Bordeaux, Bottle Notes

The Cru Bourgeois Wines of Bordeaux

The Cru Bourgeois classification lists some of the Chateau from the Médoc that were not included in the 1855 Classification of Classified Growths. The first Cru Bourgeois list was drawn up by the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce in 1932, selecting 444 estates for the classification. A substantial revision of the classification in 2003 reduced the number of Chateau listed to 247.…

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Bottle Notes

Betz Family Winery End of Summer 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…

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Random Musings

The Week in Zinfandel (9/7/15)

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 Ripken Picks Sagrantino, Another Road Less Traveled Grape. Reverse Wine Snob reviews the 2011 Rosenblum Cellars Carla’s Reserve Zinfandel. Mike Dunne…

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Bottle Notes

2009 Stony Hill White Riesling – Bottle Notes

Stony Hill Vineyard was founded in 1943 when Fred and Eleanor McCrea bought a goat ranch on Spring Mountain in Napa Valley, California. In in 1947 they planted Chardonnay vineyards and in 1952 they had their debut release. Today the winery is run by son Peter McCrea and though the estate still is best known for Chardonnay, it also produces…

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Bottle Notes

2013 Lauren Ashton Cellars Roussanne – Bottle Notes

Lauren Ashton Cellars was founded in 2009 by Kit Singh. A Dentist by profession, Kit’s passion for wine was fueled by trips to Napa, Sonoma and Europe’s best known wine regions. Kit’s enology background includes classes at UC Davis and Seattle Community College along with an internship at Delille Cellars. The inspiration for the name of the winery was Kit’s…

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Random Musings

The Week in Zinfandel (8/31/15)

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! Wine Enthusiast writes Napa’s Secret Zinfandel Treasures. The Wines of Lodi, CA writes Reports on 2015 Lodi Harvest are Super-Positive Thus Far. Now And Zin Wine writes…

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Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

2007 Turley Zinfandel Salvador Vineyard – 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 28 separate wines from 35 different vineyards, some with vines that date back to the late 1800’s. Tegan Passalacqua is the Director of Winemaking at Turley and has been…

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Bottle Notes, Syrah

2005 Carlisle Syrah Papa’s Block – Bottle Notes

Carlisle Winery & Vineyards was founded in 1998 by Mike and Kendall Officer. Their passion is clear: Small lots of Zinfandel and Syrah from exceptional, historic vineyards. Many of these vineyards are heritage sites planted by Italian immigrants and date back to the late 1800s . They have also recently added their first whites, two blends from historic, old-vine vineyards plus Sonoma…

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Bordeaux, Bottle Notes

1996 Léoville-Poyferré – Bottle Notes

The 1996 Léoville-Poyferré was the winning bottle in the August installment of Pick My Next Bottle. The wine was decanted for an hour and served with Beef Stew. Château Léoville-Poyferré is in St.-Julien. The estate is a Second Growth Bordeaux. Along with Léoville-Las-Cases and Léoville-Barton, Léoville-Poyferré was part of a large estate in the Medoc owned by the Marquis de Léoville.…

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Random Musings

The Week In Zinfandel (8/24/15)

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! Wines of Lodi, CA writes Lodi’s Foreign Legion (part 2). The Nittany Epicurean reviews the 2012 Angel Vine Zinfandel Alder Ridge Vineyard. Reverse Wine Snob writes Zazin…

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