Random Musings

The Week in Zinfandel (8/8/16)

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! The Wines of Lodi, CA writes Lodi 101 for this Week’s Visiting Wine Bloggers. Vinous writes Brilliance in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Wine-Stained Lens writes Home, Home…

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Bottle Notes, Grenache

2008 Cayuse God Only Knows – 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…

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Random Musings

The 2016 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings

Welcome to the 5th, annual installment, of the Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings. The intent behind the list is to rank wineries based on the buzz and excitement they create in the wine collecting crowd. The rankings are entirely subjective based on my observations on sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Wine Spectator, Wine Berserkers, WineBid and Cellartracker. Factors such as demand…

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Bottle Notes

New Release Wines from Force Majeure

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 winemakers contributing to the Collaboration Series (CS) is a Who’s Who of Washington winemakers including Ben Smith, Carolyn Lakewold, Chris Gorman, James Mantone, Mark McNeilly and Mike McMorran. Todd Alexander,…

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Random Musings

The Week in Zinfandel (8/1/16)

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! The Wines of Lodi, CA writes In Lodi, Christmas Comes in July. Rockin Red Blog writes Going Hardcore Carnivore with Troon Wines. Natalie MacLean writes Is Zinfandel…

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Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

Zinfandel of the Month – 2014 Kinsella Estates Zinfandel Spencer’s Vineyard

Zinfandel of the Month is a regular feature on Zinfandel Chronicles. Keep in mind that although the Zinfandel of the Month might be an older bottle, the current vintage will be one you can find at retail or via the mailing list. The August Zinfandel of the Month is the 2014 Kinsella Estates Zinfandel Spencer’s Vineyard Kevin Kinsella founded Kinsella…

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Bottle Notes, Pinot Noir

2004 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Peay 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…

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Random Musings

The Week in Zinfandel (7/25/16)

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! Wines & Vines writes California Crop Forecast: 4 Million Tons. Wine Folly writes Tracing the Roots of California’s Heritage Vines. Record-Bee writes Red Wine and Summertime. Now…

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Bottle Notes, Merlot

2006 Leonetti Merlot – 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. Chris Figgins is now in charge of the winemaking. 76% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Carmenere…

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Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

2008 Turley Zinfandel Cedarman – 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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