Zepaltas Wines

It looks like the top wine writers are digging the wines too. Here is the latest from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar. I tasted with Josh Raynolds at 5:30am on a Monday in early March. Here are his Thoughts:

2011 Sauvignon Blanc Lake County($17) Green­tinged straw. Pungent aromas and flavors of citrus pith,
apple and smoky herbs, with a floral topnote. Silky, spicy and concentrated, with a late note of tangy acidity adding bite. A deeper honey nuance builds through the spicy, nicely persistent finish.
89

2010 Chardonnay Russian River Valley($24) Green­ tinged yellow. Lively, spice ­accented aromas of
tangerine and honeydew; a subtle anise nuance emerges with air, along with a floral quality. Round and
fleshy on entry, then tighter in the mid-­palate, displaying lively citrus and honeysuckle flavors. Finishes spicy and long, with clinging melon and citrus fruit notes. Give this youthful wine some air to allow it to stretch out.
90

2010 Chardonnay Hanzell Vineyard Sonoma Valley($42) Light gold. Pungent aromas of fresh orchard
fruits, lemon curd, orange peel and vanilla bean. Ripe, juicy and deep, with sappy orchard and citrus fruit and floral flavors complicated by dusty minerality. Velvety, concentrated chardonnay with excellent finishing clarity and lingering vanilla and iodine notes.
92

2010 Chardonnay Babushka Russian River Valley($34) Green­gold. Fresh honeydew and pear aromas
are complemented by bright notes of lemon zest and minerals. Spicy and precise on the palate, displaying energetic melon and floral flavors and a touch of fresh fig. Finishes spicy and long, with a clinging melon quality and very good clarity.
91

2010 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast($31) Bright red. High­pitched scents of strawberry and orange zest, with a
floral overtone. Silky and spicy on the palate, offering energetic red fruit flavors lifted and sharpened by tangy acidity. Finishes fresh, linear and spicy, with very good focus and persistence.
90

2010 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley($31) Vivid red. High­pitched aromas of red berries, Asian spices and
minerals. Fresh and racy, offering sweet, seamless raspberry and candied rose flavors that expand with air. This energetic pinot finishes with excellent clarity and lingering floral character.
91

2010 Pinot Noir W.E. Bottoms Russian River Valley($45) Bright red. Intensely perfumed scents of red
berries, Asian spices, dried rose and sassafras. Sappy, sharply focused raspberry and cherry flavors are lifted by zesty acidity, picking up a blood orange nuance with air. Pure, lively, long pinot with excellent clarity and surprising power.
92

2010 Pinot Noir La Cruz Vineyard Sonoma Coast($42) Bright purple. Floral nose offers scents of candied
dark berries, incense and blood orange, plus a subtle smokiness. Juicy and expansive, offering sweet black raspberry and cherry flavors enlivened by tangy acidity. Finishes with excellent energy and clarity and a strong repeating floral element.
93

2009 Syrah Rosella's Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands($39) Bright purple. Candied dark berries, violet
and black cardamom on the pungent nose and in the mouth. Densely packed, chewy and deep, picking up a smoky quality with air. Closes with impressive thrust and length, leaving spice and floral notes behind.
91