In preparation for a trip to the Santa Ynez/ Santa Barbara wine making region of California I have begun trying wines from the region. The first of which is the excellent 2006 Andrew Murray Esperance. 
The Esperance is a blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, & 15% Mourvedre and according to the wine maker designed to “recreate the great reds of Southern France.” The Esperance is a light ruby colored wine with great balance, light tannins and significant ripe fruits and hints of cinnamon and vanilla. I found the wine to be delicious and would be perfect for drinking on a summer afternoon (or any time you are looking delightful, crisp refreshing wine.)
2006 Andrew Murray Esperance Excellence
April 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Whitehall Lane 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
March 20, 2009 By 1 Comment
This wine is balanced and delicious with enticing aromas and a long, smooth finish. It has layers of fruit and aromas of oak, blackberry and currant. 
With ample fruit and mild tannins, this balanced wine is a real treat today and should only improve over the next 5+ years. At a moderate price in the low $30′s this is a great wine and a solid value. Wine Afficionado rating – 92
31st Annual Wine Road Barrel Tasting
March 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The 31st Annual Wine Road Barrel Tasting event continues this weekend. If you have done barrel tasting before you should give it a try. You get a chance to “preview” the wines before they are bottled and if you find some to your liking you can buy the wine futures at a discount. For a $30 fee you can visit and taste at a 100 different wineries and it is a great way to try some new wines. I will head up there myself this weekend and will post my impressions of what was tasting good next week.
Catena 2006 Malbec
March 10, 2009 By 1 Comment
With all of the attention that Malbecs have gathered over the past few years I figured it was time to start getting some reviews online. The Catena 2006 Malbec is a classic Malbec – full bodied, soft round tannins with dark berry flavors.
Wine Aficionado 91 Rating
Being from Argentina it is a high altitude Malbec with estate grapes coming from up to 5,000′ of elevation. At around $20 a bottle for a approachable, drinkable and pleasant wine it is a nice value and gets a Wine Afficionado rating of 91.
2006 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir
February 11, 2009 By 1 Comment
I had chance to try the 2006 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Botella and was very impressed with this balanced wine. There are hints of black currant and cloves on the nose with a palate of minerals, spice, and dark fruit. Sea Smoke has a history of making some great Pinots and this one does not not disappoint. While not a value wine it is certainly a quality one and garners a Wine Aficionado rating of 90.
Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2007
February 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment
I seem to be drinking a bunch of Sauvignon Blancs these days but here is another good find – the Veramonte from Casablanca Valley, Chile. It is crisp and fresh with strong acidity and floral aromas. It is also a another good value coming in at a little below $10.
Joel Gott 2007 Sauvignon Blanc
January 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment
This is another great value wine. For less than $10 this wine is quite nice – crisp and dry with hints of citrus and fruit. It was my first time trying a Joel Gott wine and I am intrigued to try out some more. Enjoy!
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet 2006
January 26, 2009 By 1 Comment
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet 2006 is another of those great values from Penfolds. Penfolds has some top notch (and top priced) wines but if you move down the price list a bit you can find some amazing values. The Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet 2006 is one of those values. You should be able to pick it up for around $10 and it has won critical acclaim and is good bold wine with nice tannins and good wine to pair with a meal.
La Petite Etoile 2006
January 25, 2009 By 1 Comment
Chateau St. Jean’s 2006 La Petite Etoile is one of the two fume blancs produced by Chateau St. Jean. Both wines are highly regarded and have received critical acclaim. The La Petite Etoile is a nice wine if you a fan of the Savignon Blanc/ Fume Blanc wines. The wine spends 9 months is the barrel and is light, crisp with hints of grapefruit.
Chateau St. Jean Sonoma County Reserve 2006 Pinot Noir
January 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The Sonoma County Reserve is a blend of the wineries three other Pinot Noirs, Benoist Ranch, La Petite Etoile Vyd, and Durell Vyd. The result is an excellent Pinot Noir with complexity, a long finish and flavors of berries, cherries, cinnamon. This is the top of what Chateau St. Jean has to offer in this varietal.
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