The October installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on California Pinot Noir from the 2008 vintage. As I mentioned in the first installment, the purpose of this series is to provide insight into specific wines or producers you may currently have in your cellar. 2008 was an average vintage for Pinot Noir in Sonoma. The vintage was book ended…
Category: Cellar Management
2000 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste – Bottle Notes
The 2000 Grand Puy-Lacoste was the winning bottle in the September Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. The wine was decanted for one hour and served with a takeout pizza. The history of Grand-Puy-Lacoste is fascinating and dates back to the 16th century. The name Grand-Puy comes from the ancient term “puy” which means “hillock, small height”. The vineyard sits…
Pick My Next Bottle – 2000 Bordeaux
The September installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on Bordeaux from the heralded 2000 vintage. As I mentioned in the first installment, the purpose of this series is to provide insight into specific wines or producers you may currently have in your cellar. 2000 was simply one of the best vintages ever in Bordeaux. It was the first vintage…
The Week in Zinfandel (9/6/21)
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. Ken’s Wine Guide reviews the 2019 Dry Creek Vineyard Zinfandel Heritage Vines. Dan Berger writes 50 Years at Dry Creek. Sacramento Magazine writes Wine Country and the Caldor…
2007 Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape – Bottle Notes
The 2007 Vieux Télégraphe was the winning bottle in the August installment of Pick My Next Bottle. I decanted the wine for an hour and served with burgers. Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in the Rhone Valley, was founded in 1898 by Hippolyte Brunier. Located on the highest terrace of the appellation, the domaine was named for an 18th…
Pick My Next Bottle – 2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The August installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on Châteauneuf-du-Pape from the the 2007 vintage. As I mentioned in the first installment, the purpose of this series is to provide insight into specific wines or producers you may currently have in your cellar. The winning bottle will be opened on Friday and a Bottle Note will be published the following week.…
Pick My Next Bottle – 2004 Super Tuscans
The July installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on Super Tuscans from the the 2004 vintage. As I mentioned in the first installment, the purpose of this series is to provide insight into specific wines or producers you may currently have in your cellar. The winning bottle will be opened on Saturday and a Bottle Note will be published the following week. 2004…
Virtual Bedrock Vineyard Tasting on 7/10
I was approached by a fellow Zinfandel lover (@wineatsea on Twitter and Instagram) about doing a virtual tasting of wines from the acclaimed Bedrock Vineyard. Bedrock Vineyard, formerly known as Madrone Ranch, was originally planted in 1854 by General William “Tecumseh” Sherman and General “Fightin” Joe Hooker. It later passed into the hands of George Washington Whitman and then to…
Pick My Next Bottle – 2016 Old Vine Zinfandel
The June Installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on 2016 Old Vine Zinfandel. As I mentioned in the first installment, the purpose of this series is to provide insight into specific wines or producers you may currently have in your cellar. The winning bottle will be opened this Saturday and a Bottle Note will be published early next week.…
2006 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon – Bottle Notes
The 2006 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon was the winning bottle in the May Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. The bottle was decanted for several hours. Spottswoode is a family owned winegrowing estate located on the western edge of St. Helena in the Napa Valley. The 46 acre estate, established in 1882, is distinguished by the historic Victorian home depicted on…