When I first began collecting and consuming wine 20+ years ago, sites like erobertparker.com, cellartracker.com and winespectator.com did not exist. Aside from hard copy subscriptions to the Wine Advocate or Wine Spectator, it was difficult to get current information on wines you were cellaring.
Williams Selyem Pinot Noir gets so much critical acclaim that I often feel their world class Zinfandel and Chardonnay lineups get overlooked. Forchini Vineyard is located just south of Healdsburg in Russian River Valley. The 100 year old vines produce a miniscule amount of fruit each year.
Rochioli Vineyards & Winery is one of the true pioneers in Russian River Valley, with a winemaking history dating back to the the late 1950′s. Although best known for their world class Pinot Noir, Rochioli also produces remarkable Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Guardian Cellars was founded in 2004 by Jerry Riener. Like many winemakers, Jerry supports his passion with a day job. His profession as a police officer sheds some light on the naming theme of the Guardian wines: Chalk Line, Gun Metal, Angel.
Sojourn Cellars was founded in 2001 by Craig Haserot and Erich Bradley. The winery specializes in Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon with fruit sourced from some of California’s finest vineyards.
Cayuse Vineyards is one of the few in Washington that literally needs no introduction. En Cerise Vineyard was planted in 1998. Translated from French, it means cherry – appropriate as the site was a former orchard.
I had been waiting for the right occasion to open a Zinfandel from one of my favorite Pinot Noir producers and Independence Day seemed liked the perfect fit. When this wine was produced, it had been more than 30 years since Dehlinger last made a Zinfandel. The fruit for this wine was sourced from the century-old vines of Guadagni Vineyard…
Rochioli Vineyards & Winery is one of the true pioneers in Russian River Valley, with a winemaking history dating back to the the late 1950’s. Although best known for their world class Pinot Noir, Rochioli also produces remarkable Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
What better way to celebrate Independence Day, the most American of holidays, than with Zinfandel, the most American of wines? France can arguably lay claim to the best Syrah, Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Merlot and Chardonnay. Germany to the best Riesling. But the USA lays claim to the best Zinfandel!
The 2005 vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape produced rich wines with powerful flavors and extreme structure. The ’05 Domaine Paul Autard Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée La Cote Ronde is from a parcel of 90 year old vines and is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvedre and Muscardin.