Babcock 2005 Pinot Noir, Tri-County, California
This wine is consistently a winner. This pinot noir is made from grapes from Santa Barbara, Monterey, and Sonoma counties. It is smoky, with deep notes of cherry and mint. It offers dense flavors from the nose to the graceful vanilla finish. A great wine to pair with just about any type of food. Exceptional for the money.
-BF $22
Argonaut, Apple Jack, Davidsons, Harvest Wine & Spirits, Centennial Wine & Spirits, Ace Discount Liquors, Liquorland, and Superior carry this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine? Email us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
Top

Bogle 2003 Phantom Old Vine, California
A blend of old vine zinfandel, old vine petite sirah, and old vine mourvedre. Aromas of spice and tobacco lead to intense flavors on the palate. Notes of blueberries, tar, coffee beans, vanilla, and cranberries. These old vines offer dense flavors that start at the nose and continue to the finish. This is an incredible value comparing the quality to the price. The label makes a great item for the adult trick-or-treaters.
Tasted 10/11/2006
-BF $18

Are you a retailer that carries this wine? Email us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
Top

Castle Rock 2005 Pinot Noir, California
An inexpensive pinot noir is worth going out of your way for. You must try this bottle of pinot. A black raspberry canvas layered with vanilla, cola, and clove. Earthy, fruity, delivers a tasty pinot experience.
-BF $12
County Line Liquors carries this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine? Email us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.

Top

Chateau Souverain 2005 Alexander Valley Sauvignon Blanc, California
A very elegant offering with citrus on the nose, the wine has a soft note of melon on the palate. Hints of lemon and grapefruit peak through a polished acidity. -BF $14
Where to find this wine:
Top

Chateau Souverain 2004 Sonoma Chardonnay, California
Impressive use of oak in this chardonnay. Tropical nose leads to a palate of lime zest, nutmeg, and marshmallow. Good acidity, this is a very pretty wine. -BF $16
Where to find this wine:
Meridian Wine & Spirits, Highland Vineyards Top

Chateau Souverain 2002 Alexander Valley Merlot, California
Offering varied flavors and aromas, this Merlot is well worth investigating. Nice legs peek the expectations. Vegetal, herbaceous, ripened dark fruit aromas emanate from the glass. Coats the palate completely and lingers before it ends. -MAM

Slight white pepper, anilla, caramel, black cherries, good acid with chocolate on the finish. Very mild tannins make this an approchable wine for everyone. -BF $22
Where to find this wine:
Superior Liquor

Top

Chateau Souverain 2002 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
This dark, full bodied, leggy Cab reaches all the taste buds and stays for a while after that. With a beautiful nose and considerable depth, this is a great value. -MAM

This is a very polished cabernet sauvignon. The tannins are soft and take a backseat to the layered flavors. Notes of pencil lead, black cherries, caramel, and dark chocolate entertain your tastebuds. The acicity is perfect for this easy drinking red. I found this to be an extraordinary value. -BF $22
Where to find this wine:
Superior Liquor

Top

Chateau Souverain 2001 Winemakers Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, California
Unbelievable value for the money. This wine is densely flavored with black cherries, black licorice and mocha. The tannins are soft, but show that the wine can be cellar for a few years. There is a delectable note of coconut on the finish. An attention getter! -BF $42
Where to find this wine:
Top

Chateau St. Jean 2003 Robert Young Vineyard Chardonnay, Alexander Valley, California
This is an elegant, bright, and layered chardonnay. I tasted this wine with winemaker Margo van Staaveren a month ago. Flavors of lime zest, melon, and apricots dance on your tongue in an exceptional offering of chardonnay. The finish is rich with notes of flan. It doesn't take long to understand why Margo has been bestowed so many accolades.
-BF $30
Where to find this wine:
Bonnie Brae, County Line, Superior Liquor

Top

Chateau St. Jean Belle Terre Vineyard, Alexander Valley Chardonnay
Lovely offering of chardonnay. The wine is light and citrusy on the fore-palate with hints of lime zest. It crescendos the finish with intensity! Anise, vanilla, and flan build on the finish. This is an impressive wine.
-BF $27
Where to find this wine:
Superior Liquor

Top

Chateau St. Jean 2002 Reserve Chardonnay, Sonoma, California
Tropical noses on the nose that carries over to the palate. Mango, lime, and vanilla grace the wine and sweep through until the finish. Very skilled use of oak barrels.
-BF $38
Where to find this wine:

Top

Chateau St. Jean 2004 Pinot Noir, Sonoma, California
When I tasted this pinot noir I was with Margo van Staaveren. She was amused that I was concentrating so hard on her wines. Believe me, there are so many nuance in these wines that you want to focus on the flavors. I guess that is why she was bestowed with a 'Wine of the Year.' This pinot noir is layered and interesting. Notes of mint, cola, and vanilla, are splashed across a wild cherry canvas. -BF $22
Where to find this wine:
Superior Liquor
Top

Chateau St. Jean 2003 Merlot, Sonoma, California
I found this merlot to be lighter in flavor, but not in body. An interesting red with an alluring drinkability. Notes of vanilla on the nose. On the palate it blooms with notes of hibiscus flowers an pomegranate. An underlying wild cherry note offers good acidity. A merlot with lots of personality. -BF $22

Where to find this wine:
Bonnie Brae, Superior Liquor, Highland Vineyards

Chateau St. Jean 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma, California
Integrated flavors that are smooth, sultry, and ripe. Notes of vanilla on the nose carry over to the palate. Cassis, cherries, black licorice and cocoa evolve on the mid-palate. The finish is graced with a hint of vanilla. -BF $30
Where to find this wine:
Bonnie Brae, Superior Liquor, Meridian Wine & Spirits

Top

CheapSkate 2004 Miser Meritage, California
Even a miser would want to spring for a case of this blend. Big blueberry, vanilla cream aromas escape from the glass. In the mouth flavors of vanilla, leather, spice, chocolate, and cookie dough evolve. This wine is dangerously smooth. An incredible value.
-BF $11
Joy Wine & Spirits, Reserve List, and City Wine carry this wine.
Are you a retailer who carries this wine? Email us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
Top

Cline 2005 Viognier, California
Read about viognier.
Viognier in general has a great nose and this particular wine is a great example of how aromatic viognier can be. Aromatic notes of summer flowers and tangerine zest lead to focused peach, apricot, and grated lime zest on the palate. There's a nice mouthwatering effect on the finish that tells me this wine will hold up well to food. Lovely! -BF $13
Where to find this wine
Top

Top

Cline Oakley 2004 Five Reds, California
A lovely Rhône style blend of zinfandel, syrah, carignane, grenache, and mourvèdre. This wine is bursting with flavors of blueberries, blackberries, cherries, and black pepper. A smooth blend with hints of vanilla and spice. Soft tannins and a touch of acidity make this a very integrated wine that is smooth and balanced. -BF $9
Where to find this wine
Top

Clockspring 2003 Zinfandel, Amardor Foothills, California
This is a bright, spicy zinfandel. On the palate it offers flavors of black raspberries, fresh cut herbs, clove, and caramel. A tasty red with softer acidity and tannins. The label makes it a perfect bottle to drink this Saturday night, to celebrate the extra hour sleep you're going to enjoy on Sunday.
Tasted October 24, 2006
-BF $12
Little Raven Vineyards carries this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine? Email us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
Top