Wine Doctrine
Every tasting note

Reviews

849 notes

2010

Donelan Syrah Walker Vine Hill

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Initial impressions were akin to the 2008 Donelan WVH, with notes of plum, black cherry, charcuterie, saline, and faint wood.

Reviewed 16 September 2015
2008

Donelan Syrah Obsidian Vineyard

Sonoma County · Knights Valley

Notes of dark/ripe raspberry, blueberry, wet slate and granite, black olive, and hints of charcuterie. A softer Obsidian; it continued to become even more delicate with an hour or two in the decanter.

Reviewed 12 September 2015
2012

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Royalty in Exile

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Rich dark berry, black cherry, plum, sappy/ripe raspberry, fig paste, allspice, cloves, anise, charred oak/smokey sweet cassis, and camphor. A deep, nicely complex Pinot, with textual depth and…

Reviewed 10 September 2015
2010

Ramey Syrah Sonoma Coast

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

PnP with tight notes of licorice, black fruit, wet slate, and asphalt. Firm, chalky tannins on entry. Slow O2 for over an hour and some decent swirling in the glass opened up additional notes of…

Reviewed 8 September 2015
2010

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

Similar as my notes from 8/1/15. I noticed more of the typical KB cola, rhubarb, and sassafras notes this time around. Drinking well right now, and should sail through the next couple of years.

Reviewed 3 September 2015
2010

Donelan Syrah Cuvée Christine

California · Sonoma County

Medium-bodied with a purple fruit profile, with notes of plum, blueberry, cassis, and wood. An easy drinker.

Reviewed 1 September 2015
2010

Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

As others have noted, blackberry, blueberry, and black olive notes. What distinguishes this wine over the other Carlisle Syrahs is the interplay between the subtle meaty notes and distinct Papa's…

Reviewed 19 August 2015
2010

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

PnP with upfront and ready-to-go flavors of ripe black cherry, raspberry, nutmeg, wood smoke, a hint of Earl Grey tea, and baking spices.

Reviewed 16 August 2015
2009

Littorai Chardonnay Charles Heintz Vineyard

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

An extremely balanced and feminine chardonnay, with notes of smooth, subtle Meyer lemon, citrus, popcorn, and pear. Nothing out of place, with an impeccably inviting persona. A hint of minerality…

Reviewed 15 August 2015
2008

Donelan Syrah Walker Vine Hill

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

A meaty syrah, with notes of salami, bologna, red currant, spice, white pepper, asphalt, and bouquet garni. Ready to drink now, I did not feel the need to decant this wine. 30 minutes from bottle to…

Reviewed 11 August 2015
2007

Salinia Chardonnay Heintz Ranch

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

A Jura style, with butterscotch, hazelnuts, popcorn, baked Asian pear, pineapple, honey, citrus, and wood. More of the citrus notes than the 2006 or 2008 Salinia Chardonnays. An oily, viscous, rich,…

Reviewed 9 August 2015
2012

Eric Kent Wine Cellars Pinot Noir Stiling Vineyard

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

A medium-bodied wine (but the deepest and richest Pinot Noir in EK's range when compared to the 2012 Small Town and 2012 Sascha Marie). Notes of dark red fruits, spice, and subtle soil.

Reviewed 9 August 2015
2012

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Daughters of Earth Goldrock Ridge

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

Explosive notes of rich black cherry and dark berry fruits, sweet plum, cinnamon, cardamom, anise, Jamaican allspice, and cedar. A fun and complex wine. Fans of Wren Hop and Russell Bevan will be…

Reviewed 8 August 2015
2012

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

Enthralling notes of honeysuckle, buttered popcorn, creme brûlée, vanilla, and Meyer lemon. For a Sonoma bottling, an outstanding, nuanced example of a regional cuvee. TRB has a way of exhibiting…

Reviewed 3 August 2015
2010

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

A solid Pinot, with a seductively smooth and upfront appealing texture. Drinking really well at the moment. Lacks just a tad of the complexity of some other '10 KB Pinots. Tasted alongside '12 Bevan…

Reviewed 1 August 2015
2012

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Mortal Coil Phendler

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

Similar notes as on 7/24/15. Tasted tonight side-by-side with a '10 KB Sonoma and Bevan 2114. The 2114 was WOTN, with the Wren Hop Mortal Coil a close #2. The Mortal Coil was a little tight tonight,…

Reviewed 1 August 2015
2012

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Summit 2114

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

Red fruit and spice on the nose. On the palate, rhubarb, sassafras, red berry, dark red cherry, a little earth, and spice. A very accessible and fruit-forward Pinot, with a rich, voluptuous profile.…

Reviewed 1 August 2015
2012

Bevan Cellars Syrah Moaveni Vineyard

Sonoma County · Bennett Valley

An opaque, deep, dark colored Syrah; the darkest black-purple. PnP. On the nose, sweet, complex aromas of muddled blackberry, meaty smoke, and faint violet. On the palate, phenomenal purity of…

Reviewed 31 July 2015
2010

Carlisle Syrah Bennett Valley

Sonoma County · Bennett Valley

On the nose, faint aromas of purple fruit and an initial whiff of alcohol. On the palate, very subtle (almost fragile) blue and purple fruit flavors. Especially light and lithe for a Carlisle Syrah.…

Reviewed 29 July 2015
2012

Wren Hop Pinot Noir Mortal Coil Phendler

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

Tasted at Wren Hop on initial release and again tonight. On the nose, dark red berry, earth, cedar, incense. On the palate, rich black cherry, plum, strawberry jam, vanilla, and forest floor.…

Reviewed 24 July 2015
2011

Aubert Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

On the nose, a distinctive whiff of lemon curd, marshmallow, and citrus blossom. On the palate, the wine totally bursts with a complex interplay of Meyer lemon, pear, butterscotch, salted caramel,…

Reviewed 23 July 2015
2006

Salinia Chardonnay Heintz Ranch

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

One of those rare and profoundly unique wines that truly speaks to the personality and talents of the winemaker and to the maximum expression of place. Kevin Kelley is one of the few winemakers who…

Reviewed 5 July 2015
2012

Cirq Pinot Noir TreeHouse

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Tasted at the Cirq pickup event. Nose was somewhat muted, with unique mineral, wet slate and berry aromas. On the palate, a cool inward profile of purple and red fruit; plum, black cherry, dark red…

Reviewed 21 March 2015