Bottega: quality Prosecco and Prosecco Rosé 
Book 5 Index 
951. Mullineux, Syrah Swartland, 2011 
950. W & J Graham & Co, 30 Year Old Tawny Port, NV (2010) 
949. Cartuxa, Pêra-Manca Branco Évora, 2012 
948. Pella, Xi-Ro Cuvée Experimentale, NV US
171. Beaulieu Vineyard, BV Reserve Chardonnay Carneros Napa Valley, 2001
Product of my first visit to Napa Valley, and Diageo’s vineyards’ VIP Experiences… and the staff discounts! They made this a good-value Chardonnay from …
170. Martinelli, Zinfandel “Giuseppe & Luisa” Russian River Valley Sonoma County, 2002
So, 2 benchmark Zinfandels on the same page! Both from my San Francisco trip, and visited both wineries, but they’d run out of this …
169. A. Rafanelli, Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Sonoma County, 2002
[On label: To Tim the label nut! David Rafanelli] [On book: Salute and Bona Fortuna. David A. Rafanelli] Visiting Rafanelli was great fun, because …
168. Mount Veeder Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, 1996
Wow! A really, very pleasant surprise. Also bought from Tracey’s Mum’s place near Nahant, where the guy had described it as a eucalyptus-style classic …
166. Cakebread Cellars, Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley, 2003
A disappointing wine, because it lacked the freshness and zip of a good quality Sauvignon Blanc. This may be a style issue, since this …
157. Bonny Doon Vineyard, Le Cigare Volant Santa Cruz California, 2000
Randall Grahm’s hommage to Châteauneuf, and their official banning of UFO landings in the town in 1954. A wine (and label) that had great …
135. Christophe, Chardonnay Napa County, 1997
Second of 3 1997 US Chardonnays from Majestic’s “parcel”. This “Napa County Chardonnay” was quite different from the Oceana style, but still excellent VFM. …
132. Oceana, Coastal Chardonnay Central Coast California, 1997
One of the best VFM bottles of wine I’ve had for a while. A Majestic “parcel” of sort-of bin-end, older wine, and what a …
115. Heitz Cellar, Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, 1995
Writing a bit from memory (because getting the label off was evidently a challenge!): a classic Californian Napa Cab – the 4 Americans I …
100. Beaulieu Vineyard, BV Sonoma County Chardonnay, 2000
Classic “hot climate” oaked Chardonnay. Deep yellow colour. Aromas of pineapple but particularly butterscotch. Thick texture with flavours of vanilla-coated tropical fruit. Some acidity …