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 many years ago. Louis Skinner, a longtime assistant of Bob’s, is now the full…
The 2005 Rauzan-Ségla was the winning bottle in the September Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. The history of Château Rauzan-Ségla dates back to 1661 when Pierre de Rauzan acquired the estate. Rauzan-Ségla grew in reputation and produced some of the most highly rated wines in Bordeaux. They delighted many well-known dignitaries, most notably Thomas Jefferson who came across this…
Giovanni Corino started making his own wines in the 1980’s. Like many of the other winemakers in the area, his family farmed the land and sold the fruit. Giovanni’s son Giuliano runs the estate today. All the vineyards are in La Morra, with Barolo vineyards in Arborina, Giachini and Bricco Manescotto. Crimson in color. 14.5% ABV. Stunning nose of red fruits, road…
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 Florida Sommelier Shares Déjà vu from Tasting Zinfandel from Lodi’s Oldest Planting. The Wine Diplomats write Wine Review: An Italian Primitivo Vs. a Chilean Zinfandel.…
Bodegas Alto Moncayo is a joint venture of Jorge Ordonez, Bodegas Borsao and others, in conjunction with winemaker Chris Ringland. The youngest vines of Alto Moncayo are 35 years old and the oldest vineyards are over 90 years old. Their focus is exlusively on Garnacha. Purple in color. 16% ABV. Sublime nose of blue and black fruits, Whitman Sampler box…
Jean and Agnès Foillard took over his father’s domaine in 1980. Most of their vineyards are planted on the Côte du Py, the famed slope outside the town of Villié-Morgon. The estate comprises nearly fourteen hectares. Jean followed the methods of Jules Chauvet, a traditionalist who defied everything that the more commercial brands were touting in the region. Jean and…
Toil Oregon was founded in 2012 by Chris Figgins. Chris is the President and Winemaking Director for Figgins Family Wine Estates. At present time this includes Leonetti, Figgins and Toil Oregon. Figgins Family Wine Estates has acquired a 42-acre parcel of extraordinary land in the Chehalem Mountains AVA of Willamette Valley. This will become the Estate Vineyard and future winery home…
Limerick Lane Winery is in the Russian River Valley just south of the town of Healdsburg. The Del Fava family planted the oldest currently producing vineyard at Limerick Lane in 1910, a field blend consisting mostly of Zinfandel. In 1977, the Del Favas sold their thirty acre property to brothers Michael and Tom Collins. The two brothers began by selling…
The September installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on Left Bank Bordeaux from the heralded 2005 vintage. 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. 2005 is arguably the best Bordeaux vintage in modern times. Growing conditions were absolutely…
Clos St. Martin dates back to at least the early 1800’s. The vineyard was owned by the Rieffers family from 1850 to 2013. Clos St. Martin takes its name from the St. Martin, who is the Patron Saint for wine growers, soldiers and beggars. In March, 2013 the Cuvelier family, the owners of Chateau Clos Fourtet, headed by Matthieu Cuvelier,…