2005 Radio-Coteau Sonoma Coast La Neblina

This Pinot Noir from grapes grown in the cool western Sonoma Coast area was one of the wines we served at Thanksgiving dinner. It is an excellent example of a well crafted California Pinot Noir. Aromas of minerals, spices, and berries. Tastes include flavors of tart cherry and blueberry. It was rated 92 points by Wine Spectator magazine.

Radio-Coteau is a small winery based in Sonoma County that makes highly regarded, small quantities of Pinot Noir, Syrah, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay.

2005 JC Cellars The Impostor

Another wine we served with Thanksgiving dinner. This is a blend of 75% Zinfandel, 11% Syrah, 10% Petite Syrah, Mouvedre & Viognier.

We opened two bottles before dinner to drink with appetizers. The wine was a huge hit - it is very different, complex, and without the heat that a high alcohol content Zinfandel sometimes displays.

Wine Spectator 92 points: As exotic as it is potent, with deep blackberry liqueur, sandalwood and wild game aromas and rich, ripe cassis, blueberry and licorice flavors that power on toward the bold, spicy finish.

2005 Eric Kent - Stiling Vineyard Pinot Noir

This was a second Pinot Noir we served with Thanksgiving dinner.

Only 300 cases were produced of this wine produced with grapes from the Russian River Valley. Eric Kent Wine Cellars is one of our favorite producers for Pinot Noir and Syrah. They print a different artist's work on every varietal and every vintage - helping the local art community.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes: Our ‘05 Stiling Vineyard Pinot Noir is a beautiful example of this magnificent cooler vintage – bright and showy fruit supported by wonderful natural acidity offering balance and great potential for graceful aging. The nose is redolent of ripe cherries, rhubarb and rose petals with a touch of truffle, followed by cherry, dried cranberry and blackberry on the palate, finishing with hints of green tea and black olives. Exuberant and richly flavored, yet refined and well delineated from the first sniff to the last drop.

2004 Turley California Zinfandel Old Vines

This wine comes from one of the premier producers of Zinfandel in California. We served it before dinner at Thanksgiving.

It is hard to find a bad Turley wine. This one was judged a winner from the first sip. The Old Vines designation is made with grapes from Napa Valley, even though Turley winery is located in the Central Coast area.

Deep black cherry, rich chocolate, licorice, and herbs with a long finish. Not showing the alcohol heat you normally get with Turley.

2007 Chehalem Dry Riesling Reserve

For those people that prefer white wine with their Thanksgiving dinner, this was our selection.

Chehalem is located in the Willamette Valley in Newberg, Oregon. They are a highly regarded producer of Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Riesling. They also sell grapes to numerous other successful wineries in the area.

Winemaker's Notes: Typical Chehalem Riesling as blended from the three vineyards, with effusive white blossoms of orange, apple, jasmine, and gardenia, centered by a fleshy mouthful of tangerine, lime, and apricot flavors, and structured with firm, bright acid. Will age well, despite the richness and early approachability. Balance was nailed!

Wine Spectator 90 points: A dry style, reminiscent of Alsace, offering vivid green apple, lime and mayflower aromas and flavors on a lean, lithe frame, balanced with refreshing acidity.

2005 Tantara Winery Pinot Blanc, Bien Nacido Vineyard

Try to follow along with this story.....Caren's cousin's wife has a cousin, Jeff Fink, who is one of the owners and winemakers at Tantara Winery near Santa Maria in Santa Barbara County here in California.

A couple of years ago, we visited the winery, really a metal shed in the middle of the vineyard, and did a barrel tasting of some of Jeff's wines. Then he ordered in sandwiches, popped the cork on a couple of bottles, and we had lunch sitting around his picnic table. No fancy, architectural wonder, multimillion dollar tasting room at this place.

Tantara is a small producer that makes great wines, especially Pinot Noir. They sit smack dab in the middle of Bien Nacido Vineyard, one of the most famous in California for Pinot Noir grapes.

However, tonight we drank their 2005 Pinot Blanc. Very limited production of this wine - a little more than 100 cases a year. Served it with a light meal of bread, chartcuturie, cheeses, and fruit.

2005 JC Cellars Syrah a la Cave

JC Cellars has been receiving a lot of positive PR of late. They were highlighted in an article in the Escapes section of The New York Times last Friday. It's not everyday you encounter a top flight California winery located in downtown Oakland. I suppose if you are close to your sources for grapes, get a good lease on warehouse space for your winery, and are located close to a lot of potential customers, it is a good location.

We served this wine before and with tonight's dinner - Turkey Chili. I think I have two more bottles of it in the cellar. It is a very good Syrah, but I think we prefer the JC Cellars California Cuvee' Syrah which is actually less expensive.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes: In the second year of developing this blend, the consensus was to take it up a notch, turn up the volume, add a little more punch, so to speak. I've learned through the years of creating blends, the ones composed of multiple appellations are always the most challenging and the most rewarding. This vintage is composed of vineyards from Coombsville, Santa Ynez, Calistoga, Mendocino, Dry Creek Valley and Rockpile. Each region has brought its best to the final blend. A wine which features dark chocolate, smoky accents, mineral textures, and beautiful fruit that ranges from dark cherry to wild raspberry.

Wine Spectator: 89 points. Dark, rich and concentrated, with beefy, grapey and peppery flavors that are pure, focused and balanced. Drink now through 2011.

2005 Limerick Lane Zinfandel "Collins Vineyard"

The winery and Collins Vineyard are located on the southern edge of Healdsburg in Sonoma County, California. Mike Collins, who has been farming the land here for nearly 30 years, owns the winery and vineyard. The vineyard dates back to 1910 and there are some vines from that era still in production!

Winemaker's tasting notes: Dark ruby red colors lead to aromas of red fruit, raspberry, cinnamon, vanilla and barrel char. The palette follows the nose with flavors of raspberry, red currant, vanilla, warm brown spice and white pepper. A beautifully balanced wine with a bold red fruit entry, rich and elegant but not overwhelming. A secure and well structured middle with supple tannins and a spicy, fruity finish. A magnificent example of the restrained use of oak. Another in a long line of food friendly Zinfandels from one of Sonoma County's premier producers.

Food and Wine Magazine's Wine Guide for 2008 gave Limerick Lane 2005 Collins Vineyard Zinfandel 4 out of 4 stars and ranked it in the Top Five Best of the Best. "A superbly balanced, elegant Zinfandel with a deep, earthy minerality rounded out by ripe juicy, fruit and peppery spice."

We served this wine with Chicken Cacciatore and a salad. It is an excellent example of Sonoma County Zinfandel.

2005 Deerfield Ranch Sauvignon Blanc, Peterson Vineyard

This Sauvignon Blanc is from the Sonoma Valley, home of the town of Kenwood and Deerfield Ranch Winery.

Winemaker's tasting notes: The fruit forward nose has more going on than you’re used to getting from an SB. It’s generosity beckons but does not fully prepare you for the pleasingly crisp first taste. As promised, the middle is layered and full, reaching every corner of your palate. The length of the finish completely surprises you. A second tastes confirms that one sensation slides seamlessly into the next.

The temperature was in the mid-90s today - unusual for the middle of November. So we had a light dinner of tuna salad with this wine.

2004 Cambria Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard

This is a nice California Chardonnay - nothing spectacular. From the Santa Maria Valley on the Central Coast. It is a price performer, especially since it is a staple in Costco's wine department. Apples, butter, a little oak, some citrus flavors.

We served it with roasted Cornish game hen and steamed vegetables.

2005 Papapietro Perry Russian River Valley Zinfandel

Another very nice wine from Papapietro Perry, located outside of Healdsburg. We served this wine with an Italian meal.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes: Deep garnet in color, leading to an aromatic nose of delicate oak, cherry and white pepper. This is an elegant, full-bodied wine with pleasing complexity and flavors of bright cherry, a hint of spice, and a delicate pepper finish. Smooth tannins add structure and mouth feel, but don't overpower. This Zinfandel is perfect for lighter meat dishes and spicy seafood fare.

Average community rating on Cellartracker is 87.9 points. Many people tend to drink their red wines when they are too young (the wines, not the people) and then give a wine a lower rating. Our rating for this Zinfandel would be higher.

2005 Carlisle Zinfandel Sonoma County

Carlisle Winery is a small Sonoma County winery specializing in the production of old-vine, vineyard designated zinfandels and red Rhone varieties (syrah, grenache, mourvèdre, and petite sirah). This Zinfandel is a blend of grapes from vineyards in the Alexander, Russian River, Dry Creek, and Sonoma Valleys.

Winery tasting note: Beautiful dark ruby garnet. Aromas of red and black raspberries are intertwined with notes of smoke and earth. Full bodied and creamy on entry but with pleasing tannins and acidity on the finish.

Served this wine while watching the election results along with a meal of pasta with meatballs and salad. Go Obama!.