May 202014
 
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2010Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Alexander Valley, CA, $53 (S) – Rating 92

A vibrant wine from a cooler growing season. Like the vintages before, Jordan Cabernet is approachable as soon as the bottle opens but still benefits from at least 30 minutes of decanting. Blended from 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec. Vivid aromas of blueberry, blackberry pie spice and tobacco box. A lush mouth-feel with balanced acidity and supple tannins. Flavors of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, mocha, dark spice with hints of oaky vanilla and espresso in the long finish. Buy This Wine

 

Apr 212014
 
Jordan Chardonnay 2012Jordan Chardonnay 2012, Russian River Valley, CA, $30 (S) – Rating 92

Very Burgundian in style, rather than the bigger Chardonnays more often associated with California. A very elegant nose offering aromas of citrus, cream and ripe pear. The mouth-feel is creamy with present yet balanced acidity. Well integrated flavors of red apple, pineapple, pear, citrus and minerality are highlighted with hints of vanilla and caramel. An extremely long finish with intriguing notes of Meyer lemon. Buy This Wine

Mar 262014
 

“…Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.” William Shakespeare, Henry VIII – 1613

“All good things must come to an end.” Geoffrey Chaucer – 1374

My emotions are today ranging from melancholy to near sadness. The Buddhist in me is reminded that attachment only causes pain. But for all my human failings, I find myself attached to what was and feeling some modicum of pain.

Tonight we will be attending a celebration of sorts, or maybe more like a wake. For tonight marks the closing of the place we thought of as our second living room, our other home and extended family, CRU Wine Bar in Park Meadows. Our Cheers Bar, if you will. Before you roll your eyes and judge, I encourage you to read on about this wonderful little wine bar that lost its lease because the mall property owner preferred to move in a high volume chain steak house. What once was interesting is now becoming another cookie-cutter experience. CRU is not the first victim as leases have come up for renewal. No doubt the little wine bar could never generate the rental revenue of the newer high volume tenants…but not all food and wine options need to cater to manic disengaged crowds when there is space for the large and intimate alike. Continue reading »

Nov 162013
 

Dry Creek AVA

A Dry Creek AVA

Barring another wine country emergency (sarcasm), our visits this fall were our last California wine journeys for 2013. The sigh of relief from winemakers across both Napa and Sonoma was audible as the harvest came to an end.

A  textbook growing season created much excitement in all the wineries we visited as bin after bin of near perfect grapes arrived to be carefully converted into the elixir of the Gods. The excitement and anticipation for these wines once bottled, is the talk of most winemakers we met.

Fall in wine country is a surreally beautiful time with acre after acre of vineyards turning Technicolor shades of yellow, gold, red and maroon. Interestingly enough some of the older vines fighting various vineyard plant diseases create the most vibrantly colored fall leaves. Could this colorful display be the vine’s farewell gift to those of us who loved their annual gift of grapes? Continue reading »

Oct 012013
 
2009 Jordan Vineyard and Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Ca, $53 – Rating 92

Consistently a great Cabernet, elegant and medium bodied. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec at only 13.5% alcohol, it is very approachable with only a short decant. The nose excites with aromas of cherry, raspberry, dark chocolate, a little chili spice. Well integrated flavors, supple tannins and balanced acidity all combined with flavors of plum, dark cherry, raspberry, dusty dark chocolate and baking spice. Definite notes of dark cherry chocolate on long finish. Buy This Wine