Joseph
Phelps 1996 Le Mistral-
CA
(P.O.
Box 1031, 200 Taplin Road, St. Helena, CA 94574, 707-963-2745)
Deep purple red hue to the rim. Forward perfumed red fruit
with a very romantic nose. Earthy vanilla aromas with a
mild wood accent. Very smooth attack with nice legs leads
to a full-bodied taste abundant with velvety tannins. Long
flavorful finish. This is rich elegant and complex. Wonderfully
made with the latest in soft extraction techniques. Drink
it now or later. This wine will grow even better with age.
JPV-Online
Cline
Viognier 1998 Los Caneros -
24737 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, CA 95476, 707-935-4310 Nice character,
very smooth and non-overbearing. The surprise is in the
way the finish comes back at you. Decant and wait for the
aroma to unfold and the full structure to come forward.
This Viognie rwould go well with olive oils or stir fried
foods. Recommended. ClineOnline.
Cline
Cellars 1998 Syrah California 24737
Arnold Dr., Sonoma, CA 95476, 707-935-4310, A wine with a
nice friendly nose. A varietal with dark cherry and raspberry
flavors with smoky nuances. Medium-bodied wine will drink
well over the next 3-5 years. Retail: $10.00 ClineOnline
Cline
Cellars 1996 Carignane California
(24737 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, CA 95476, 707-935-4310) This is
a serious wine and was an interesting surprise. The low yields
have created a medium dark ruby wine. Brimming with chocolate
and black cherry spicy nutmeg and clove with orange rind flavors.
The wine has fresh earthy aromas medium tannins with a lingering
vanilla finish. Drink this now but in 3-7 years this will
be very nice indeed. ClineOnline
Barwang
97 Cabernet Sauvignon-Hilltops Australia (Dist. by Canyon Rd Winery, 707-856-9463 - Geyserville, CA) Dark ruby and crimson color with mint, berry fruit aromas. Ripe cherry and berry flavors accented by light oak. Complex flavors that don't let up through the finish. Good structure and solid tannins. Should cellare well or drink now. Retail $20.00
Echelon
1998 Syrah Calif. (
P.O. Box 518, Soledad, CA 93960) A blend of 75% Syrah,
20% Grenache, 5% Petite Syrah. The wine reflects longstanding
Rhône winemaking tradition. The wine has nice deep color
with aromas of pepper and perfume. It has full heady
nose of fruit with a body to match. It will make for
great quaffing at casual meals but will stand up well
with meats at the more formal dinners. We recommend
you drink this straight away, but this wine can hold
for many years. Retail: 14.50
Dry
Creek Vineyard 1997 Reserve Zinfandel
- Dry Creek Dry Creek Vineyard, (3770 Lambert Bridge Rd,
Healsburg, CA 95448 707-433-1000) This superlative blend
of 90% Zinfandel and 10% Petite Sirah will be released March
1st. High aromatics of spice, fruit and wild berry leap
from the glass. Richly structured and soft on the entry
with a medium palate of black cherry, raspberry and spice.
Delightful in every aspect! Retail: 30.00 Dry
Creek Online
Edna
Valley Vineyard 1998 Chardonnay -
Paragon - San Luis Obispo-CA (2585 Biddle Ranch Rd., San
Luis Obispo, CA 93401, 805-544-5844) Highly concentrated
fruit and use of partial malolactic fermentation have allowed
for full development of complex flavors. A full-bodied wine
with rich aromas of pineapple tropical fruits with lime.
The mouth is rich with hints of topical fruit ,bananas and
peaches. The presence of oak combined with cinnamon form
a fresh and long balanced finish. A unique vintage. Buy
it, drink it and enjoy. Retail: 14.50
Lonetree
Winery 1997 Syrah
- Mendocino (Address: P.O. Box 401, Philo,
CA 95466, 888 686-9463) They call it their "Elegant Monster"
and from the inky color to the juicy flavors of dark fruits
and earth this wine delivers a rich and inviting palate.
Light oak lead by a lot of flavor. Very drinkable now and
into the future. Retail: 18.50.
Chameleon
Cellars 98 Sangiovese -
North Coast(1330 Sylvaner Ave. St. Helena, CA 94574 - (707) 256-0014 - Aromatic as a country flower garden. flavors of cranberry and plum warm the palate. Nice acidity to balance out this refreshing blend. Will cellar well. Retail $19.00707 256 0144
Joseph
Phelps 1996 Le Mistral -
CA
Cline
Viognier 1998 Los Caneros -
24737 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, CA 95476, 707-935-4310 Nice character,
very smooth and non-overbearing. The surprise is in the
way the finish comes back at you. Decant and wait for the
aroma to unfold and the full structure to come forward.
This Viognie rwould go well with olive oils or stir fried
foods. Recommended. 
Cline
Cellars 1998 Syrah California 24737
Arnold Dr., Sonoma, CA 95476, 707-935-4310, A wine with a
nice friendly nose. A varietal with dark cherry and raspberry
flavors with smoky nuances. Medium-bodied wine will drink
well over the next 3-5 years. Retail: $10.00 
Cline
Cellars 1996 Carignane California
(24737 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, CA 95476, 707-935-4310) This is
a serious wine and was an interesting surprise. The low yields
have created a medium dark ruby wine. Brimming with chocolate
and black cherry spicy nutmeg and clove with orange rind flavors.
The wine has fresh earthy aromas medium tannins with a lingering
vanilla finish. Drink this now but in 3-7 years this will
be very nice indeed. 
Rd Winery, 707-856-9463 - Geyserville, CA) Dark ruby and crimson color with mint, berry fruit aromas. Ripe cherry and berry flavors accented by light oak. Complex flavors that don't let up through the finish. Good structure and solid tannins. Should cellare well or drink now. Retail $20.00 
Echelon
1998 Syrah Calif.
Dry
Creek Vineyard 1997 Reserve Zinfandel
- Dry Creek Dry Creek Vineyard, (3770 Lambert Bridge Rd,
Healsburg, CA 95448 707-433-1000) This superlative blend
of 90% Zinfandel and 10% Petite Sirah will be released March
1st. High aromatics of spice, fruit and wild berry leap
from the glass. Richly structured and soft on the entry
with a medium palate of black cherry, raspberry and spice.
Delightful in every aspect! Retail: 30.00 
Edna
Valley Vineyard 1998 Chardonnay -
Paragon - San Luis Obispo-CA (2585 Biddle Ranch Rd., San
Luis Obispo, CA 93401, 805-544-5844) Highly concentrated
fruit and use of partial malolactic fermentation have allowed
for full development of complex flavors. A full-bodied wine
with rich aromas of pineapple tropical fruits with lime.
The mouth is rich with hints of topical fruit ,bananas and
peaches. The presence of oak combined with cinnamon form
a fresh and long balanced finish. A unique vintage. Buy
it, drink it and enjoy. Retail: 14.50
Lonetree
Winery 1997 Syrah
- Mendocino (Address: P.O. Box 401, Philo,
CA 95466, 888 686-9463) They call it their "Elegant Monster"
and from the inky color to the juicy flavors of dark fruits
and earth this wine delivers a rich and inviting palate.
Light oak lead by a lot of flavor. Very drinkable now and
into the future. Retail: 18.50.
Sylvaner Ave. St. Helena, CA 94574 - (707) 256-0014 - Aromatic as a country flower garden. flavors of cranberry and plum warm the palate. Nice acidity to balance out this refreshing blend. Will cellar well. Retail $19.00707 256 0144