Category: Food + Drink

2011 It was a cool, wet and challenging growing season in Sonoma, yet experienced viticulturists and winemakers combined to produce excellent wines. But there were a lot fewer of them: Grape yields were down some 40 percent from normal, as growers removed unripe and rot-affected clusters so that the vines could focus their energy on […]

Anaba Wines 2012 Turbine White Rhone Blend Sonoma Valley $28 A blend of near-equal parts Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Marsanne and Picpoul Blanc, this is a juicy wine that tastes of anise, almond and caramelized oak, kept bright and light by a deftaccent of lemon zest. (VB) Donelan Family Wines 2013 Venus Roussanne-Viognier Sonoma County $48 […]

DeLoach Vineyards 2012 Ritchie Vineyard Middle Reach Russian River Valley Chardonnay $50 This wine from one of Russian River Valley’s star sites is rich and decadently creamy in vanilla and apple-crisp character, balanced by refreshing acidity and bright citrus and apple fruit. Oak plays a supporting role, adding depth and mouthfeel. (VB) Dutton-Goldfield Winery 2012 […]

Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards 2004 Late Disgorged Carneros Cuvée $70 A full-bodied and super-creamy wine with yeastiness and toasted almond accenting the fleshy yellow stone fruit and citrus flavors. Rich and voluptuous, it’s a decadent expression of traditionally made California bubbly. (LM) Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards 2007 Carneros Royal Cuvée $37 First served […]

Sonoma can grow just about any wine grape — And does. With its incomparable range of wine types and styles, There’s no reason to look elsewhere for a great bottle. Here are our favorites from 2015, each one Sonoma-grown. by Linda Murphy with Virginie Boone Wine tasting is no different than movie watching. Neither is […]

Methodology: It’s a tough job. Really. With more than 400 Sonoma wineries producing thousands of different bottlings each year, how did we settle on 2015’s best? It took lots of tasting, and retasting, and assistance from the judges at The Press Democrat 2015 North Coast Wine Challenge, to come up with 100 great wines sure to please all palates and […]

Dry Creek Vineyard 2014 Sonoma County Fumé Blanc $14 Its oh-so-friendly price and wide availability belies its greatness. When young, this Sauvignon Blanc has effusive floral, citrus and fennel aromas, succulent lemon-lime, grapefruit and pleasantly grassy flavors, with a lingering finish. With age, it becomes a multidimensional wonder. (LM) Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery 2014 Russian River Selection Russian River Valley Sauvignon […]