Lauren Ashton Cellars was founded in 2009 by Kit Singh. A Dentist by profession, Kit’s passion for wine was fueled by trips to Napa, Sonoma and Europe’s best known wine regions. Kit’s enology background includes classes at UC Davis and Seattle Community College along with an internship at Delille Cellars. The inspiration for the name of the winery was Kit’s…
2008 Williams Selyem Zinfandel Papera Vineyard – Bottle Notes
Williams Selyem Winery began when Ed Selyem and Burt Williams started making wine as a hobby in 1979 in Forestville, California. Their first commercial release was in 1981, and in less than two decades they created a cult-status winery of international acclaim. Setting a new standard for Pinot Noir winemaking, they put Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley at the forefront…
2007 Lillian Syrah – Bottle Notes
Maggie Harrison was assistant winemaker to Manfred Krankl of Sine Qua Non for eight years before moving to Oregon to take over the wine making position at Antica Terra. Lillian Winery, founded in 2004, represents Maggie’s personal project and reflects everything that she learned during her time at Sine Qua Non. The fruit for the Lillian Syrah comes from the…
The Week in Zinfandel (1/23/17)
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 Folly writes Beyond Napa: The Lesser Known North Coast Wine Regions. Rockin Red Blog writes Equavinity: A Sonoma Collaboration. ENOFYLZ Wine Blog reviews the 2013 Fields…
2003 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon – Bottle Notes
The 2003 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon was the winning bottle in the January installment of Pick My Next Bottle. Quilceda Creek Vintners was founded in 1978 by Alex and Jeanette Golitzin. Alex Golitzin is a nephew of André Tchelistcheff, the legendary winemaker who put Beaulieu Vineyard at the forefront of Napa Valley Cabernet in the 1960s and 70s. He credits…
2008 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Koplen Vineyard – Bottle Notes
Kosta Browne began as a dream shared by Dan Kosta and Michael Browne. In the summer of 1997, while working at John Ash & Co. restaurant in Santa Rosa, California, Dan and Michael decided to pool their tips and venture into winemaking. Fifteen years later, Kosta Browne is one of the most sought after Pinot Noirs in all of California.…
Pick My Next Bottle – 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Showdown
The February installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon from some of the best regions in the world known for growing this noble grape. 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 will open the winning…
The Week in Zinfandel (1/16/17)
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! The Modesto Bee writes Celebrating the Foothill’s Oldest Vineyard. Wine is My Life reviews the 2009 Carlisle Zinfandel Martinelli Road Vineyard. Steve Heimoff reviews the 2014 Zin-Phomaniac…
Prioritizing the Carlisle Mailer
With the arrival yesterday of the Carlisle mailer so began the semi-annual struggle of deciding what wines to buy from one of my very favorite producers. This mailer, with 13 different wines, included two whites, two Syrahs, a Petite Sirah and 8 different Zinfandels. What makes this particular mailer somewhat unique is it is the last vintage for a couple…
New Releases from Angel Vine
Angel Vine owners Ed and Laureen Fus moved their family to Oregon in 1997 to pursue their dream of farming a vineyard. The Three Angels Vineyard (named after Laureen and their two daughters) is located in Oregon’s Eola-Amity Hills and produces Pinot Noir used by several local wineries. Ed eventually decided to make his own wine focusing on single vineyard…








