Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

2018 Turley Zinfandel Steacy Ranch – 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 right around 50 separate wines from 47 different vineyards, some with vines that date back to the late 1800’s. Tegan Passalacqua is the Director of Winemaking at Turley and…

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Bottle Notes

2018 Sandlands Red Table Wine Lodi – Bottle Notes

Sandlands is the personal project of Tegan and Olivia Passalacqua. Tegan is the Winemaker and Vineyard Manager at Turley. The line-up encompasses some of the forgotten classic California varieties, primarily grown in decomposed granite from regions and vineyards that have been farmed for many generations but have remained the outliers of California viticulture. The wines made at Sandlands include Syrah,…

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Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

2019 Sandlands Zinfandel – Bottle Notes

Sandlands is the personal project of Tegan and Olivia Passalacqua. Tegan is the Winemaker and Vineyard Manager at Turley. The line-up encompasses some of the forgotten classic California varieties, primarily grown in decomposed granite from regions and vineyards that have been farmed for many generations but have remained the outliers of California viticulture. The wines made at Sandlands include Syrah,…

Continue Reading

Bottle Notes

2018 Sandlands Red Table Wine Lodi – Bottle Notes

Sandlands is the personal project of Tegan and Olivia Passalacqua. Tegan is the Winemaker and Vineyard Manager at Turley. The line-up encompasses some of the forgotten classic California varieties, primarily grown in decomposed granite from regions and vineyards that have been farmed for many generations but have remained the outliers of California viticulture. The wines made at Sandlands include Syrah,…

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Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

Zinfandel of the Month – 2016 Harney Lane Old Vine Zinfandel Lizzy James 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 May Zinfandel of the Month is the 2016 Harney Lane Old Vine Zinfandel Lizzy James Vineyard. Harney Lane Winery was…

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Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

2017 Ravenswood Zinfandel Old Vine Lodi – Bottle Notes

Ravenswood was founded in 1976 by Joel Peterson. The winery is a pioneer in producing single vineyard Zinfandels from some of Napa and Sonoma’s most treasured vineyards, including Dickerson, Old Hill, Cooke and Belloni. I used to visit Ravenswood in the summer, when they released their single vineyard wines. Back in the day they also served delicious barbecue on the deck out…

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Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

Three Zinfandels from McCay Cellars

Michael McCay, owner of McCay Cellars, has a simple goal: to make wine with a sense of presence and character that expresses the trueness of the vineyard. Michael is a relative newcomer to Lodi. He has only farmed there for 35 years. He came to Lodi in the early 1980s, planted a vineyard, started making wine in 1994, and launched…

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