Notes from The State of California Wines, a presentation by Jon Fredrikson,
with presentations on various wines by winery principals.

2002 Estancia Pinot Grigio - not much varietal content in the nose on this one,
although with time in the glass it opened up a bit and began to show some
pleasant pear notes. In the mouth there was immediate citrus and the entry was
fairly sweet, although the acidity seemed ample. Pleasant wine, and better than
I've seen with this varietal in California. I prefer the Italian version, but
many would prefer this.

2001 Mondavi Fume Blanc - the old stand-by wine that helped make the Mondavi
name. As I find typically with Mondavi wines, whose motto seems to be "Wood is
Good" the primary note in the nose is oak, but in this case not over done -
just a sense of mild toastiness and not much grassiness at all. Well balanced
and sweet on palate, and quite a bit of acidity which will make it fairly food
friendly.

2001 Geyser Peak Block Collection Chardonnay Ricci Vineyard - Lots of
toastiness here - almost Australian in magnitude. The wine was tasty but a bit
monotonous, with a soft finish showing a little figginess. They are using 25%
new French oak in this wine and the rep stated that they were trying for a less
oaky style of wine. In my opinion, they have to try harder........

2001 Fetzer Bonterra Sangiovese - I have never been a fan of the attempts to
make wine from the Italian varietals in California - you more often than not
end up with either pumped up wines with more extract and RS and less character
than anything you'd see done with the varietal in Italy, or you get frankly
bizarre results unlike anything you'd want to see anywhere else (certain
Nebbiolos, whose producer shall remain unnamed come to mind). This wine came as
a pleasant surprise, therefor. Barrel fermented, it had a pretty good
varietal nose, medium body, some soft tannin and good acidity. It wasn't one of
those fat pumped up wines that display all the finesse of a blind sumo
wrestler urgently trying to navigate out of the closet you are temporarily
sharing - it was a decent representation of the varietal, not as it should be
from Italy, or from California, or from anywhere in particular (I do not think
that one should try to ape the 'mother' country), but as an honest example of
what the varietal can produce from that area. Probably the first Sangiovese in
a while that I'd actually consider buying.

2001 Chalone Pinot Noir - while I have admired these wines in the past, this
one did not show well for me. Nothing much happening in the nose, except a
faint whiff of aok, vague fruit flavours, indistinct and rather homogenised,
medium body, simple and disappointing. Sure hope I got an off bottle.....

2001 Sterling Merlot - well sort of. There was also 7% cab franc, 4% syrah and
1.4% petit verdot in this blend. Very pleasant sweet cherry/cocoa nose, medium
body, just a hint of bitterness on the finish. The over all impression was
neither bad nor great - just decent.

1999 Treana Red - 50% cab, 25% merlot and 25% syrah. A dry cabernet nose,
smooth and pleasant on palate, reminding me of nothing so much as a petit
chateau Bordeaux with a bit of pepper at the end. Nice.

2000 Ravenswood Sonoma Old Vines Zinfandel - the nose was ripe (big surprise)
and the wine seemed to ride much more on it's acidity than on tannins, which
were quite soft. An early drinking style with a medium length, and the
sweetness coming on again right at the end.

you most prolly are a broker or distributor hyping the brands you
represent. notes? hah.

try Gabrielli Winery's Sangiovese for Seriously Italian and Quality
Sangiovese
and Sangiovese Reserve.

limited palates are ignorant palates.

such as the type that such interested ones who make notes on california
wihtout mentioning arnold's small-steroid-dosed appendage is.

(--BeTTeR LiVinG Thru BetteR LiVING !!----)

GABRIELLI WINERY & VINEYARDS OF MENDOCINO For The BIGGEST BOLDEST &
SASSIEST REDS:

Zany & ZaFTiG ZINFANDELS +++ Sassy SYRIAHs +++ SEXY Sangiovese +++
Piquant PINOT NOIRs:
http://www.gabrielli-winery.com

http://community.webtv.net/rosaphilia/h2Rosaphilias
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