Attributes:

Guenoc

Lake County, United States

Sauvignon Blanc

750 ML

2005: CGCW Rating: 86

clean, fresh

pleasant

2005: WineSpectator Rating: 85

light

2005: WineAndSpirits Rating: 85

clean, crisp

honeydew

2004: WineSpectator Rating: 85

green apple

2004: CGCW Rating: 86

ripe

2002: WineSpectator Rating: 83

bright

2002: WineSpectator Rating: 83

tart

floral

apple

2002: CGCW Rating: 83

muddled

citrus, grass, peach

Food Matches:

Comes mostly from California, France, New Zealand, and South Africa. Its highly acidic wines are often suggestive of herbs or grass. Light to medium bodied and usually dry, European versions are generally not oaky while California Sauvignon Blanc can take on many of the qualities of Chardonnay. France has two classic wine regions for the Sauvignon Blanc gape: Bordeaux and the Loire Valley The Bordeaux wine is called Bordeaux Blanc and the two best known of the Loire wines are called Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé. In Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc is sometimes blended with Sémillon.

Lake County is one of the smaller inland wine regions in California. Surrounded to the west by Mendocino and Sonoma Counties, and to the south by Napa Valley, Lake County's small concentration of vineyards lie in the Clear Lake AVA. The vineyard's here are nestled between steep hills to the west the lake shore. Main varieties grown in this area are Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.

Attributes:

Cline Cellars

Sonoma Coast, United States

Syrah / Shiraz

750 ML

2003: WineSpectator Rating: 85

black pepper, blackberry, espresso

ripe, sweet

2002: WineSpectator Rating: 87

beef, black cherry, coconut, cola, espresso, toasty oak, vanilla

ripe

2002: WineEnthusiast Rating: 87

blackberry, cherry, chocolate, coffee

ripe

2000: WineEnthusiast Rating: 90

deep

1999: WineSpectator Rating: 90

fragrant

black cherry, earth, game, leather, mineral, spice, toasty oak

1999: Tanzer Rating: 88

bitter, blackberry, chocolate, flinty, oak

round

1999: WineEnthusiast Rating: 88

tart

deep, rustic

berry, earthy, leather, peppery, sour, spice, spicy

dense, strong

1998: WineSpectator Rating: 91

distinctive

cherry, currant, earthy, game, leather

Food Matches:

Originally grown in France’s Northern Rhône Valley (where it is a noble variety) this grape has spread to Australia, California, Washington, Italy and Spain. In the Rhone region this grape produces deeply colored wines with full body and firm tannin, however in Australia, where it is known as Shiraz, the wines are lighter and fruitier. Aromas and flavors for these wines vary as much as their geographical breadth suggests: berries, smoked meat, bell peppers, even tar.

Australian name for the grape known as Syrah in France.

In California, This is a 500,000 acre wine region spanning from San Pablo Bay to the border of Mendocino County. The appellation runs down the coast of the Pacific Ocean and is known for its cool climate and high rainfall. The grapes that produce the best wines from this region are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Attributes:

Stone Cellars

California, United States

Merlot

12 oz

1999: WineSpectator Rating: 82

soft

simple

currant, raspberry

1999: Tastings Rating: 80

bright

medium-bodied

straightforward, uncomplicated

round

Food Matches:

(mer loh) Deep in color, high in alcohol and low in tannins, this grape is grown mostly in California, France, Washington, New York and Chile. The aromas and flavors can be plummy, chocolaty, and even redolent of tea leaves. It is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon although it is the most prevalent grape variety in Bordeaux.

California produces the majority of wine made in the United States. Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir dominate the wine production in California, but many other varietials thrive in the California climate. Many fine wines are produced in California using Mediterranean grapes.