Cellar Management

Pick My Next Bottle – 2004 Bordeaux

The January installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on 2004 Bordeaux. 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 on Saturday and will publish a Bottle Note shortly thereafter. The 2004 Bordeaux vintage…

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Bottle Notes, Chardonnay

2013 Navarro Vineyards Chardonnay Premiere Reserve – Bottle Notes

Located in the Anderson Valley, Navarro Vineyards has been producing exceptional, fairly-priced wines since 1974. The winery is best known for its range of Pinot Noirs, including the showstopper Deep End Blend (available through futures). They also produce an age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon a delicious Zinfandel and their whites are noteworthy with a one-of-a-kind Riesling, Gewurztaminer and Muscat Blanc. Lightly straw colored.…

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Random Musings

The Week in Zinfandel (1/18/16)

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. Cheers! Cliff’s Wine Picks reviews the 2008 Cairdean Vineyards Zinfandel. Wine Folly writes The Spectrum of Boldness in Red Wines. Hogshead Wine Blog writes Tasting Mature California Wines by…

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Bottle Notes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

1996 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape – Bottle Notes

Chateau de Beaucastel, located in Courthezon in the Southern Rhone Valley, has over 250 acres of organic vineyards. Unlike many Rhone Valley producers, Beaucastel grows all 13 of the grapes permitted in the appellation and the estate uses an unusually high percentage of Mourvèdre in its red wines, usually around 30%, along with 30% Grenache and smaller amounts of Syrah,…

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Bottle Notes, Merlot

2010 Efeste Merlot Upright Klipsun Vineyard – Bottle Notes

Efeste, pronounced like the letters “F-S-T” strung together, was named after the last names of founders Helen & Dan Ferrelli, Patrick Smith, and Kevin & Angela Taylor. Efeste is located in the Warehouse District of Woodinville, Washington. Peter Devison took over full-time winemaking duties when Brennon Leighton left to work with Charles Smith in 2012. 100% Merlot sourced from Klipsun…

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Random Musings

Thoughts on the Schrader Price Increase

With the offer for their 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon lineup Schrader announced a price increase of $50 per bottle bringing the cost per bottle before shipping and handling to $225. The increase was surprising as Schrader has alway promoted their commitment to low prices vis a vis other sought after Napa Valley Cabernets. I don’t fault Schrader for the price increase.…

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Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

2008 Carlisle Zinfandel Gold Mine Ranch – Bottle Notes

Carlisle Winery & Vineyards was founded in 1998 by Mike and Kendall Officer. Their passion is clear: Small lots of Zinfandel and Syrah from exceptional, historic vineyards. Many of these vineyards are heritage sites planted by Italian immigrants and date back to the late 1800s . They have also recently added their first whites, two blends from historic, old-vine vineyards plus Sonoma…

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Random Musings

The Week in Zinfandel (1/11/16)

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. Cheers! Wine Tasting Bliss writes Zinfandel: A History of Mystery. Purple Tongue Press writes Old Ghosts and Old Vines: An Interview with Steve Felten of Klinker Brick Winery.…

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Bottle Notes, Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Lineup from Kinsella Estates

Kevin Kinsella founded Kinsella Estates in 2008. Kinsella Estates is an organically farmed vineyard situated in a private valley in the foothills of the western edge of Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley. Thomas Rivers Brown, of Schrader, Rivers Marie and Outpost fame, has been the winemaker from the start. Kinsella makes several Cabernet Sauvignons and a Zinfandel. All of these wines will be…

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Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

2006 Turley Zinfandel Ueberroth Vineyard – Bottle Notes

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 28 separate wines from 35 different vineyards, some with vines that date back to the late 1800’s. Tegan Passalacqua is the Director of Winemaking at Turley and has been…

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