Bottle Notes, Pinot Noir

2009 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Weir Vineyard – Bottle Notes

Williams Selyem Winery began when Ed Selyem and Burt Williams started making wine as a hobby in 1979 in Forestville, California. Their first commercial release was in 1981, and in less than two decades they created a cult-status winery of international acclaim. Setting a new standard for Pinot Noir winemaking, they put Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley at the forefront…

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Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

2012 Black Sears Zinfandel – Bottle Notes

In 1979, Joyce Black and Jerre Sears purchased a one-of-a-kind property at the top of Howell Mountain. In 1997, Joyce and Jerre began producing very small quantities of estate-bottled Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel for their new Black Sears label, a few hundred cases per vintage. For twelve years, winemaker Ted Lemon called the Black Sears winery home, producing both the…

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Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

2013 Ravenswood Zinfandel Barricia Vineyard – Bottle Notes

Ravenswood was founded in 1976 by Joel Peterson. The winery is a pioneer in producing single vineyard Zinfandels from some of Napa and Sonoma’s most treasured vineyards, including Dickerson, Old Hill, Cooke and Belloni. I used to visit Ravenswood in the summer, when they released their single vineyard wines. Back in the day they also served delicious barbecue on the deck out…

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Cellar Management

Pick My Next Bottle – 2012 Washington Syrah

The May Installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on 2012 Washington Syrah. As I mentioned in the first installment, the purpose of this series is to provide insight into specific wines or producers you may currently have in your cellar. The winning bottle will be opened this Saturday and a Bottle Note will be published next week. 2012 was…

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Random Musings

The Week in Zinfandel (5/20/19)

Welcome to the latest installment of The Week in Zinfandel. If I missed your post or story please send me a link and I will be sure to include it next week. Dallas Wine Chick writes For the Love of Lodi: A Region All About Multi-Generational Farming, Winemaking and Families. Reverse Wine Snob writes Delighting in the Dry Creek Valley.…

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Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

2012 Hartford Family Winery Zinfandel Fanucchi Wood Road Vineyard – Bottle Notes

Hartford Family Winery was founded in 1994 as a result of Don and Jennifer Hartford’s appreciation for the wines, the people, and the unique vineyards near their Russian River Valley home. Located in the Sonoma County town of Forestville, the winery is about 15 miles from the cool Pacific Coast. Jeff Stewart is the Hartford Family Winemaker. The 98-year old…

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Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

2014 Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard – Bottle Notes

Bedrock Wine Co. was founded by Morgan Twain-Peterson in 2007 and focuses on small production wines from many of California’ s most treasured and historic vineyards. The lineup of wines at Bedrock is expanding rapidly, but I think the best of the best are the ancient vineyard Zinfandels and Field Blends, Morgan is clearly passionate about. Carlisle Vineyard, planted in…

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Bottle Notes, Cabernet Sauvignon

2004 Betz Family Cabernet Sauvignon Père de Famille – Bottle Notes

Betz Family Winery was founded in 1997 by Bob & Cathy Betz. Critical acclaim from local and national wine publications has put Betz Family Winery at the forefront of Washington wines alongside Cayuse, Leonetti and Quilceda Creek. The winery was sold to Steve and Bridget Griessel seven years ago. Louis Skinner, a longtime assistant of Bob’s, is now the full…

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