The Wine Snob.com, Steve Mancuso-Wine Expert, Wine Advice

Bouchaine
1075 Buchli Station Road
Carneros, CA
(707) 252-9065

Ask for: Carole or Jan

During a recent exchange of wine with a dear friend, John Sheehan, John suggested that Bouchaine Chardonnay was perhaps his favorite. Respecting both his incredible palette & knowledge of wine, it was inevitable that the Wine Snob would include Buchaine on his next tour.

En route to Bouchaine, the views of Carneros are awesome and easily etched in memory! Upon arrival, Bouchaine personnel are beyond delightful. Carole recognized the Wine Snob from the March 98 Wine Snob tour (@ Cosentino). Accompanied by Jan, the two teamed in providing a great tasting event, engaging in fun chat and banter. The conversation was so vibrant that one would think we had been friends for years.

It could have been the only stop all day, sipping chard on the deck while merely watching the grapes ripen! Tasting commenced almost immediately with the 95 Chard - WOW! One graceful transitioning palette with nice pears, some citrus, all within a luscious viscous mouth sensation. The finish was merely an extension of the delightful palette full of fruit and quite "Yummy"! The tasting continued with Gewurtraminer, Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir reserve, Cabernet Franc and then a surprise taste of the Sangiacomo Chard Reserve. One could embellish on the nuances of each wine but for brevity sake an overview will have to suffice. The two Pinots were good, yet the reserve was "Yummy".

At one point Carole was describing the Pinot when she accidentally said it has "Big Cannons" while intending to say tannins. After a hearty burst of laughter and accompanied banter, we moved on with the tasting, never letting go of the cannons! Next was the Cab Franc, "Yummy" boasting big black cherries complementing a pleasant full body wine. Every Bouchaine wine had a wonderful finesse about it as each found a way to deliver a caressing tingle to each corner of the mouth. The final taste was the Sangiacomo Chard Reserve. This Chardonnay is the final word, "Wicked Yummy", lots and lots of fruit, supple and abundant, pears, apples, mild refined spice and more. Bouchaine is a tasting experience that permits the unleashing of your palette for the sake of indulgence while your eyes carry you far from the deck & into the vineyards!
Favorite Wine - Sangiacomo Chardonnay Reserve

Etude
4101 Big Ranch Road
(707) 257-5300

Ask for: Ida
To start the day with a tasting at Etude is a wonderful but dangerous endeavor, if the tasting practice of choice is to swallow! Ida is casual and fun, yet quite passionate about the wines she pours. Ida insists that she fill the glass to a sufficient level in order to provide an adequate nose.

The conversation with Ida touched on the area of "Wine Ratings". Ida recalled a recent encounter with a group of tasters well equipped with wine expert paraphernalia and all the ratings. With each pour, the tasters swiftly shuffled through to determine what the experts had to say about the next wine they were about to taste. In an effort to help the tasters explore their own personal palette and preference, a clever Ida asked each taster, "do you like Coke or Pepsi?" After each responded with their preference, Ida then asked, "What do you think Parker prefers?" Hopefully, the message was clear that ratings are merely a guide and everyone has different tastes! Amidst great conversation and knowledge, Ida poured 4 fine wines in a very unpretentious style. Included in the selection were Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir Rose, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. The Pinot Blanc 97 had a big robust Chardonnay-like nose with a vanilla cream bouquet. It further teased the palette with creamy citrus, grapefruit, pears and a bit of spicy, yet subtle oak on the finish-"Yummy". The 96 Pinot Noir exhibited a very rich burgundian style in both color & nose. The Pinot further proceeded to deliver rich burgundian characteristics as it yielded soft, yet concentrated fruit throughout the palette. A few distinctive flavors included berries, chocolate and a bit of chewy tobacco. Every sip that followed continued to impart increased opulence and fresh flavors - "Yummy"! Favorite Wine - Pinot Noir

Signorello
4500 Silverado Trail Road
Yountville, CA
(707) 255-5999Ask for: Linda Swearingen or Ray Signorello The Signorello tasting was enhanced with a few moments of commentary from the general manager Ray Signorello. A smaller winery priding itself in high quality & consistency, achieved through hand picked/sorted grapes. Most commonly known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, all Signorello wines are of exceptional quality. The "Yummy" �97 Semillon offered big refreshing citrus fruit featuring bright sweet lemons. The Semillon is a nice alternative to Sauvignon Blanc with a much lower acidity, therefore a great beverage to serve without food. The 97 Chardonnay was also "Yummy" with complicated fruit blending so well it was difficult to discern specific flavors. Overall it presented a fresh palette combined with a very soft and enjoyable spice. The �95 Pinot Noir was a pleasant and "Yummy" surprise with initial apparent fresh strawberries and crisp spicy berries followed by a light smoke and tobacco finish. The �95 Cab was an appropriate closure to the tasting following the Pinot nicely. The "Yummy" full bodied Cab revealed deep rich cherries and luscious blackberries followed by a meshing of a delicate spice & chocolate segue to the touch of oak on the finish!. There was also a limited release of Syrah & Petite Syrah for sale but not for tasting. Given 4 for 4 in the "Yummy" category, a few of each were purchased and will be reviewed soon.
Favorite Wine - Cabernet Sauvignon

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