Paolo di Marchi has run Isole e Olena since the age of 20. Paolo avoids the Cabernet Sauvignon many of his neighbors have begun to incorporate into their Chiantis, believing it overshadows the Sangiovese. The flagship wine at Isole e Olena is Cepparello, a barrique-aged Sangiovese classified as an IGT – because at the time of its creation in the…
The 2008 J. Rochioli Pinot Noir Little Hill Vineyard was the winning bottle in the October Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. We drank this on Halloween night while passing out candy. Rochioli is one of the true pioneers in Russian River Valley, with a winemaking history dating back to the the late 1950′s. In 1987 Rochioli released their first…
Dehlinger Winery is located in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County and was founded in 1975 by Tom and Carole Dehlinger. Eva Dehlinger took over winemaking duties in 2007. Known for their Pinot Noir, Dehlinger also makes Chardonnay, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. The vineyard on the historic Garbro Ranch is planted to 25 acres of Chardonnay and…
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. Zinfandel Chronicles writes A Visit With Will Bucklin at Old Hill Ranch. Randy Caparoso writes Phenomenal Three-way Blends Made from Lodi Grapes by Sandlands, McCay, Marchelle and Neyers.…
The family of Domaine du Pegau has roots in Châteauneuf-du-Pape dating back to the mid-17th century. The word Pegau refers to a wine jug discovered in the excavations of the 14th century Pope’s palace in Avignon. Today, the estate is run by the Paul Ferraud and his daughter Laurence. Crimson in color. 14% ABV. Super nose of red fruits, garrigue,…
This past Saturday as the storm was slowly forming over Northern California I had the opportunity to taste through the 2019 Limerick Lane Zinfandel lineup with winemaker Chris Pittenger. Limerick Lane Winery is in the Russian River Valley just south of the town of Healdsburg. The Del Fava family planted the oldest currently producing vineyard at Limerick Lane in 1910, a…
Toil Oregon was founded in 2012 by Chris Figgins. Chris is the President and Winemaking Director for Figgins Family Wine Estates. At present time this includes Leonetti, Figgins and Toil Oregon. Figgins Family Wine Estates has acquired a 42-acre parcel of extraordinary land in the Chehalem Mountains AVA of Willamette Valley. This will become the Estate Vineyard and future winery home…
Leonetti Cellar was founded in 1977 by Gary and Nancy Figgins. Leonetti, along with Quilceda Creek and Woodward Canyon put premium Washington Cabernet Sauvignon on the radar of wine consumers across the United States. Leonetti also produces one of the very best domestic Merlots. Leonetti is part of Figgins Family Wine Estates. Chris Figgins is now in charge of the…
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…
I have been a fan of the wines from Old Hill Ranch dating back to the glory days of the Ravenswood Single Vineyard Zin series in the early to mid 1990’s. Somehow though in all my visits to Sonoma over the last 25 years a visit to Old Hill Ranch has always eluded me. This past Saturday I was finally…