Bottle Notes, Sauvignon Blanc

2014 Grgich Hills Estate Fumé Blanc – Bottle Notes

Grgich Hills Estate, in Rutherford, in the Napa Valley, was founded in 1977 by Mike Grgich. Grgich earned fame in 1976 when the Chardonnay he produced as winemaker at Chateau Montelena won first prize among white wines at the now famous Paris Wine Tasting. The estate has 366 acres of vineyards in American Canyon, Carneros, Yountville, Rutherford and Calistoga and…

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Random Musings

The Week in Zinfandel (9/5/16)

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! Total Sorority Move writes What Member of Your Friend Group You Are, Based on Your Wine Preference. Wine Folly writes 50 States of Wine. Randy Caparoso writes…

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Bottle Notes, Cabernet Sauvignon

2003 Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon – Bottle Notes

Switchback Ridge wines are sourced from the Peterson Family Vineyard in Calistoga. The property has been in the Peterson Family since 1914 and was replanted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petite Sirah in 1990. Bob Foley has been the winemaker since the inaugural vintage in 1999. Violet in color. 14.8% ABV. Stunning nose of cassis liqueur, molten licorice, Whitman Sampler…

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Random Musings

The Week in Zinfandel (8/29/16)

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! Now And Zin Wine writes Folly Indeed: Edmeades’ Wacky Blend Works. Paper City Magazine writes Worthy Zinfandel. Virginia Boone writes Wrecking Crew of Wine. Napa Valley Register…

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Random Musings

It’s Just Wine and There is no Right or Wrong Way

I recently saw a thread on WineBerserkers where a person was criticized for participating in a tasting where too many good wines were opened on a single night. The wines opened included Mouton, Haut Brion, Lafite, Margaux, Petrus, Lafleur, Harlan, Marcassin, Krug and a number of high end Burgundies. By my count at least a few cases of wine were…

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Bottle Notes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

2004 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape – Bottle Notes

The 2004 Beaucastel was the winning bottle in the August Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. This bottle was decanted for one hour. 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…

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Random Musings

The Week in Zinfandel (8/22/16)

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! NorCal Wine writes Troon Vineyard: Reviews of Current Releases. Toledo Wines & Vines writes Amador County Producing Wines as Good as Gold. Social Vignerons writes Zinfandel Blending…

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