2007 Jim Barry Shiraz, Lodge Hill

The Jim Barry 2007 Lodge Hill Shiraz, from the breathtaking Clare Valley, is one wine I will put on my Top-Flight Wine list. It is an explosive medium-bodied purple hued Shiraz with depth & structure, layered with a peppered spice, strong presence of American Oak and some French oak. Bountiful amounts of dark blackberry and a smaller portion of boysenberry fruit saturate the wine from the rich loam soils. The presence of 14.9% alcohol is noticeable along with a hint of floral notes, but balances with the smooth richness of the Shiraz fruit. Dry tannin will slowly coat your palate along with hints of baking spice on the finish. This Shiraz really delivers for the price point. 91 Top-Flight Wine (TFW) -G.A.

http://jimbarry.com/

Mount Veeder is the Jewel Separating Sonoma & Napa

I've always loved the wines from the Mount Veeder AVA. Some of the wineries that are quite nice are Mount Veeder Winery, Hess Collection Winery, Jade Mountain, & Chateau Potelle. The thick skinned fruit is bright, rich, explosive, and tannic. Mount Veeder AVA, in the Mayacams mountains, is above the fog line like the Howell Mountain AVA, and experiences some similar characteristics. Between the range of 600 and 2100 feet some exceptional red grape varietal prosper, Merlot, Cabernet, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Zinfandel. Two white varietals, Chardonnay and Viognier, absorb a unique flavor profile during the long growing season. The depth of concentration and intensity of the fruit from the sandy loam soils in this area make it more challenging for the winemaker to find the perfect balance to these vary deep colored wines. I like to call the rustic mountain vineyard fruit from Mount Veeder AVA as a “Jewel” because of the low production and vary individual characteristics. Top-Flight Wine (TFW)-G.A.