Random Musings

The Week in Zinfandel (3/25/19)

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. Randy Caparoso writes The Past, Present and Future Usages of Head Trained Vines in Lodi. Stephen McConnell reviews the 2016 T-VINE Zinfandel Frediani Vineyard. Ed McCarthy writes Dry…

Continue Reading

Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

New Releases from Bruce Patch Wines

Bruce Patch cut his teeth in the music industry — having once met the Beatles and helped to discover the famous 80’s band, The Cars. Bruce moved to the Russian River Valley in the late 1990’s, and transitioned his sales and marketing background into a successful distribution business representing small independent wineries in Sonoma County. Bruce Patch Wines sources grapes from throughout Sonoma County, including…

Continue Reading

Bottle Notes, Syrah

2011 Force Majeure Syrah Collaboration Series Reserve – Bottle Notes

Force Majeure was founded in 2004 by Paul McBride and made its name pairing some of Washington’s highly acclaimed winemakers with fruit from one of Washington’s highly acclaimed vineyards, Ciel du Cheval. The winery recently transitioned from Collaboration wines to Estate wines. Todd Alexander, formerly of Bryant Family Vineyards, is the winemaker for the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Tempranillo. Force Majeure…

Continue Reading

Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

2012 Ravenswood Zinfandel Dickerson 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…

Continue Reading

Random Musings

The Week in Zinfandel (3/18/19)

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. Randy Caparoso writes Spring, Glorious Spring in Lodi Wine Country! Wine, Dine, And Roam reviews the 2015 Tortoise Creek Zinfandel The Chelonian. Isaac Baker reviews the 2016 Gehricke…

Continue Reading

Bottle Notes, Cabernet Sauvignon

1999 Dunn Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain – Bottle Notes

Dunn Vineyards is located east of St. Helena in the town of Angwin on Howell Mountain. The Winery was established in 1979, with the first harvest of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. In 1981, the first release consisted of 660 cases of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Howell Mountain vineyards. In 1982, Dunn released a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Dunn is one…

Continue Reading

Bottle Notes, Pinot Noir

2009 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard – Bottle Notes

Kosta Browne was founded in the late nineties by Dan Kosta and Michael Browne. In 2009 controlling interest was sold to Vincraft for close to $40 million. In 2015 J.W. Childs Associates, a Boston-based private equity firm, bought out Vincraft. Most recently Kosta Browne was purchased by Duckhorn Wine Company. With these investments have come numerous changes including a new Winery (Gallery)…

Continue Reading

Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

2016 Trentadue Old Patch Red – Bottle Notes

In 1959, the Trentadue family purchased 208 acres of land in Sonoma County’s then remote Alexander Valley. Trentadue Winery was founded in 1969 and currently makes a vast array of wines. Miro Tcholakov is theVice President of Winemaking Operations. The 2016 OPR Red is predominately Zinfandel blended with Petite Sirah and Carignane from a vineyard that dates back to 1896.…

Continue Reading