Cellar Management

Pick My Next Bottle – 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The June Installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape. 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 the following week. 2005 was…

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Bottle Notes, Merlot

1997 Pahlmeyer Merlot – Bottle Notes

Pahlmeyer was founded in the mid-1980s when Jayson Pahlmeyer, a Bay Area lawyer, decided he preferred thinking about wine over reading legal briefs. Pahlmeyer produced its debut vintage in 1986. Bibiana González Rave is the current winemaker. Wines produced at Pahlmeyer include the flagship Proprietary Red, Merlot, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Crimson in color. 14.5% ABV. Fantastic nose of red…

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Random Musings

The Week in Zinfandel (6/12/17)

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. Cheers! Randy Caparoso writes Riaza’s Unorthodox Interpretation of Lodi Grown Fruit. William Kelley writes Freak Hail Storm Hits Napa Valley Vineyards. Peg Melnik writes Five Wines Perfect for…

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Bottle Notes

2001 Argiano Solengo – Bottle Notes

Argiano dates back to the 16th century. The nearly 120 acres of vineyards are planted to Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Syrah. The wines, both Brunello di Montalcino and Super Tuscans, have routinely received outstanding scores. In 1992 Argiano was acquired by the Countess Noemi Marone Cinzano. Solengo, which is Tuscan for “lone wild boar”, is the product…

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Bottle Notes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

2004 Domaine Saint Préfert Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve Auguste Favier – Bottle Notes

Domaine Saint Prefert dates back almost 100 years, to the early 1920’s, when Fernand Serre purchased an 80 hectare parcel of land. He founded Domaine Saint Prefert in 1930. The winery quickly earned a reputation for making high quality Chateauneuf du Pape and Domaine Saint Prefert became one of the first wines exported from the Southern Rhone to the United…

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Bottle Notes, Pinot Noir

2011 Kanzler Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast – Bottle Notes

Kanzler Vineyards, located in California near Sebasopol, was founded in 1996 by Stephen and Lynda Kanzler. Planted in 1996 in a former apple orchard, the vineyard quickly developed a reputation for producing world class Pinot Noir grapes featured in award winning wines from some of the finest wineries in Northern California, including Kosta Browne, A.P. Vin and Rivers-Marie. In 2004,…

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Random Musings

The Week in Zinfandel (6/5/17)

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. Cheers! Dan Berger writes A Gem of a Winemaker in Lake County. Reverse Wine Snob writes The Best Zinfandel Under $20. Ridge Wine Blog writes What’s Your Story?…

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Bottle Notes, Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon – Bottle Notes

Grgich Hills Estate, in Rutherford, in the Napa Valley, was founded in 1977 by Mike Grgich. Grgich earned fame in 1976 when the Chardonnay he produced as winemaker at Chateau Montelena won first prize among white wines at the now famous Paris Wine Tasting. The estate has 366 acres of vineyards in American Canyon, Carneros, Yountville, Rutherford and Calistoga and…

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Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Heritage Wine Dolinsek 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. Dolinsek Ranch is in the Russian River…

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