Wine Reviews

Fruit is from the winery’s Mt. George Vineyard in southeastern Napa Valley – where Coomsbville’s cooler climate and volcanic, gravelly soils add depth to the wine’s eloquent character. Aged 18 months in French, American, and Hungarian oak (43% new), the name GEO is derived from the root word for earth and the name of its home vineyard. The sweet, mineral-based aromas of the terroir is unmasked, with added alluring scents of dark chocolate and black cherry. The flavors augment in intensity, with black olive, roasted coffee and a creamy roundness that gentles the largesse of these savory notes. Luscious from start to finish.

Generously anointed with black raspberry ganache, enhancing a dusty cocoa mouthfeel. Tannins are round, supporting the ripeness of an abundance of blue fruit. Finishes with red beet and a swath of creamy vanilla oak.

From an ancient viticultural area in the DOC, this wine offers nectar of melon, peach, and white cherries. Lusciously bathing the palate in a leesy array of sweet cream and basil, the flavors gain momentum as they surge together mid-palate. It finishes with dried pineapple and a salty touch of lemon verbena and pine nuts.

Delicious and rich, with milk chocolate cherries and briar. A pattern of sweet oak and baking spices interplay, making for an easy drinking, memorable Pinot Noir.

The primary virtue of this wine is its pure, straightforward, un-manipulated flavor it offers, unlike so many tricked-out Chardonnay sfighting it out at price levels under $20. Though purity is the key, the pear and Golden apple fruit notes also show complexity from aging for 6 months in 20% new French oak barrels.

Finding Pinot that is both delicate and satisfying at $30 is an accomplishment, whereas such a find at $22 borders on astonishing. This offers pure notes of cherry, red raspberry, and pomegranate with a nice little whiff of spice from 20% new French oak. Neither candied nor astringent, this clearly results from a series of good decisions made on behalf of excellent fruit.

Intense aromas of gooseberry, star fruit, and basil. High-toned acidity and mouth-puckering grapefruit is surrounded by green apple and just-cut grass. Perky and delicious.

On the deeper, denser side of the varietal spectrum, this Pinot invites you in with scents of cooked strawberry and raspberry before taking an intriguing turn toward sassafras and beet; likewise on the palate, touches of tomato leaf, soil, and white pepper counterpoint a melody of ripe, tangy strawberry and plum.