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 dark fruits, molten licorice and Whitman Sampler…
Category: Bottle Notes
2015 Bucklin Ancient Field Blend Old Hill Ranch – Bottle Notes
Bucklin Winery was founded in 2000 by the four Bucklin siblings: Arden, Kate, Ted and Will. Will Bucklin has been a vintner for over 25 years, working in France, Australia, Sonoma, Mendocino and Oregon. Bucklin produces several Zinfandels and Grenache, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a White Field Blend. Old Hill Ranch is a historic jewel. It was founded by William…
2017 Black Kite Pinot Noir Kite’s Rest – Bottle Notes
Black Kite Cellars, a family-run winery, specializing in block-designated Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Founded by Donald and Maureen Green in 2003, Black Kite is named for the beautiful but endangered Black Shouldered Kite that is native to the Anderson Valley. Jeff Gaffner of Saxon Brown is the consulting winemaker. Kite’s Rest is a blend from distinct blocks of the Estate…
2021 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast – Bottle Notes
Thomas Rivers Brown and his wife Genevieve Marie Welsh have quickly made Rivers-Marie one of California’s most sought after Pinot Noir labels. The winery was founded in 2002 and the first release was the Rivers-Marie Summa Vineyard Pinot Noir. In addition to the line up of Single Vineyard Pinot Noirs, Rivers-Marie also makes a several single vineyard Cabernets and Chardonnay. Thomas is…
2019 Sandlands Mataro Contra Costa County – Bottle Notes
Sandlands is the personal project of Tegan and Olivia Passalacqua. Tegan is the Winemaker and Vineyard Manager at Turley. The line-up encompasses some of the forgotten classic California varieties, primarily grown in decomposed granite from regions and vineyards that have been farmed for many generations but have remained the outliers of California viticulture. The wines made at Sandlands include Syrah,…
2019 Bedrock Wine Co. Lorenzo’s Heritage – Bottle Notes
Bedrock Wine Co. was founded by Morgan Twain-Peterson in 2007 and focuses on small production wines from many of California’ s most treasured and historic vineyards. The lineup of wines at Bedrock is expansive, but I think the best of the best are the ancient vineyard Zinfandels, Morgan is clearly passionate about. Lorenzo’s Heritage comes from Teldeschi Ranch in Dry…
2018 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…
2016 No Girls Tempranillo La Paciencia Vineyard – Bottle Notes
No Girls Wines is a partnership between famed Cayuse vigneron Christophe Baron and longtime friend and Cayuse general manager, Trevor Dorland. The fruit comes from the Cayuse La Paciencia vineyard, which means patience—appropriate as the project was ten years in the making. The vines are tightly spaced and planted on an angle, giving No Girls a profile all its own. Elizabeth…
2018 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley – Bottle Notes
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 and is currently part of the Duckhorn Wine Company portfolio which was recently acquired by a private equity firm. The waiting list for the Appellation wines…
Zinfandel of the Month – 2014 Sky Vineyards Zinfandel Mt. Veeder
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 October Zinfandel of the Month is the 2014 Sky Vineyards Zinfandel. I chose the 2014 Sky Vineyards…