March is Taste Washington Wine Month. Taste Washington Wine Month is an annual celebration of Washington State’s award winning industry. The culmination of Taste Washington Wine Month is Taste Washington, a massive tasting of food and wine held at the CenturyLink Field Event Center. With that in mind the March Installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on great bottles…
Author: Tom Lee
The Week in Zinfandel (3/16/15)
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! The Wines of Lodi, CA writes Elegant Styles of Lodi Zinfandel. Sonoma Cellars writes Sonoma County Barrel Tasting 2015. Jim Laube writes Pete Seghesio: A Chardonnay Convert.…
Quilceda Creek Spring 2015 Release Party
Quilceda Creek Vintners was founded in 1978 by Alex and Jeanette Golitzin. Alex is the nephew of André Tchelistcheff, the legendary winemaker who put Beaulieu Vineyard at the forefront of Napa Valley Cabernet in the 1960s and 70s. He credits summer trips to visit his uncle in St. Helena, California with developing his early interest in wine. Alex’s son, Paul…
2005 Dehlinger Estate Syrah – 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. The grapes for Dehlinger Wines are largely grown on the Estate Vineyard in the Russian…
Zinfandel of the Month – 2011 Ridge Lytton Springs
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 March Zinfandel of the Month is the 2011 Ridge Lytton Springs. Ridge Vineyards was founded in 1959 when…
1990 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon – Bottle Notes
Chateau Montelena dates back to 1882 when Albert Tubbs bought 254 acres of property just north of Calistoga. Tubbs planted vines and by 1896 Montelena was the 7th largest winery in California. Winemaking came to an end with the onset of Prohibition. The current iteration of Montelena can be traced to 1968, when Jim Barrett was brought on as a…
The Week in Zinfandel (3/9/15)
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! Cliff’s Wine Picks reviews the 2007 Scherrer Winery Zinfandel Scherrer Shale Terrace. Jameson Fink writes The Pleasures of Zin: 2011 Frog’s Leap Zinfandel. Montreal Gazette writes Zinfandel…
2005 Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah – Bottle Notes
Switchback Ridge wines are sourced from the Peterson Family Vineyard in Calistoga. The property has been in the Peterson Family since 1914 and was replanted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petite Sirah in 1990. Bob Foley has been the winemaker since the inaugural vintage in 1999. Inky purple in color. 16.4% ABV. Chocolate, black fruits and melted licorice on the…
2005 Williams Selyem Zinfandel Forchini Vineyard – 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…
Betz Family Winery Spring 2015 Release Party
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 four years ago. Bob Betz is still the Winemaker and from what I hear…