The winner of the first “Pick My Next Bottle” installment was the 1995 Pontet-Canet. The winery is located in Pauillac, and is designated a 5th growth as determined by the classification of 1855.
In Defense of Sauvignon Blanc
Many wine writers and bloggers have written about the sea of ubiquitous and mediocre Sauvignon Blanc being produced in California and Washington. I am going to take a different approach and talk about some of my favorite Sauvignon Blancs. These wines can run with the big boys from the Loire and Marlborough.
Pick My Next Bottle: ’95 Bordeaux
When I first began collecting and consuming wine 20+ years ago, sites like erobertparker.com, cellartracker.com and winespectator.com did not exist. Aside from hard copy subscriptions to the Wine Advocate or Wine Spectator, it was difficult to get current information on wines you were cellaring.
2004 Williams Selyem Zinfandel Forchini Vineyard – Bottle Notes
Williams Selyem Pinot Noir gets so much critical acclaim that I often feel their world class Zinfandel and Chardonnay lineups get overlooked. Forchini Vineyard is located just south of Healdsburg in Russian River Valley. The 100 year old vines produce a miniscule amount of fruit each year.
California Wine Country Weekend: 8 Great Wineries to Visit
A weekend getaway to California wine country is always a good idea, but limited time means limiting the number of winery visits. We often have the good fortune of private tastings on our trips, but there are a number of great wineries with regular tasting room hours that are worth working into any itinerary.
2000 Rochioli Pinot Noir Little Hill Block – Bottle Notes
Rochioli Vineyards & Winery is one of the true pioneers in Russian River Valley, with a winemaking history dating back to the the late 1950′s. Although best known for their world class Pinot Noir, Rochioli also produces remarkable Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Takeaways from the 2012 Seattle-to-Portland Ride
Last Saturday I participated in my 7th Seattle-to-Portland bike ride. This Northwest rite of passage is a 204 mile journey that most riders complete over two days. Some people, yours truly included, like to hammer it out in one day. You get a lot of time to think when you’re pedaling for 12 hours. I thought I’d share some pearls…
2011 Guardian Cellars Angel Sauvignon Blanc – Bottle Notes
Guardian Cellars was founded in 2004 by Jerry Riener. Like many winemakers, Jerry supports his passion with a day job. His profession as a police officer sheds some light on the naming theme of the Guardian wines: Chalk Line, Gun Metal, Angel.
2007 Sojourn Pinot Noir, Demuth Vineyard – Bottle Notes
Sojourn Cellars was founded in 2001 by Craig Haserot and Erich Bradley. The winery specializes in Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon with fruit sourced from some of California’s finest vineyards.
2003 Cayuse Syrah En Cerise – Bottle Notes
Cayuse Vineyards is one of the few in Washington that literally needs no introduction. En Cerise Vineyard was planted in 1998. Translated from French, it means cherry – appropriate as the site was a former orchard.