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…
Author: Tom Lee
2015 Steele Zinfandel Pacini Vineyard – Bottle Notes
Jed Steele has been making wine in California for almost 50 years and 2017 is the 25th anniversary of Steele Wines in Lake County. Jed started in the cellar in 1968 at Stony Hill in the Napa Valley. After he earned his enology degree at UC Davis he ended up at Edmeades in the Anderson Valley, then started Kendall-Jackson in Lake…
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…
Zinfandel of the Month – 2016 Turley Zinfandel Juvenile
Zinfandel of the Month is a regular feature on Zinfandel Chronicles. Keep in mind that although the Zinfandel of the Month might be an older bottle, the current vintage will be one you can find at retail or via the mailing list. The September Zinfandel of the Month is the 2016 Turley Zinfandel Juvenile. Turley Wine Cellars was founded in…
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…
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…
Too Much Being Made of a Change in Style at Kosta Browne
This past Tuesday I had the opportunity to visit Kosta Browne and sample some of the new releases with Damon Wong and Regina Sanz. Damon is the Director of Hospitality and Regina is the Director of Brand Engagement. Tasting at Kosta Browne definitely has a different feel to it than other visits I made on this trip to the likes…
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…
2004 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon – Bottle Notes
The 2004 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon was the winning bottle in the August Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. The wine was decanted for one hour and served with steaks on a cold Summer night in Seattle. Quilceda Creek Vintners was founded in 1978 by Alex and Jeanette Golitzin. Alex Golitzin is a nephew of André Tchelistcheff, the legendary winemaker…
The Week in Zinfandel (8/20/18)
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 2016 Once & Future Zinfandel Oakley Road Vineyard. Kurtis Kolt writes On Canadian Zinfandel (!). Stephen Tanzer writes Double Vertical of Ridge Vineyards’ Geyserville…