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Our next stop in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley is at Sbragia Family Vineyards. There, Ed Sbragia carries on a legacy started by his father, Gino, and someday he knows his children will take the reins to continue the family’s tradition with wine. Such a personal element to the work means the vines and the wines bare a very special meaning for Ed as they are a way of honoring his family’s heritage.
Sbragia 2012 “Home Ranch” Chardonnay
Grape(s): 100% Chardonnay
Region: Napa Valley
Price: 25-30
Tasting Notes:
A bouquet of pineapple, peach, pear and creamy oak greets the senses. A sip delivers flavors of white peach, ripe pineapple and Asian pear that unfold into traces of caramel and roasted nuts. A opulent, mouth-filling Chardonnay, fans of rich, round whites will enjoy this bottle. About 4,500 cases were made.
Rating: 90
Sbragia 2012 Sauvignon Blanc
Grape(s): 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Price: 20-25
Tasting Notes:
Notes of tropical fruit, apple, and red grapefruit coalesce with suggestions of limestone on the nose. Grapefruit, tart apple, and lemon flavors open up into impressions of minerals and cardamom on the palate. A crisp white, with a fresh acidity, fans of lively Sauvignon Blanc ought to try this bottle. Over 5,000 cases produced.
Rating: 88
Sbragia 2012 “Gino’s Estate” Zinfanel
Grape(s): 86% Zinfandel, 9% Carignane, & 5% Petite Sirah
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Price: 40-45
Tasting Notes:
Fragrances of blackberries, plums, and strawberries meld with notes of spice on the nose. The palate reveals flavors of plum, strawberry, and raspberry accented by hints of pepper and minerals. A bright Zin with plush tannins, enjoy a bottle with BBQ chicken. 468 cases were made.
Rating: 90
Sbragia 2012 “La Promessa” Zinfanel
Grape(s): 95% Zinfandel & 5% Petite Sirah
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Price: 45-50
Tasting Notes:
Aromatics of blackberries, cranberries, and plums interweave with suggestions of spicy and floral notes. Flavors of raspberry, blackberry, and cranberry meld with nuances of vanilla and sweet spice on the palate. Lively, with a welcoming acidity, pair a bottle with a spicy turkey burger. 636 cases produced.
Rating: 88
Sbragia 2011 “Andolsen Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon
Grape(s): 95% Cabernet Sauvignon & 5% Cabernet Franc
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Price: 35-40
Tasting Notes:
The nose offers aromas of blackberries, plums, and cherries that mingle with notes of clove, licorice, and smoky oak. A sip reveals flavors of blackberry and cherry that move into hints of minerals, all-spice, and fennel seed. A rich, robust red with velvety tannins, fans of Dry Creek Cab ought to try this bottle.
Rating: 89
Sbragia 2010 “Home Ranch” Merlot
Grape(s): 95% Merlot & 5% Cabernet Franc
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Price: 25-30
Tasting Notes:
A bouquet of cherries, plums, vanilla, and sweet spice rises up from a glass. The palate delivers flavors of black cherry, plum, and blackberry which open up into nuances of clove, cola, and toasty oak. A dark, supple red with mellow tannins, a bottle with pair nicely with meatloaf.
Rating: 90
