Featured Wines - January 2001

A jubilant, brightly robed wine, the 1997 Bouchaine Carneros Chardonnay exhibits fresh, foreword fruit in the nose and flavor. Easy drinking, subtle, yet sophisticated, this beautifully balanced Chardonnay contains remnants of coconut, pineapple and other tropical fruits. Bolstered by an excellent structure and just the right amount of caramel and vanilla from barrel ageing, the Bouchaine Carneros Chardonnay finishes perfectly, making you wish yo...

A deep crimson red, the 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon prepares the taster for a variety of flavors. The nose is very perfumed with aromas of violets, black currants, spice, confectionary and hints of leather in the background. The palate has excellent depth of flavor with the telltale black currant, licorice and spice of Cabernet predominating. From the addition of Merlot (10%), the wine gains complexity and a pleasant earth tone that balances the flam...

Lemon oil, grass, spring flowers and an eminent freshness mark the seductive bouquet of this flavorful white wine. Rich in savor, and natural fruit, the 1999 Torres Vina Sol delivers a mélange of flavors onto the palate without ever seeming to be overbearing of flabby. Already, the wine has developed a distinct mid-palate and a soft succulent center that is highlighted by a refreshingly long finish of citrus, fennel, and blooming meadowlands. Ful...

The cool climate conditions of the Russian River Valley make it one of perhaps only four regions in California where the delicate Pinot Noir grows well. Produced from vineyards where the rocky soil and the ocean’s cooling influence create the ideal conditions for growing Pinot Noir, the 1999 Kenwood Russian River Valley Pinot Noir offers up enticing scents of cherry and vanilla, mingled with the delicate aroma of an orchard in bloom. This medium-...