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Alexander Valley

Price key:  $=less than $20  $$= $20-40   $$$=$40-60  $$$$=above $60

Quality key:  * = decent wine   ** = very good wine   *** = superb wine   **** = elite

Alexander Valley Vineyards Estate Chardonnay, '14  ** $

(A good buy in Russian River chard, lightly oaked.)

Alexander Valley Vineyards Redemption Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley '13 **1/2 $$

(Top wine of the three zins, a big mouth-filling complex wine.)

Alexander Valley Vineyards Temptation Zinfandel '12 **  $

(Medium bodied, juicy everyday zin. VALUE)

Alexander Valley Vineyards Sin Zin '13** $

(Dark, inky zin with rich dark fruit flavors in a well-structured wine.)

Alexander Valley Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir '14 ** $$

(Russian River fruit goes into a full-flavored pinot with silky texture.)

Alexander Valley Vineyards Estate Syrah '14 **1/2 $

(Lovely California syrah with aromatic nose, rich dark fruit flavors.)

Alexander Valley Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon '14  *** $$

(Possibly the best value in California Cab.)

Many of these fine wines can be purchased at Reds Wine and Spirits

Al Spoler, well known to WYPR listeners as the wine-loving co-host of "Cellar Notes" has had a long-standing parallel interest in cooking as well. Al has said, the moment he started getting serious about Sunday night dinners was the same moment he started getting serious about wine. Over the years, he has benefited greatly from being a member of the Cork and Fork Society of Baltimore, a gentlemen's dining club that serves black tie meals cooked by the members themselves who are some of Baltimore's most accomplished amateur cooks.
As General Partner of Clipper City Brewing Company, L.P., Hugh J. Sisson is among Baltimore's premier authorities on craft brewing and a former manager of the state's first pub brewery, Sissons, located in Federal Hill. A fifth generation Baltimorean, Hugh has been involved in all aspects of craft brewing.