Call of the West

by John W N Holmes, 2010

part II - the wines

Wine			Yr		$	Pts		Comments
Sebastiani
RRV Chardonnay			08		18	88		Unoaked with green apple tang
Carneros Chardonnay			07		25	87		Pears and nectarine undertones
Carneros Pinot Noir			07		26	88		Spicy cherries and oak
RRV Pinot Noir			07		30	88		Toasted cherries
Alexander Valley Merlot			06		24	87		Plums but little life
Dry Creek Zinfadel			07		24	88		Raspberries but tannic
Secolo (Cab/Merlot)			06		35	88		Cherry and plum flavours
Cherryblock (Cab Sauv)			06		75	90		Blackberries and cigar box
Loxton cellars
Chardonnay			08		24	90		Citrus and apple, light oak
Zinfandel			07		25	88		Full ripe and slightly too tannic
Syrah			06		28	88		Deep Syrah, black fruit
Late Harvest Zinfandel			07		20	89		Good balance, lighter style
Cab Shiraz			06		30	88		Blackcurrants and peppers
Port			07		27	89		100% Syrah, good keeper
Mauritson
Sauvignon Blanc			08		17	88		Melon and butter, slight acidic
Chardonnay			07		25	88		Citrus fruit dominated
Charlie Clay Pinot Noir			08		40	89		Bright fruit dominated wine
Rockpile Ridge Zinfandel			07		35	90		Long finish, black fruit & vanilla
Jacks Cabin Zinfandel			07		37	88		Keeper wine, well balanced
Westphail Ridge			07		37	89		Big fruit with balanced tannins
Cemetery Zinfandel			07		39	88		16% alcohol, big wine !
Nalle
Hopkins Ranch Chardonnay			07		37	86		Too acidic lower fruit
Pinot Noir			07		35	89		Nice balance, leather & cherries
Zinfandel			07		35	88		High tannic structure
Henderlong Zinfandel			06		40	88		Full bodied food wine
Zinfandel Reserve			06		45	89		Good solid wine
Kokomo
Peters Vineyard Pinot Noir		07			48	90		Leather and cherries
Windsor Oaks Pinot Noir		07			36	89		Acidic with cherries and plums
Mounts Vineyard Zinfandel		07			30	91		Raspberries and cherries
Green Pastures Syrah		05			27	86		Mineral nose almost vegetal
Dry Creek Cabernet		06			29	89		Reluctant nose but good balance
Petit Syrah		07			27	90		Sweeter style with open nose
Late Harvest Sauv. Blanc		08			28	91		Honey and peaches. Yum
Unti
Cuvee Blanc		08			24	87		Dry with low fruit
Grenache		06			30	85		High tannins and low fruit
Zinfandel		06			26	86		Overpowering tannins
Syrah		06			26	85		�Meaty� flavour. Not my style
Benchland Syrah		05			35	86		Good finish but high tannins
Dutcher Crossing
Sauvignon Blanc		08			22	82		Flabby and weak nose
Costello Chardonnay		07			28	85		Pears and oak and oak and oak
Stuhlmuller Chardonnay		07			34	89		Best of chardonnays, nutty pears
Maple Zinfandel		07			40	88		Blackberries and vanilla. Oaky
Proprietors Res Cab Sauv		06			29	87		Blend Cab/Syrah little nose
Nevins Cab Sauvignon		06			43	89		Early days but a keeper
Port		06			32	89		Chocolate ruby style
Truett-Hurst
Black Sheep Pinot Noir		07			40	89		Strawberries and flowery vanilla
VML Boudreaux Pinot Noir		08			45	90		Great single vineyard style
VML Swicegood Pinot Noir		08			45	91		Full fruit, balanced strawberry
Dark Horse Blend		07			40	89		Flowery wine Rhone blend
3 vineyard Zinfandel		06			25	91		Good jammy flavour with pepper
Red Rooster Zinfandel		06			29	89		Lighter style, mineral flavour
Rattler Rock Zinfandel		06			29	90		Great cherry falvour
Burning Man Petit Syrah		06			33	87		Tannins aggressive
Stonegate Cabernet		03			60	87		Tough tannin structure
Petit Verdot		04			60	87		Black fruit and oak
Desert Wine		05			36	90		Great classic port style
Preston
Sauvignon Blanc	08			22			86	Low fruit content
Rhone Blend	07			34			86	Really aggressive tannins
Syrah	06			32			86	Alcohol kills taste
Petit Syrah	07			32			86	Just nothing there
Michel Schlumberger
La Brume Chardonnay	07			32			87	French oak, malolactic style
Le Fou Pinot Noir	06			32			86	Good nose, poor finish, tannic
Cabernet Sauvignon	05			40			87	Tannic style, low fruit
Deux Terres	04			75			85	Way too tannic aggressive
Estate Cabernet	00			50			87	Fruit forward but too tannic
Syrah	06			32			88	Unbalanced
MacPhail
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir	07			39			92	Great lingering strawberries
Ferrington Pinot Noir	07			49			91	Needs longer but a keeper
San Giacomo	07			49			93	Mineral undertones
Pratt Vineyard	07			49			92	Complex red fruit, raspberries
Frattey Shams	07			49			91	Keeper wine, great balance
Vagon lit	07			59			94	Wow, just great fruit
Chardonnay	07			**			92	Unreleased but will be great
Hop Kiln
Sonoma Chardonnay	07			28			85	Lean fruit, oaky
Chardonnay	08			20			87	Pineapple and bananas, long
Sauvignon Blanc	08			18			84	Unique flavour ! peel undertones
Rosa Bellisima	08			16			83	Grenache but not obvious
Thousand Flowers	08			16			85	Too flowery for my taste
Grenache	07			22			88	Black cherries on taste
Pinot Noir	08			40			86	Lacks fruit for $40
Malbec	07			25			86	Ripe cherries and plums
Rushin Red	07			23			85	Ripe fruit tannic undertones
Big Red	07			19			89	Good value wine (Zin/Syrah)
Rochioli
Sauvignon Blanc	09			26			89	Grapefruit and mineral style
Chardonnay	08			36			88	Basic buttery malolactic flavour
Pinot Noir	08			48			90	Still young. Cherries & vanilla
Arista
Pinot Gris	08			28			86	Pear drops & acetone finish
Bacigalupi Pinot Noir	07			56			87	Strawberries, low fruit
Sonoma Coast La Cruz	07			56			88	Long finish of dark berries
Perli Vineyard	07			56			89	Mineral Style pinot
RRV Syrah	07			34			87	Dominated by tannins, pity
Mark David Sauv. Blanc	09			34			93	Great depth and complexity
Mark David Cab Franc	07			56			91	Balanced balck fruit and cedar
Thomas George
Sauvignon Blanc	08			25			84	Acidic and tannic, avoid
Pinot Noir	07			38			88	Leather and strawberries
Viognier	08			28			87	Struggles on nose but balanced
Zinfandel	07			27			87	Peppery chocolate flavour
Allen Vineyard Pinot	07			55			88	Rose petals, mineral style
Moshin
Larrick Sauvignon Blanc	08			22			89	Apples and dried fruit. Balanced
Sonoma Coast Pinot	07			40			89	Cherries and smoke
Halo Hill	07			44			89	Smoky flavour
RRV Pinot	07			36			88	Came across flat, little flavour
Zinfandel	06			30			87	Tannins too high.
Carreras Zinfandel	07			35			90	Best wine, Raisins and raspberry
Petit Syrah	07			38			88	Peppery plums and blueberries
Moshin Poshin #7				32			88	Too sweet on this occasion
Copain
Rossane James Berry	07			35			89	Nutty and light, good finish
Monument Tree	07			50			90	Black tea and red fruit. Long
Wentzel Pinot	07			50			89	Pomegranate and cranberry !
Kiser	07			60			90	French style, black cherries
Tousensemble Pinot	07			25			89	Good value French style pinot.
Williamson
Sauvignon Blanc	08			28			88	Ginger on nose
Chardonnay	07			38			88	Butterscotch, smooth
Rapture Pinot Noir	08			45			90	Rounder balanced mineral flavour
Merlot	05			40			87	Low on nose, plums and dark fruit
Cuvee (Bordeaux style)	05			47			89	Redcurrants and cedar
Inspire	08			85			91	Classic Bordeaux style. Good
Stagecoach	05			125			88	Too tannic not ready yet
Shiraz	06			47			90	Vanilla and long peppery finish
Rodney Strong
Sauvignon Blanc	08			18			87	Good nose little taste
Reserve Chardonnay	07			35			87	Buttery malolactic and apples
Reserve Pinot	07			40			90	Good balanced wine
Estate Alexander Valley	07			25			89	Pepper and vanilla, toasty
Alexander Crown (Cab)	05			35			89	Keeper, blackberries
Reserve Alexander Valley	06			45			89	Blackcurrant and cedar
Symmetry	06			55			89	Blackberries and plums
Knotty Vines Zinfandel	07			19			89	Great value Zin. Pepper & Jam
Reserve Zinfandel	07			30			88	Spicy vanilla
Gentleman�s Port	06			30			89	Powerful Zinfandel based port
Walter Hansel
RRV Pinot Noir	07			36			88	Good nose, raspberries
Sauvignon Blanc	09			16			90	Great value NZ style. Grapefruit
Cuvee Alyce Chardonnay	07			36			88	Toasted almonds and buttery
Inman Family
Pinot Gris	08			25			87	Smooth delicate style
RRV Pinot Noir	07			30			90	Delicate floral wines
Thorn Ridge Ranch	07			52			91	Sage flavour, black tea
Estate Vineyard	07			52			89	Mineral earthy flavour
RRV Blend Meredith	06			52			90	Balanced, strong raspberry fruit
Hawkes
Chardonnay	07			20			90	Unoaked, crisp and light
Alexander Valley Merlot	05			30			87	Powerful tannins, too much?
Alexander Valley Cab	02			55			86	Fruit is overpowered by tannin
Alexander Valley	05			40			86	Younger wine, fruit too low?
Stone Vineyard Cab	05			60			88	Older vine redcurrants
Robert Young
Chardonnay	06			40			86	Heavily oaked, creamy
Area 27 Chardonnay	07			42			88	Lighter oak style, citrus flavour
Scion Cabernet	05			58			90	Cherries and chocolate
Scion Cabernet	06			58			89	Open and mellow wine
Big Rock Cabernet	06			58			89	Black fruit leather and cherries
Big Rock Cabernet	05			100			90	Mellow balanced wine drink now
Chalk Hill
Sauvignon Blanc	07			33			90	Citrus fruit and buttery layer
Pinot Gris	06			40			86	Tastes of��..nothing
Estate Chardonnay	07			48			89	Butter, pineapple and expensive
Merlot	06			51			88	Pure Merlot, unfortunately
Estate Cabernet	05			65			87	Low nose and too tannic
Botrytis Semillon	06			80			89	Honey but just too expensive.
Verite
La Muse	06			200			95	Merlot based, great structure
La Joie	06			200			97	Classic Bordeaux, superb
Archipel	06			200			96	Stunning balance, keeper
Le Desir	06			200			94	Cab Franc keeper
La Joie	98			150			98	Wow ! Nothing else to say
Lancaster Estates
Sauvignon Blanc	08			24			87	Acid levels too high
Sophia Hill Cabernet	06			48			90	Good cherry and dark fruit
Estate Cabernet	06			70			89	Complex with tannic structure
Nicole�s Propriety Red	06			100			89	Just not at this price point
Davis Family
Sauvignon Blanc	07			20			90	Classic NZ Style
Cote Rose	07			18			88	Almonds and rose petals
RRV Chardonnay	07			35			90	Boneya nd citrus. Balanced
RRV Pinot	06			40			90	Good red berry flavour
Riesling	07			24			91	Yummy classic dry Riesling
Old Vine Zinfandel	06			30			91	Mellow fruit and tannins
RRV Syrah	07			36			89	Fruity Syrah with peppers
Napa Cabernet	06			50			89	Redcurrants, great drinker
Zinfandel port	05			30			88	Lighter style port
Chateau Montelena
Potter Valley Riesling	08			24			88	Apricot, dry and apples
Chardonnay	07			50			89	Stone citrus and apples. Pricy?
Zinfandel	06			30			90	Balanced smoky vanilla flavour
Napa Cabernet	06			49			89	Good balanced wine
Montelena Cabernet	06			135			91	Old vines producing great wine
WH Smith
Sonoma Coast Pinot	07			32			89	Good entry level pinot
Umino Pinot Noir	08			48			91	Smooth mineral style
Hellenthal Pinot	07			48			91	Well balanced pinot
Kaley Cellars Zinfandel	00			35			90	Mellow drinker. Plums & prunes
Howell Mt. Cab	06			42			88	Low on nose and acid
Maritime Pinot	07			54			88	Dark Cheery tannic pinot
Purple Label Cabernet	06			64			90	Smooth, good balanced taste
Twomey
Sauvignon Blanc	08			25			88	Reluctant nose, acidic undertone
Pinot Noir	06			55			89	Balanced strawberries & tannins
Merlot	05			50			89	Plums and balanced tannins
Summers Estate
Reserve Chardonnay	08			32			85	Peas !!! and vanilla
Estate Rose of Cabernet	08			18			85	Too sweet for rose and why?
Villa Adriana Charbono	07			28			89	Rare grape, blueberries/tomato
Villa Adriana Zinfandel	06			34			85	BBQ wine
Knights Valley Merlot	06			30			86	Aggressive tannins
Reserve Cabernet	05			65			88	Way over priced
Petit Syrah Port	06			36			88	Too sweet for port, more desert
Muscat Canelli	07			20			89	Classic muscat reasonable price
Storybook Mountain
Zinfandel Mayacamus	07			34			90	Boysenberry flavours
Eastern Exposure Zin	07			45			89	Viognier gives flowery hint
Anteus	06			40			90	Well balanced red/blackcurrants

The Top 10

Verite La Joie		120	98	Stunning wine, up there with the best
MacPhail Vagon Lit	07	59	94	Amazing wine for $59
Mark David Sauvignon Blanc	09	34	93	Classic Sauvignon Blanc at great price
MacPhail San Giacomo	07	49	93	Mineral style Pinot from a great vineyard
WH Smith Hellentahl pinot Noir	07	48	91	Well balanced, soft tannin structure
Chateau Montelena Cabernet	06	135	91	Great Cabernet from old vines
Davis Family Riesling	07	24	91	The way dry Riesling was intended
Inman Family Thorn Ridge Ranch	07	52	91	Beautifully crafted wine, delicate style
Truett Hurst 2 Vineyard Zinfandel	06	25	91	Bargain Zinfandel for this quality
Kokomo Late Harvest S. Blanc	07	28	91	Honey and peaches. Scrumptious

Best Bargains (under $20)

Walter Hansell Sauvignon Blanc	09	16	90	New Zealand Style with grapefruit
Sebastiani RRV Chardonnay	08	18	88	Unoaked with apple and citrus style
Hop Kiln Big Red	07	19	89	Great value blended wine
Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Zin	07	19	89	Peppery jam and good balance
Loxton Late Harvest Zinfandel	07	20	89	Balanced light style

Go to Part I - the wineries of Sonoma