
CRITERIA: The panel samples eight to 12 wines a week in a blind tasting. Wine of the Week is based on quality, value and availability and is not necessarily the top wine of the tasting. Price is suggested retail; actual price is often lower.You can reach Staff Writer Peg Melnik at 521-5310 or e-mail pmelnik@pressdemocrat.com