Kosta Browne was founded in the late nineties by Dan Kosta and Michael Browne. In 2009 controlling interest was sold to Vincraft for close to $40 million. In 2015 J.W. Childs Associates, a Boston-based private equity firm, bought out Vincraft. Most recently Kosta Browne was purchased by Duckhorn Wine Company. With these investments have come numerous changes including a new Winery (Gallery)…
National Zinfandel Day! – 2010 A. Rafanelli Zinfandel – Bottle Notes
Alberto Rafanelli, an Italian immigrant, first founded A. Rafanelli Winery in the early 1900’s. It wasn’t until the early 70’s that Alberto’s son, Americo, came out with the present day label and started selling the wine commercially. David and Patty Rafanelli now run the winery and a 4th generation Rafanelli, their daughter Shelly, is the winemaker. The winery is perhaps…
2011 Force Majeure CS III Syrah – Bottle Notes
Force Majeure was founded in 2004 by Paul McBride and made its name pairing some of Washington’s highly acclaimed winemakers with fruit from one of Washington’s highly acclaimed vineyards, Ciel du Cheval. The winery recently transitioned from Collaboration wines to Estate wines. Todd Alexander, formerly of Bryant Family Vineyards, is the winemaker for the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Tempranillo. Force Majeure…
2003 Argiano Solengo – Bottle Notes
Argiano dates back to the 16th century. The nearly 120 acres of vineyards are planted to Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Syrah. The wines, both Brunello di Montalcino and Super Tuscans, have routinely received outstanding scores. In 1992 Argiano was acquired by the Countess Noemi Marone Cinzano. Solengo, which is Tuscan for “lone wild boar”, is the product…
The Week in Zinfandel (11/12/18)
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. Randy Caparoso writes Maître de Chai Finds “New California” Wine in Lodi’s Clements Hills. Wine Folly writes 20 Fantastic Thanksgiving Wines (2018 Edition). Eric Asimov writes Thanksgiving Wines: A…
All Roads Do Not Lead to Burgundy
There is an expression among us wine collectors that goes “all roads lead to Burgundy.” The saying is based around the conventional wisdom that as collectors mature and their palates mature they transition from flashy, fruit forward wines like Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Old Vine Zinfandel to the complex, thought provoking Chardonnay and Pinot…
2008 Woodward Canyon Charbonneau – Bottle Notes
Located in the Walla Walla Valley appellation of Washington State, Woodward Canyon Winery was started in 1981 by Rick Small and his wife, Darcey Fugman-Small. Woodward Canyon produces almost a dozen different wines, and their Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon and Reserve Chardonnay are some of the very best examples of those varietals produced in Washington State. The Charbonneau Vineyard is…
2006 Domaine Pavelot 1er Cru La Dominode – Bottle Notes
There have been Pavelot’s in Savigny for many generations, this particular domaine traditionally moving from father to son. Father Jean Marc and son Hugues Pavelot are the driving force behind Domaine Pavelot at present. For a long time, the main outlet for the Pavelots was the negociants of Beaune, even 20 years ago as much as 25% of their product…
2016 Day Zinfandel Sonoma County – Bottle Notes
Day is the new Zinfandel project of Ehren Jordan. Ehren has also been associated with other wineries including Turley, Neyers and Failla. When he purchased a St. Helena property back in 2004, he knew he wanted to plant grapes on the hillside that at the time contained an apple orchard. After a few years of pondering, he decided that the…
Updates from Rivers-Marie
A couple weeks ago my wife and I had a chance to sit down and taste with Will Segui of Rivers-Marie. For the record, Will is the only employee at Rivers-Marie. Members of the mailing list probably know him best for handling allocations and customer service. We met Will at the Mending Wall Winery on the Silverado Trail. Thomas Rivers…