California Wine Tasting Notes

1999 La Famiglia de Robert Mondavi
California Pinot Grigio
Score: 87.88
"Dry and peachy, with crisp acidity, and a light undercurrent of bitter almonds. Good food wine to pair with such dishes as pork chops and pasta primavera."

1999 Beringer Founders Estate
California Sauvignon Blanc
Score: 87.0
"Full-bodied and smokey, very dry, with dried herb (tarragon?) and oak spice on the palate. Viscous on the mid-palate, it has crisp acidity through the herbal finish."

1999 Sutter Home
California Chardonnay
Score: 83.0
Soft and ripe with appley fruit. Simple and silky. A dynamite value. Serve well-chilled.

1999 Beringer Founders Estate
California Chardonnay
Score: 88.0
"Honeysuckle and smoke aromas, soft, fat and buttery on the palate with light butterscotch and Rome apple fruit. Surprisingly for such a 'fat' wine, this one has a vibrant finish that lingers for a least a minute. Serve well-chilled with butter sauced pasta."

1999 Callaway Coastal
California Chardonnay
Score: 89.0
"Forced to look beyond Temecula for grapes, Callaway has reinvented itself with Callaway 'Coastal' [see Letter from the Editor, Oct/Nov00]. Peach, papaya and lime-bright and vibrant, with a citrusy finish. Excellent value."

1998 Villa Mt. Eden Old Vines
California Zinfandel
Score: 85.0
"Late harvest, almost like port. Sweet, concentrated raspberry fruit, light tannin, soft texture, and a mouthwatering finish of raspberries and cinnamon. Very intense. "

Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi
California White Zinfandel
Score: 87.0
"Just off-dry with light strawberry-citrus fruit, light body and a short finish. A really fine rose for a bargain price."

1999 Sutter Home Winery
California White Zinfandel
Score: 87.0
"A light-bodied, white Zin that is well balanced, nearly dry, and has tart strawberry-like fruit. A very nice rose at a very nice price."

Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi
California Merlot
Score: 86.0
"Dry, light body, cherry fruit with herbal character, light tannin and silky texture. A fine wine for the price."

1998 Glen Ellen
California Merlot Reserve
Score: 88.0

1999 Beringer Vineyards Founders Estate
California Pinot Noir
Score: 91.0
"Needs some air to open up, but then it displays dried cherry fruit, forest floor and mushrooms, with a silky smooth texture and a a long, complex, vibrant fruity finish. Absolutely remarkable for the price. Amazing."

1998 Beringer Vineyards Founders Estate
California Shiraz
Score: 84.0
"Velvety smooth, juicy, ripe black plum character, just a hint of cocoa, medium-bodied, with very soft tannin. Totally accessible right now. Good spaghetti wine."

1998 Hawk Crest
California Cabernet Sauvignon
Score: 85.0
"Lush, sweet black currant aroma, juicy and tart on the palate, drying tannin, and a light cigar box finish. Good balance and varietal definition. "

1997 Hawk Crest
California Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Score: 88.0
"The '97 is deep, elegant and well-structured. The nose only hints at the wonderful concentration of blackberry fruit on the palate. Its accented with toasty French oak and firm, sweet, well-integrated tannin. Good value."