A Great Impression from Expression wines

Yesterday, my boyfriend Doug and I (at left) hosted a July 4th party. The food was great and there were many tasty wines to choose from. But instead of writing about one of those wines, I want to highlight two bottles I enjoyed this past week.

On Tuesday evening, we went for dinner at Pizzeria Picco in Larkspur, Ca. Doug and I were happy to enjoy a glass of 2009 Expression 38° Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, Gap's Crown Vineyard ($48/bottle) while we waited for a table.

This Pinot is exceptionally dark and concentrated in the glass. Sweet, dark fruit aromas lead to a medium-plus body. Layers of black cherry, ripe blackberry, espresso bean, and vanilla are supported by dusty tannins and good acidity. This is a structured and luscious wine that finishes dry with cocoa and herbs; it was easy to sip on its own and it tasted great with the mushroom pizza we ordered. It would also pair nicely with a burger, sausage, or BBQ ribs!

The '38°' in the name represents the latitude of the vineyard from where the grapes were grown. Focusing on Burgundian varietals sourced from Sonoma Coast, Anderson Valley (39°), Willamette Valley (44°), and Santa Rita Hills (34°), Expression makes terrific wines that express the unique terroir of these different regions. I discovered this producer at Pinot Days and they sure made a great impression on me!

Expression makes a yummy Chardonnay, too. Last Friday, I popped the cork on a bottle of 2009 Expression 38° Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, Goldrock Ridge Vineyard ($25/bottle). Too tired to cook anything for dinner, I unwrapped some Cowgirl Creamery Red Hawk cheese, sliced a few fresh figs, and grabbed a handful of crackers

With aromas of orange blossom, vanilla, and creme brûlée, this full-bodied Chardonnay matched the weight and richness of the gooey, triple-cream cheese. Flavors of sweet oak and honey rounded out the palate and baking spice was abundant on the finish.

(If you prefer a lighter, leaner style of Chardonnay, please check out the wine I reviewed this past Tuesday.)


These two bottles were received courtesy of Expression Wine for review purposes. Order yours directly from the website.

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