The unveiling of the Wine Spectator Wine of the Year for 2013 begins Monday, November 11th. The reveal of the Top 100 Wines of the Year is without question the most anticipated print version of the publication, and the online countdown has taken on a life of its own, with consumers clamoring to predict the top wine of the year. Wines…
Lillian Winery recently made small waves in the wine buying community by doing away with their mailing list and releasing the 2010 Syrah on a first-come, first-served basis. Maggie Harrison, who learned the craft from Manfred Krankl of Sine Qua Non, has been making widely-acclaimed Syrah at Lillian since the 2004 vintage. In years past, the wine was always sold…
I often get asked for recommendations on visiting Woodinville Wine Country. I am far from an expert on the subject, but I do know what wineries I like and am more than happy to share! Before you plan a visit to Woodinville you need to have an understanding of the area: The heart of Woodinville Wine Country revolves around the…
I first started visiting the Russian River Valley when I moved to Sacramento in the early 1990’s, and have developed an absolute affinity for the beauty of the area that is best experienced through a slow drive along Westside Road. Here, there’s a good chance you can stop in at a world class winery like Rochioli and have the tasting…
I published the inaugural version of the Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings last November. My intent was to rank domestic wineries based on buzz, “it” factor, excitement and the intrigue generated among wine collectors and consumers. I’ve ranked the wineries below and indicated whether they’ve moved up the list or down. I’ve also highlighted wineries new to the list and those…
I’ll keep this short! In my ongoing desire to give my readers fresh content on Zinfandel Chronicles I promise not to blog about these topics: High alcohol by volume (ABV) in Zinfandel Natural wines The 100 point scale to rate wines Score inflation in the aforementioned 100 point scale Slowing sales of domestic Syrah The knowledge, expertise or qualifications of…
This week marks the one year anniversary of Zinfandel Chronicles! My passion for wine dates to 1989, and Zinfandel Chronicles has become my medium for sharing that passion with anyone who cares to listen. Some highlights from the past year: The site was officially launched on June 24, 2012 with posts covering Total Wine, mailing list addiction and Bottle Notes…
What is your tolerance level for a flawed wine? I recently had the opportunity to share a bottle of ’05 Rayas with a friend. In retrospect the wine showed hints of brettanomyces, but nonetheless was one of the best bottles I have had this year. This got me thinking about the different types of wine flaws, and my level of…
Many wine collectors, myself included, have the romantic notion of buying a case of wine from their child’s birth year to give them upon their 21st birthday. I’m not going to get into the wisdom of giving a 21 year old first growth Bordeaux, but I do like the thought of having some fun bottles on hand to open at…
When I first started collecting wine I paid so much attention to vintage charts and rankings. I would buy sparingly from mediocre vintages like ’89 Napa Cabernets but I would back the truck up for a vintage like 1990. Nowadays I find myself paying far less attention to vintages and far more attention to producers. What changed my mind? I…