From Colorado Wine News

2005 Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Block N, Santa Barbara County - 600 cases, has inviting vanilla, earth, smoke and purple berries on the nose before bright, mouthfilling flavors dominated by rasberry, smoke, and vanilla laced with nice acidity and very find tannin. Everything rolls to the back for a medium-broad, persistent finish. Well balanced, structured, and integrated. Very tasty.

2005 Zinfandel, Catfish Vineyard, Clear Lake, Lake County - Opens with baked blackberry coated with chocolate syrup before juicy, slightly tart light bodied flavors of blackberry and rasberry which finish medium-broad and medium-long. Mocha also appears on the finish and is quite persistent. Well balanced, structured, and integrated. Tasty.

2005 Chardonnay, DuPratt Vineyard (Mendocino Ridge) - Barrel fermented in French oak, 30-40% new, and then spent 8-10 months maturing in the same barrels. It has a nose dominated by smoky oak before creamy flavors with hints of pear and oak.

2006 Viognier, Lake County - Aged for three months in neutral French oak and opens with toasty and candied green apple aromas before sweet flavors of green apple, vanilla, and spice laced with good acidity. All continue through the long, broad finish. It is refreshing and is a especially nice choice to serve in the afternoon on the deck. Well balanced, structured, and integrated. Tasty.

2005 Cabernet Franc, Clear Lake - Spent 18-20 months in French and American oak and has a nose of smoke, baked sweet cherry, and streusel dough before flavors or somewhat tart cherry and smoke plus lots of tannin. The finish is medium-broad and medium-long. Straight forward and well put together.

2004 Syrah Port, Lake County - Has about 7% residual sugar and was aged in American and French oak for 24 months. Aromas of chocolate, raisin, and wet earth lead to quite sweet flavors of chocolate, pepper, blackberry, and earth which finish with persistent pepper.

Writers' Block 2005 Cabernet Franc, Lake County - Was aged mainly in American oak, 20% new, and has bright, very inviting floral, sweet cherry, rose hips, and light smoke on the nose. Flavors of dark cherry, blackberry jelly, and light smoke are laced with light, dry tannin and finish medium-broad and medium-long. Well balanced, structured, and integrated. Tasty.

Writers' Block 2005 Syrah - Spent time in American oak, 20% new, and has a nose of toffee, baked blackberry, and light oak introducing flavors of blackberry, black cherry, toffee, and smoky oak plus light, dry tannin. It finishes long and broad. Well integrated, balanced, and structured. Very tasty.

Writers' Block 2005 Zinfandel - Aged primarily in 20% new American oak and opens with smoke, rasberry, cherry, pepper, and a hint of green bell pepper before flavors of the same except no bell pepper and the addition of melted milk chocolate.

Shooting Star 2006 Riesling, Lake County - Has aromas of grapefruit and grapefruit peel before zippy sweet pink grapefruit flavors which finish long and quite narrow. A simple quaffer.

Shooting Star 2006 Aligoté, Washington - Barrel fermented in older oak and has a light, fresh, floral bouget which introduces crisp, spicy, and nicely bright flavors of lime-lemon and a hint of orange all accented with a sweet note. Everything carries through the long, medium-broad finish. Well balanced, structured, and integrated. Tasty. BEST BUY.

Shooting Star 2003 Sparkling Syrah, Lake County - Has a nose of black rasberry jam, very sweet coffee, and cassis. Flavors of black rasberry, coffee, and cassis are laced with light tannin and finish long and medium-broad. Well put together. It will be very popular.

From Restaurant Wine Magazine

2005 DuPratt Vineyard Chardonnay (Mendocino Ridge, CA) - Luscious Chardonnay that is full bodied, supple, and relatively elegant in style. It has a crisp acidity, complex character (baked bread, roasted nut, lemon peel, butterscotch, and spicy oak aromas/flavors), and a long finish.

From Jerry Hall’s blog, winewaves.com

2004 Steele Writer's Block Lake County Zinfandel - Appearance: Deep candy apple red, translucent. Aromas: Raspberry, black cherry, coffee, vanilla, cocoa and baking spice. The body is light-to-medium and there's a sense of front-palate sweetness, but dry elsewhere. Without going overboard, a range of red berry, citrus rind, white pepper and cinnamon spice flavors come together nicely and finish warmly and dusty. Excellent value ($12). Closure: Real cork. Alcohol content: 13.5%. Food pairing: Chicken Tortilla Soup, medium-hot spicy.

From Santé Magazine

2005 Steele Cabernet Franc, Lake County - Medium bodied with great balance, nice acidity and aromas and flavors of black cherry, blueberry, licorice, raspberry, and white pepper lingering to the finish.

2005 Chardonnay, DuPratt Vineyard, Mendocino County - Strong butter and lemon nose with a dry, ripe, but nicely balanced, medium-bodied palate with peach, vanilla, toast, and ginger spice; persistent finish.

1997 Select Late Harvest, Du Pratt Vineyard/ Mendocino County - Full bodied, rich, and thick with complex nose of botrytis, honey suckle, toasted nuts, cooked pitted fruit, and pear flavors of apricot, pear tart, and toffee; long finish. Riccota cheesecake with amoretti crust.

From Wine Spectator

2005 Syrah, Clearlake - 87 POINTS - Chocolate notes are a nice touch to the wild berry flavors within. Spices, loam and hints of fresh thyme are tasty and aromatic, with firm tannins that never overwhelm, even on the long finish. Drink now through 2012. 2,000 cases made.

2005 Shooting Star Syrah, Lake County - 83 POINTS