Random Musings

The 2018 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings

Welcome to the 6th, annual installment, of the Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings. The intent behind the list is to rank wineries based on the buzz and excitement they create in the wine collecting crowd. The rankings are entirely subjective based on my observations on sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Wine Spectator, WineBerserkers, WineBid and Cellartracker. Factors such as demand for…

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Random Musings

The Week in Zinfandel (9/3/18)

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. Ken’s Wine Guide reviews the 2014 Grgich Hills Zinfandel. 1WineDude reviews the 2015 Chateau Montelena Estate Zinfandel. Fred Swan writes 24 California Zinfandel Well Worth Trying. Allison Levine…

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Bottle Notes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

2007 Cuvée du Vatican Réserve Sixtine – Bottle Notes

Cuvee du Vatican is a 40-acre estate in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, in the Rhone Valley. It is owned and operated by the Diffonty family, which traces its history in Rhone Valley winemaking to the 17th century. Jean-Marc Diffonty now runs the estate. In 1998, Cuvee du Vatican began producing the popular, Reserve Sixtine wine from some of their oldest vines. It’s usually…

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Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

2014 Bedrock Wine Co. Heritage Wine Nervo Ranch – 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, Morgan is clearly passionate about. Nervo Ranch is situated south of Geyserville…

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Bordeaux, Bottle Notes

2000 Clos du Marquis – Bottle Notes

At the end of the 19th century, Theophile Skawinski purchased Leoville Las Cases. Theophile Skawinski was the managing director of Chateau Leoville Cases. Skawinski passed his shares to Andre Delon, which is the start of the Delon family ownership in Bordeaux. At about the same time, Leoville Las Cases created one of the first official, “Second” Bordeaux wines with Clos…

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Random Musings

The Week in Zinfandel (8/27/18)

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. Ken’s Wine Guide reviews the 2015 Ravenswood Zinfandel Big River. Great Northwest Wine reviews the 2015 Tendril Wine Cellars Zinfandel Child’s Play. Randy Caparoso writes Jessie’s Grove’s Royal Tee…

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Random Musings

An Afternoon at Carlisle Winery

I had the opportunity earlier this week to pay a visit to Carlisle Winery and catch up with Mike Officer. I’ve been on the Carlisle mailing list for almost 15 years. The first vintage I purchased was the ’02’s. Despite having corresponded over the years via email this was my first time meeting Mike in person and my first time…

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