Cellar Management

Pick My Next Bottle – 2009 Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The August installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on Châteauneuf-du-Pape from the the 2009 vintage. 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. The winning bottle will be opened on Saturday and a Bottle Note will be published the following week.…

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Bottle Notes

2015 Altesino Brunelli di Montalcino – Bottle Notes

The 2015 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino was the winning bottle in the July Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. The wine was not decanted and served with burgers and a fresh salad on a warm Summer evening in Seattle. Altesino is set amongst the north eastern hills of Montalcino. The imposing structure of the 15th century Palazzo Altesi overlooks the…

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Cellar Management

Pick My Next Bottle – 2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The May installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on Châteauneuf-du-Pape from the the 2007 vintage. The purpose of this series is to provide insight into specific wines or producers you may currently have in your cellar. The winning bottle will be opened on Saturday and a Bottle Note will be published the following week. Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate rated…

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Bordeaux, Bottle Notes

2003 Canon-La Gaffelière – Bottle Notes

The 2003 Canon-La Gaffelière was the winning bottle in the April Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. The wine was not decanted and paired well with grilled burgers on a warm Spring night in Seattle. Château Canon-la-Gaffelière is situated in  Saint-Émilion and ranked Premier Grand Cru Classé B in the Classification of Saint-Émilion wine. In 1969, Count Joseph Hubert von Neipperg purchased Canon La…

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Cellar Management

Pick My Next Bottle – 2003 Bordeaux

The April Installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on 2003 Bordeaux. The purpose of this series is to provide insight into specific wines or producers you may currently have in your cellar. The winning bottle will be opened this Sunday and a Bottle Note will be published early next week. We all know the background on the historically hot…

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Bottle Notes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

2000 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape – Bottle Notes

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 an unusually high percentage of Mourvèdre in its red wines, usually around 30%, along with 30% Grenache and smaller amounts of Syrah,…

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Bordeaux, Bottle Notes

1995 Chateau Lynch Bages – Bottle Notes

The 1995 Lynch Bages was the winning bottle in the February Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. The wine was decanted for almost six hours and served with a roasted trip tip and brussel sprouts cooked in butter and bacon fat. Lynch Bages has a special place in my cellar which I wrote previously about in Life Lessons, Landmarks and Lynch…

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Cellar Management

Pick My Next Bottle – 1995 Bordeaux

The February installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on Bordeaux from the the now 28 year old 1995 vintage. 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. The winning bottle will be opened this Saturday and a Bottle Note will…

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Bordeaux, Bottle Notes

2000 Chateau Branaire Ducru – Bottle Notes

The 2000 Branaire-Ducru was the winning bottle in the January Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. The wine was decanted for two hours and paired with a homemade meatloaf and roasted Yukon potatoes. Chateau Branaire Ducru is a Fourth Growth Bordeaux according to the official classification of 1855. The 123-acre estate is in St.-Julien on the left bank of the…

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Cellar Management

Pick My Next Bottle – 2000 Bordeaux

The January installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on Bordeaux from the heralded 2000 vintage. 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. 2000 was simply one of the best vintages ever in Bordeaux. It was the first vintage…

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