Wines and Beyond

Red Wine by Verite from Sonoma County, California. French for joy, La Joie emphasizes Cabernet Sauvignon and represents a Pauillac-style wine. The wine is deep purple in color, spicy and intense in the nose, with density and structure from its Cabernet Sauvignon dominance. A saturated dense purple color emerges from the 2003 La Joie. A blend of 75.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19.8% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, it offers up smoky, sweet scents of lead pencil shavings, cedar, spice box, volcanic earth, black currants, and smoke. With excellent fruit, full-bodied power, a layered texture, and an exceptionally long finish, it is not as accessible and plump as La Muse, and will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age. It should drink well for 20-25 years. Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate 95 Points

Red Wine by Dominus from Napa Valley, California. The 2004 blend is comprised of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot. No Merlot was used in the blend this year. The 2004 vintage is deep red in color, with an intense nose of vanilla, black currants and cedar. The elegant integration of the tannins and fruit is noticed immediately. Flavors of warm mulled spices on the mid-palate complement the balanced and complex structure. The long, aromatic finish exhibits notes of leather and cardamom. The wine is charming and fragrant, and will age gracefully. It is recommended that this wine be decanted prior to serving, to allow it to develop its full potential. This is especially important when serving young Dominus wines. This very generous and well-ripened offering starts out with an involving display of cherries, cassis, herbs, sweet oak and loam in its deep and decidedly complex aromas, and it follows with equally wide-ranging flavors that show a real sense of layering and plenty of depth. Ripe, but always in balance and firmed by a good dose of youthful tannins, this latest Dominus bottling is among the winery's very best efforts ever, and it is certain to get better yet over the next decade. -Connoisseurs' Guide

Red Wine by Mount Veeder from Napa Valley, California. This fabulous mountain Cabernet blend is hefty in tannins, but its so delicious and balanced, it's totally dinkable now... - Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection This wine expresses the lush, concentrated fruit character of the Cabernet Sauvignon grown on the steep terraced slopes of our mountain estate. Refined tannins add texture and depth to the intense blackberry flavors of the wine.

Red Wine by Mount Veeder from Napa Valley, California. Mount Veeder was the first winery in California to have one vineyard planted to all five Bordeaux varietals. The Mount Veeder Reserve is an elegant statement of the winemaking philosophy that blending creates a wine more than the sum of its parts. Crafted from small lots of exceptionally concentrated fruit from our three ranches, this distinctive red wine is the essence of power and finesse. Blend: 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 3% Malbec Appearance: Dark garnet red Aroma: Very dense and brambly. The dark black fruit is complemented by sweet anise, sage, bay and toasty oak notes. Flavor: Rich, supple and dense, loaded with dark blackberry fruit and ripe mountain tannin. Chewy, big-boned and intense, the flavors fill the pallet and continue with blackberry and coffee notes rounding out the long finish.

Red Wine by Chateau St. Jean from Sonoma County, California. Just beautiful California claret. -Wine Enthusiast Cinq Cepages (Five Varieties) is a Bordeaux-style blend consisting of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec, and 2% Petit Verdot. Each component is aged separately for two years in small French oak barrels (56% new) before blending. Once the wine is assembled, it spends six months in the bottle before release. Fruit for this Cabernet Sauvignon was selected from the finest Bordeaux variety vineyards in Sonoma County: 60% from Alexander Valley, 15% from Sonoma Valley, 15% from Knights Valley, 6% from Russian River Valley and 4% Dry Creek Valley to assemble a wine that showcases Sonoma County. The Alexander Valley grapes highlight bright berry with back notes of dried herbs, while the Sonoma Valley fruit is from the St. Jean Estate Vineyard, and brings black and dense mountain fruit to the blend. The Knights Valley fruit adds a firm mouthfeel and pronounced tannins and the Dry Creek Valley grapes tend toward dark, dense black cherry and berry fruit flavors with a rich mouthfeel. The Russian River Valley brings exotic aromas and lush textures to complete the blend. A classic Cinq Cepages, the 2003 vintage offers the signature chocolate-covered cherry and boysenberry aromas that have come to define this flagship Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon. Lush, elegant and gracefully balanced, the wine delivers sweet plum and dark berry flavors and an exotic floral note that wraps around big, juicy tannins. This highly concentrated wine has beautiful oak integration and a lushness throughout that leads to a lingering finish.

Red Wine by Chateau St. Jean from Sonoma County, California. Cinq Cepages (Five Varieties) is a Bordeaux-style blend consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon (77%), Merlot (9%), Cabernet Franc (7%), Malbec (4%), and Petit Verdot (3%). Each component is aged separately for two years in small French oak barrels (47% new) before blending. Once the wine is assembled, it spends six months in the bottle before release. Inviting aromas of boysenberry and violet define the nose of this flagship Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon. A rich and dense entry begins with layers of black raspberry, mocha and hints of blueberry. The palate offers a graceful balance between fruit extract and fine-grained tannins. This deep, concentrated wine has a classic Cinq Cepages structure with beautiful oak integration and a lushness throughout that leads to a lingering finish. - Margo Van Staaveren, Winemaker

Red Wine by St. Supery from Napa Valley, California. Blend: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec The fruit for this red blend was harvested during the cool hours of early morning to maximize fresh flavors. Crush occurred in St. Supery's cellar prior to fermentation and maceration on the skins, after which the wines were drained and pressed to barrels for maturation. After a year in predominantly French oak, a preliminary blend was created and that blended wine put back into barrel in order to begin the process of marrying the flavors of the component varietals. Another twelve months later, the wines went through final evaluation to complete the blend. From the out start the 2003 El? is an amazing wine, there is great depth of both aroma and flavor. The wine begins with hints of cocoa, blackberries and toasted oak. Upon further investigation, one picks up kirsch and black cherries. Elegant, supple and gracefully balanced, and finishing with a lively burst of ripe fruit and supple tannins. Drink now through 2013.

Red Wine by Conn Creek from Napa Valley, California. The pinnacle wine of Conn Creek, Anthology is an expressive, complex blend of Napa Valley's finest Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The 2004 Anthology offers red and black fruit aromas and spicy flavors with nuanced expressions of creamy oak and berry cobbler. A robust wine balanced with silky tannins. - Jeff McBride, Winemaker

Red Wine by Beaulieu - BV from Napa Valley, California. The 2004 Beaulieu Vineyard Reserve Tapestry weaves five classic varietals - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec - into an elegant, beautifully balanced wine. The deep, expressive aromas and flavors are filled with black cherry, briary blackberry, cassis, dark cocoa and cedar character. Pre-fermentation maceration, gentle punch downs in open-top fermenters and in-barrel malolactic fermentation all contributed to the wine's richly textured flavors. Beaulieu barrel-aged the wine for 20 months, with 70 percent new barrels, to add warm vanilla nuances. For even more complexity, they used a tapestry of different oak barrels; over half were French, with the balance being American, Hungarian and Russian. This wine makes a delicious complement to seared duck breast, mesquite grilled steak, filet mignon with shiitake mushrooms or roast lamb.

Red Wine by Dominus from Napa Valley, California. Napanook is made solely from grapes grown in the historic Napanook Vineyard in Yountville, Napa Valley. Napanook is blended from blocks in the vineyard that were carefully selected for their lively fruit, soft tannins and early maturing characteristics. The 2004 vintage consists of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot and 1% Malbec. This wine is created to be consumed young, and enjoyed with food, but will also age well from up to 10 years. Christian Moueix recommends decanting the wine before serving to allow it to reach its full potential. The 2004 vintage has a deep ruby color, with a ripe, fruity nose. The intense aroma of clove and raspberry leads to a hint of chocolate. This wine feels like velvet in your mouth. The sweet, lingering tannins develop into an expression of sun-dried cherries.

Red Wine by Franciscan from Napa Valley, California. Magnificat is a hand-selected blend of the vintage's finest lots of fruit. Every year, winemaker Janet Myers tastes hundreds of barrel samples to craft Magnificat, a wine as seamless and harmonious as the Bach masterwork it honors in name. This is the twentieth vintage. For Magnificat, our goal is simply to make the best glass of wine possible, says Janet. We pay no attention to variety percentages until we put the wine together. We can afford to do this because, frankly, our Merlot is as rich and concentrated as our Cabernet. In Oakville, that is saying something. Blend: 50% Merlot, 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc Appearance: Deep garnet. Aroma: Enticing aromas of dark cherry and black plum with a dark chocolate background and notes of sage and black tea. Appealing and complex. Flavors: Elegant, well-structured mouthfeel, with cherries, rich chocolate, black pepper and vibrant plum flavors filling the palate. Very supple, with fine texture and firm structure, giving an immediately approachable richness. The finish is a seamless continuation of fruit and cocoa-like tannins.

Red Wine by Clos du Bois from Sonoma County, California. The introductory, 1978 vintage of Marlstone stands as the first release of a Bordeaux-style wine from Sonoma County. The release of the 2003 vintage of this wine thus marks the 25th anniversary of Marlstone, and is the first vintage of this historic cuvee which winemaker Erik Olsen has shepherded from vineyard to bottle. This wine's inky, deep, ruby color promises intensity and depth. Its generous nose reveals layers of aromas: from black cherry, vanilla, toasted oak and cedar to nutmeg, cinnamon, blackberry and notes of violet and sweet tobacco. Ultra-rich and round, this powerful, generous wine offers up ripe blackberry and black licorice flavors on the palate and a lasting, memorable finish.

Red Wine by Rodney Strong from Sonoma County, California. Blend: 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot Celebrating the esteemed art of blending, the spirit of Symmetry is the true essence of Sonoma County winemaking. With nearly 40 years experience growing classic French grape varieties here, Rodney Strong selects their best Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and other traditional Bordeaux grapes from mountain and hillside vineyards in Alexander Valley, where well-drained rocky soils combine with warm, sunny days and cool nights to provide ideal growing conditions. The 2004 Symmetry greets you with an opulent bouquet of blackberries, ripe dark plums and sweet spices. The wine opens generously on the palate with layers of blackberry, cassis and plum framed with accents of dark chocolate and spice. The finish is persistent and smooth. This wine is at once rich, harmonious, powerful, and elegant; a wine intended to be enjoyable on release, yet destined for years of further evolution in the bottle.

Red Wine by Girard from Napa Valley, California. Blend: 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot, 12% Malbec, 9% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc The 2004 vintage is a brilliantly-colored, dark ruby wine with aromas of ripe cherries, red plum, lavender, cinnamon and allspice. There are also hints of tobacco, mocha, toasted walnuts and anise. On the palate, this smooth-textured wine offers a full-mouth, medium bodied feel. The firm tannins are very well integrated, making the wine elegant and approachable at an early age. There are multiple layers to this complex blend that reveal themselves through decanting or by giving the wine time to open up in the glass.

Red Wine by St. Clement from Napa Valley, California. The 2003 Oroppas is a Cabernet Sauvignon based wine from a combination of three esteemed appellations: Rutherford, Diamond Mountain, and from within the heart of Napa Valley. To add depth and complexity, the Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with twelve percent Merlot from Carneros and four percent Cabernet Franc from Rutherford. The Merlot adds the lush red fruit component whereas the Cabernet Franc rounds out the structure and tannin of the wine. The wine was aged in eighty-four percent New French oak barrels for nineteen months. Beautiful aromas of blackberries, cassis, currant, and dark chocolate smothered in a raspberry reduction sauce abound in this wine. The rich velvety texture and soft luscious tannins are supplemented by ripe red and black fruit flavors of strawberry and blueberry. Caramel, coffee, and vanilla flavors are supplied by the French Oak barrels that we use to age this wine. The wine has great fruit extraction of plums, wild berries, and cherry cola which coats the palate from start to finish.

Red Wine by Geyser Peak from Sonoma County, California. Blend: 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc. First produced in 1983, Geyser Peak Reserve Alexandre is a traditional blend of five classic Bordeaux red grape varietals. Each year winemaker Mick Schroeter relies on traditional, small-lot fermentation, rigorous selection and extensive trial blending to achieve a consistently stylish, elegantly balanced wine. The twenty-two mile Alexander Valley region flanks the Russian River in Sonoma County and is known for its multiple terroirs. First planted to wine grapes by namesake pioneer Cyrus Alexander in 1846, the valley is one of the state's oldest and most distinguished growing regions. Seductively styled, this wine builds up layers of flavor around a focused core of blackcurrant, black cherry and blueberry fruit, from the initial aromas to the plush, focused palate. Hints of oak and spice add complexity, but it's the generous fruit and rich texture that anchor the mid-palate. Turning graceful on the finish, this big, voluptuous wine reveals ripe tannins and a luxurious aftertaste that keeps on going. Overall, balance, elegance and harmony are the hallmarks of this wine.

Red Wine by Geyser Peak from Sonoma County, California. First produced in 1983, Geyer Peak Reserve Alexandre is a traditional blend of five classic Bordeaux red grape varietals. Each year, winemaker Mick Schroeter relies on traditional, small-lot fermentation, rigorous selection and extensive trial blending to achieve a consistently stylish, elegantly balanced wine. 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 19% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc Smooth, rich and silky, this handcrafted wine finds its center around a deep core of blackcurrant, black cherry and raspberry fruit. Spice, cedar and earth notes add complexity, but it's the generous fruit and supple texture that anchor the mid-palate. Aiming for elegance over brawn, this voluptuous wine finishes with ripe tannins and a luxurious aftertaste that keeps on going. Overall, the 2004 Reserve Alexandre is a quintessential example of Alexander Valley terroir and of the region's supreme suitability for nurturing Bordeaux varieties.

Red Wine by Archipel from Sonoma County, California. Archipel is the French word for Archipelago, an string of islands rising above the sea, and that meaning is carried over to the sourcing of fruit for the new Archipel wine, a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. For this limited production wine, world acclaimed winemaker Pierre Seillan selected only those mountain peak vineyards in Napa and Sonoma that, on a foggy morning, sit above the clouds like a archipelago island sits upon the misty sea. This wine is the essence of California Mountain fruit expressed with French undertones, epitomizing modern sophistication, both in it's mountain structure supporting a vibrant fruit profile, as well as it's contemporary image which appeals to those intrigued by unique wines and progressive thinking. Vibrant black fruit with floral and spice notes. Rich, round, and full bodied.

Red Wine by Ridge from Santa Cruz Mountains, California. 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc After natural primary and secondary fermentations ended, Ridge began assembling this outstanding Santa Cruz Mountains. Based on blind tastings, they included selected portions of the early-ripening Merlot and the last-picked Cabernet, all of the first press, and the richest of the second. By April, assemblage was complete. Twenty-two months in air-dried American oak has integrated the wine. It is beautifully balanced, and can be enjoyed now, yet will develop still greater complexity with five to ten years of bottle age.

Red Wine by B.R. Cohn from Sonoma County, California. The 2002 Doobie Red Collector Series is a limited production set of wines, bering three album covers and is sure to be a great hit! This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from Sonoma County. It offers exceptional fruit flavors of black cherry and plum. The Doobie Brothers are one of the very few American Rock'N Roll bands that have been able to achieve and sustain a phenomenal level of success. There will be three album covers released every year for the next four years, of all Doobie Brother releases, making it a complete set. Bruce Cohn makes award winning wines and has been managing the Doobie Brothers for over 35 years. This wine celebrates the rich history of this band and Bruce's love of wine. A portion of proceeds of this wine is donated to the National Veterans Foundation. Blend: 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 23% Cabernet Franc

Red Wine by B.R. Cohn from Sonoma County, California. The 2002 Doobie Red Collector Series is a limited production set of wines, bering three album covers and is sure to be a great hit! This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from Sonoma County. It offers exceptional fruit flavors of black cherry and plum. The Doobie Brothers are one of the very few American Rock'N Roll bands that have been able to achieve and sustain a phenomenal level of success. There will be three album covers released every year for the next four years, of all Doobie Brother releases, making it a complete set. Bruce Cohn makes award winning wines and has been managing the Doobie Brothers for over 35 years. This wine celebrates the rich history of this band and Bruce's love of wine. A portion of proceeds of this wine is donated to the National Veterans Foundation. Blend: 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 23% Cabernet Franc

Red Wine by B.R. Cohn from Sonoma County, California. The 2002 Doobie Red Collector Series is a limited production set of wines, bering three album covers and is sure to be a great hit! This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from Sonoma County. It offers exceptional fruit flavors of black cherry and plum. The Doobie Brothers are one of the very few American Rock'N Roll bands that have been able to achieve and sustain a phenomenal level of success. There will be three album covers released every year for the next four years, of all Doobie Brother releases, making it a complete set. Bruce Cohn makes award winning wines and has been managing the Doobie Brothers for over 35 years. This wine celebrates the rich history of this band and Bruce's love of wine. A portion of proceeds of this wine is donated to the National Veterans Foundation. Blend: 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 23% Cabernet Franc

Red Wine by Estancia from California. Blend: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec Appearance: Deep crimson Aroma: Vibrant, dark black cherries with hints of anise, rosemary and sage. Accents of chocolate powder and soft oak. Flavor: Intense flavors of chocolate dipped black fruit, accompanied by notes of sweet oak. Wonderfully structured ripe tannins lead to a nice long, fruit driven finish.

Red Wine by Dry Creek Vineyard from Sonoma County, California. Grapes: 52% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot The 2003 Meritage is the first vintage incorporating Malbec into the blend. The addition of this varietal adds additional layers of depth and complexity to this stylish and elegant wine. The aromas begin with ripe black cherry and finish with vanilla and a hint of mocha. On the palate, bright currant and plum flavors lead to cedar and tobacco notes. This wine is seamless and well-integrated from beginning to end and should age and develop beautifully for several years to come.

Red Wine by Beringer from Sonoma County, California. A lush, intense-cherry, blackberry core is given by the 76% Merlot, while the 15% Cabernet Sauvignon gives structure and adds depth to the dark fruit aromas and flavors. Small amounts of Malbec, Petite Verdot and Cabernet Franc contribute spice, orange zest, roasted coffee, and fruit nuances to the palate, giving an overall impression of plushness and depth. Beringer has owned and farmed its Knights Valley vineyards since the mid-1960's, when the Beringer family recognized that the cobbley, rocky alluvial soils were a great place to grow high quality wine grapes. In the late 1980's, when phylloxera necessitated replanting, Beringer's vineyard manager Bob Steinhauer took advantage of the opportunity and replanted almost exclusively Bordeaux varietals that matched Knights Valley's soil and climate conditions.

Red Wine by Newton from Napa Valley, California. Bordeaux fans will appreciate the casual sophistication and elegant structure of this wine. The wine opens with aromas of blueberries, cranberries and strawberries with touches of cassis. On the palate ripe tannins surround rich black cherries, blackberries and plum flavors with a hint of toasted oak balanced with a nice acidity. The ripe berry qualities of this wine provide for an exceptional range of food pairing options, such as a mushroom and Swiss cheese hamburger. Also try Claret with grilled pork tenderloin and a cranberry sauce, or bacon pancetta salad.

Red Wine by Kendall-Jackson from California. Blend: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc The 2004 Meritage has aromas of blackberry, black licorice and violet. On the palate, juicy black cherry, along with cassis, espresso and pomegranate are well balanced with generous, round tannins. In a word, this wine is plush. - Randy Ullom, Winemaster