What makes a great Merlot is the winemaker’s attention to detail. When done correctly, a Merlot can be just as beautiful as any Bordeaux blend. This can be hard to find, especially in regards to commercially available Merlots. I’ve had such good experiences with Wente wine, that I was quite optimistic when I picked up their version of this varietal. And I have to say, a Wente wine will never disappoint…
“Now this is a Wednesday wine.” I’m quoting my partner in wine crime here because I think this statement is spot on. I must be on a Kenwood kick because I had several of their wines in my cellar and, thus, several reviews to publish. Thoroughly impressed by the depth and complexity of their Sonoma County Zinfandel and Chardonnay, I had high hopes when I pulled the cork on Kenwood Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.
This may seem odd, but I bought this wine because I was in the mood for something Chablis – y. Which, you may wonder, why would you turn to a Sonoma County wine, the epitome of (what I call) Cal-oaky Chard, when looking for something de France? Well, my friends, I tell you, there are wine producers along the California coast who know how to hold back, use refinement in their winemaking techniques. And behold, a fine example in Kenwood Vineyards Sonoma County Chardonnay.
Have you ever tasted a wine with such a strong flavor, you’re still tasting it the next day? It’s like a song you just can’t get out of you head. Well, so it is with Husch Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc. This unassuming bottle with its near-clear liquid interior is like that sexy librarian — take off her glasses, let down her hair, or, in this case, open the bottle and pour the wine — because what’s hiding beneath is a strong, confident character.
One of the cool things about living in SF’s South Bay Area is that it seems like very little city down here, from Sunnyvale to Saratoga, has it’s own Wine Walk. It’s an event where wineries from all over California set up in local shops and pour samples of their latest releases. The most popular, by far, is the Los Gatos Wine Walk. Whether their spring or fall event, tickets sell out sometimes weeks before the actual event. Well, I finally got my ticket to this year’s fall walk. With 40 different wineries pouring anywhere from 1 to 5 wines each, it’d be hard for me to recap the whole event. But I did make it to all 40, tasting and talking at each station, and I’ve chosen my top 4 of those 40 wineries here.
This is purely based on my opinion and tasting notes from the event.
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