| 95 - 100 / WORLD CLASS: A very complex wine that is almost perfect in every respect. Very few wines ever achieve this height and are worthy of a dedicated, perservering search. 90 - 94 / OUTSTANDING: A complex, rich expansive wine with complexity, texture and style that sets it apart, well worth a diligent search. 85 - 89 / EXCEPTIONAL: A wine with some complexity, depth and structure; generally a highly recommended wine. 75 - 84 / VERY GOOD: A clean, fresh wine with some special attributes; a recommended wine. 70 - 74 / GOOD: A technically correct wine with no noticeable flaws. |
The Cakebread family has been making wine in Rutherford since 1973. Cakebread Cellars owns about 75 acres of vineyards in some of the most desirable locations in the Napa Valley. Additionally, the winery purchases fruit from Napa Valley growers with whom they have been doing business for more than twenty years.
The 1995 Chardonnay, "Reserve", Napa Valley has a bright perfumed bouquet of apple, lemon custard, tropical fruits, tangerine, and coconut with hints of clove. On the palate the lush flavors of apples, pineapple, mango, citrus, roasted nuts, and vanilla are very well balanced with great texture, followed by a fabulous long fruity finish. (91)
The 1996 Chardonnay, Napa Valley has a perfumed nose of tropical fruits, citrus, apple, pear, and vanilla with a hint of beeswax. On the palate the flavors of pineapple, lemon/lime, mineral, pear, and green apple are complex with very good texture and style, followed by a fruity, crisp finish. (90)
The 1997 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley has a perfumed nose of vanilla, pear, peach, grass, pineapple, and citrus. The citrus, apple, and pear flavors are bright and forward with a medium long fruity, creamy finish. (88)
John and Julie Williams co-founded Frog's Leap in 1981, and are located in Rutherford.
The 1996 Merlot, Napa Valley has a perfumed bouquet of black cherries, blackberries, ripe plum, mint, and chocolate with a hint of cigar box. The flavors of cherry/berry, cassis, roasted nuts, and spice are rich and complex with good depth, followed by a very fruity, creamy, vanilla etched finish. (92)
Jory Winery was founded by Stillman Brown and Dan Lewis in Los Gatos, California in 1986. In 1994, they began winemaking in New Mexico as well. In 1997 they moved their California production to the renovated HMR Winery in Paso Robles. Stillman is the winemaker. They publish a very amusing newsletter, The Thief.
The 1997 Zinfandel, Mimbres Valley, Luna County, New Mexico has aromas and flavors of blueberry, blackberry, violets, black cassis, mint, and cocoa with hints of carnation, pomegranate, asian spice, and creme burlee. On the palate the flavors are round, rich, and balanced with good depth and texture, followed by a fruity, spicy finish. (88)
The 1997 Fume Blanc, Mimbres Valley, Luna County, New Mexico has a lovely perfumed bouquet of lemon/lime, apricot, ripe pineapple, papaya, roasted nuts, and spice. On the palate the lush flavors of tropical fruits, grapefruit, almond, red apple, and quince with hints of subtle vanilla with exceptional depth and texture, followed by a very fruity, spicy, creamy finish. (90)
The 1997 Red Table Wine, "Black Hand", Paso Robles, California has aromas and flavors of blackberries, raspberry, ripe strawberry, Bing cherry, eucalyptus, and cracked pepper with big time floral highlights. On the palate the flavors are very bold and complex, followed by a expansive, fruity, moderately tart finish. We recommend cellaring 1 to 2 years. (90)
Ridge produces between 50,000 and 60,000 cases annually. Some of their limited production wines are sold only through their Advanced Tasting Program.
The 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon, "Monte Bello", Santa Cruz Mountains is dark ruby with an exotic nose of black cassis, black cherry, blackberry, green olive, vanilla, and violets with a hint of licorice. On the palate the concentrated flavors of black pit fruits, blackberry, cassis, with a hint of mint and toast have good depth and structure, followed by a very attractive, long lingering, fruity, expansive finish with firm tannins. Suggest 2 to 3 years cellaring. One of our favorite "Monte Bello's" to date. (94)
The 1996 Zinfandel, Pagani Ranch, Sonoma Valley, (82% Zinfandel, 11% Mataro, 4% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante Bouschet) has a perfumed nose of blackberry, cassis, strawberry, cigar box, pepper, and fresh plum with hints of briary spice and floral highlights. The flavors of layered berries, red currant, tea, tarragon, white chocolate, and spice are bold, rich, and complex with exceptional depth, followed by a supple attractive fruity finish. Very Highly Recommended. (92)
The 1996 Zinfandel, York Creek, Spring Mountain, (91% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah) has a perfumed nose of raspberry, blackberry, cassis, and toast with hints of violets. The flavors of layered berries, plum, cassis, and roasted nuts are very concentrated and complex, followed by a fruity, spicy finish with firm tannins. We suggest 2 to 3 years cellaring for further complexity. (91)
The 1996 Zinfandel, Geyserville, Sonoma County, (75% Zinfandel, 17% Carignane, 6% Petite Sirah, 2% Mataro) has a perfumed bouquet and flavors of jammy cherry, blackberries, raspberry, spice, and spicy vanilla with flavors of intense berries, spice, cocoa, and pepper with hints of toasty oak that are balanced with good texture, followed by a fruity lingering finish. Very attractive. (90)
The 1996 Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains has aromas of baked apple, cinnamon, tropical fruits, butterscotch, and quince. On the palate the flavors of apple, peach, pear, and pineapple are round and balanced with good depth and texture, followed by a creamy, flavorful spicy finish. (90)
The 1996 Chardonnay, California is medium straw with a perfumed nose of tropical fruits, smoke, pear, citrus, and vanilla. The flavors of pineapple, mango, toast, vanilla, butter, and clove are rich and balanced with a long, fruity, creamy, smoky finish. (87)