Turley Wine Cellars was founded in 1993 by Larry Turley and specializes in small lots of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah from some of California’s most historic and treasured vineyards. Turley now makes right around 50 separate wines from 47 different vineyards, some with vines that date back to the late 1800’s. Tegan Passalacqua is the Director of Winemaking at Turley and…
2011 Betz Family Cabernet Sauvignon Père de Famille – Bottle Notes
Betz Family Winery was founded in 1997 by Bob & Cathy Betz. Critical acclaim from local and national wine publications has put Betz Family Winery at the forefront of Washington wines alongside Cayuse, Leonetti and Quilceda Creek. The winery was sold to Steve and Bridget Griessel many years ago. Louis Skinner, a longtime assistant of Bob’s, is now the full…
2005 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon – Bottle Notes
The 2005 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon was the winning bottle in the July Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. The wine was decanted for several hours at cellar temperature and served with steaks on a warm Summer night in Seattle Spottswoode is a family owned winegrowing estate located on the western edge of St. Helena in the Napa Valley. The 46…
The Week in Zinfandel (7/20/20)
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 2018 Once & Future Zinfandel Old Hill Ranch. Edible Arts writes A Puzzle about Pairing Wine and Barbecue. Now And Zin Wine writes…
2007 Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon – Bottle Notes
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…
2015 Once & Future Wine Zinfandel Frank’s Block Teldeschi Vineyard – Bottle Notes
Joel Peterson founded Ravenswood Winery in 1976 with a focus on Single Vineyard Zinfandel. Ravenswood was immensely successful and over time began producing in excess of a million cases per year. Once & Future is the return to the original vision Joel had for Ravenswood so many years ago – a small project specializing in wines from unique older vineyards. At present…
2009 Domaine Saint Préfert Châteauneuf-du-Pape – Bottle Notes
Domaine Saint Prefert dates back almost 100 years, to the early 1920’s, when Fernand Serre purchased an 80 hectare parcel of land. He founded Domaine Saint Prefert in 1930. The winery quickly earned a reputation for making high quality Chateauneuf du Pape and Domaine Saint Prefert became one of the first wines exported from the Southern Rhone to the United…
2009 Cayuse Syrah Armada Vineyard – Bottle Notes
Cayuse was founded in 1997 by Christophe Baron, a native of France who grew up in family of winemakers in Champagne. Baron studied viticulture in Burgundy and Champagne, and had ambitions to make Pinot Noir in Oregon. However, on a visit to Walla Walla he found property that he believed would be perfect for growing grapes and decided to purchase…
Pick My Next Bottle – 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
The July installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. 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. I plan on opening the winning bottle this Saturday and will publish a Bottle Note shortly thereafter. 2005…
2011 Saxum Paderewski Vineyard – Bottle Notes
Saxum Vineyards is located in the Paso Robles AVA of Central California. Founded in the early 2000’s by Justin Smith, a young winemaker who had previously been part-owner of Linne Calodo, Saxum leapt into the limelight in late 2010 when its 2007 James Berry Vineyards wine was named the #1 Wine of 2010 by Wine Spectator. Smith owns the winery…









