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!
2021 Marcel Lapierre Morgon – Bottle Notes
Marcel Lapierre took over the family domaine from his father in 1973. The winery dates back to the early 1900’s. In 1981 Marcel met Jules Chauvet. A winemaker, researcher and chemist, Chavet preached for natural wines and the traditional methods of Beaujolais. Joined by local vignerons Guy Breton, Jean-Paul Thévenet, and Jean Foillard, Marcel led a group that soon went to the…
A Visit with Will Bucklin at Old Hill Ranch
This past Sunday my wife and I had the opportunity to meet with Will Bucklin and walk Old Hill Ranch Vineyard and taste through some new releases and a few selections from the Bucklin cellar. Will Bucklin has been a vintner for over 35 years, working in France, Australia, Sonoma, Mendocino and Oregon. Old Hill Ranch is a site to…
2018 Williams Selyem Zinfandel Papera Ranch – Bottle Notes
Williams Selyem Winery began when Ed Selyem and Burt Williams started making wine as a hobby in 1979 in Forestville, California. Their first commercial release was in 1981, and in less than two decades they created a cult-status winery of international acclaim. Setting a new standard for Pinot Noir winemaking, they put Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley at the forefront…
2020 Turley Zinfandel Judge Bell – Bottle Notes
Turley Wine Cellars was founded in 1993 by Larry Turley and specializes in small lots of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah from some of California’s most historic and treasured vineyards. Turley now makes right around 50 separate wines from 47 different vineyards, some with vines that date back to the late 1800’s. Tegan Passalacqua is the Director of Winemaking at Turley and…
2017 Domaine les Pallières Gigondas Terrasse du Diable – Bottle Notes
Domaine Les Pallières is a 135-hectare estate (including 25 hectares of vineyards) located in the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail, acquired in 1998 by the Brunier family in partnership with Kermit Lynch. The Brunier family is better known for their stewardship of Vieux Telegraphe and Kermit Lynch is the long time wine importer based in Berkeley, CA. Crimson in…
A Visit with David Natali at Robert Biale Vineyards
This past weekend my wife and I had the opportunity to sit down with David Natali, the winemaker at Robert Biale Vineyards, and taste through some of the new releases. David studied at the prestigious University of Montpellier in France, where he received his master’s degree in Viticulture and Enology. David worked at both Clos Pegase and La Rochelle before…
The Week in Zinfandel (6/1/26)
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!
2020 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir – Anderson Valley
Kosta Browne was founded in the late nineties by Dan Kosta and Michael Browne and has always focused on Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. The winery has changed hands several times. Most recently Kosta Browne was purchased by Duckhorn Wine Company. The waiting list for the Appellation wines is 18 months long and for the coveted 4…
2013 Dehlinger Pinot Noir Champ de Mars – Bottle Notes
Dehlinger Winery is located in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County and was founded in 1975 by Tom and Carole Dehlinger. Eva Dehlinger took over winemaking duties in 2007. Known for their Pinot Noir, Dehlinger also makes Chardonnay, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. When you look at the soil in this specific section of the Dehlinger property, it…