The 2003 Quilced Creek Cabernet Sauvignon was the winning bottle in the November installment of Pick My Next Bottle. I did not decant this wine. 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 November installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on Cabernet and Bordeaux Blends from the 2003 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 with Thanksgiving dinner. The contenders in this version of Pick My Next Bottle should be…
The 2005 La Gaffeliere was the winning bottle in the October installment of Pick My Next Bottle. The wine was decanted for 4 hours and served with a tri tip roast. The estate dates back to the 11th century but he true beginnings of La Gaffeliere as a winery started with the arrival of the Comte de Malet-Roquefort in the…
The October installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on the 2005 Bordeaux vintage. The purpose of this series is to provide insight into specific wines or producers you may currently have in your cellar. 2005 is arguably the best Bordeaux vintage in modern times. Growing conditions were absolutely perfect. The weather was hot and dry and the rain that…
The 2003 Calon Segur was the winning bottle in the September installment of Pick My Next Bottle. Chateau Calon Segur is one of the oldest estates in Saint Estephe dating back to 1147. In 1894 its vineyards were purchased by Georges Gasqueton and Charles Hanappier. The Gasqueton family managed the estate until 2012. In July of 2012 Chateau Calon Segur…
The September 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…
The August Installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on 2008 Châteauneuf-du-Pape. 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 this coming week. 2008 was at best an average vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.…
The July Installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on 2017 Old Vine Zinfandel. 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 be published early next week.…
The June Installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on 2015 Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley. 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 Sunday and a Bottle Note will be published this coming weekend. The 2015 vintage…
The 2005 Beaucastel was the winning bottle in the April Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. I did not decant the wine and it was served with grilled New York Strips, roasted asparagus and roasted Yukon Gold potatoes. Chateau de Beaucastel, located in Courthezon in the Southern Rhone Valley, has over 250 acres of organic vineyards. Unlike many Rhone Valley…