2000 Branaire Ducru
Bordeaux, Bottle Notes

2000 Branaire Ducru – Bottle Notes

The 2000 Branaire Ducru was the winning bottle in the September installment of Pick My Next Bottle. The wine was decanted for two hours and paired with a hearty beef stew. 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 Gironde River.…

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2009 Ancient Vine Zinfandel
Bottle Notes

Pick My Next Bottle – Ancient Vine Zinfandel

The April installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on ancient vine Zinfandel from the 2009 vintage. As I mentioned in the July installment, the purpose of this series is to provide insight into specific wines or producers you may currently have in your cellar. I plan on opening the winning bottle on April 28th and publishing an in-depth Bottle…

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1998 Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon
Bottle Notes, Cabernet Sauvignon

1998 Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon – Bottle Notes

The 1998 Woodward Canyon Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon was the winning wine in the March installment of Pick My Next Bottle. Located in the Walla Walla Valley appellation of Washington State, Woodward Canyon Winery was started in 1981 by Rick Small and his wife, Darcey Fugman-Small. Woodward Canyon produces almost a dozen different wines, and their Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon…

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1997 Pio Cesare Barolo
Bottle Notes

1997 Pio Cesare Barolo – Bottle Notes

The 1997 Pio Cesare Barolo was the leading vote getter in the February Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. Pio Cesare, located in Alba, Piedmont, was founded in 1881 by Cesare Pio and it is now owned and operated by the fifth generation of the family. Gambero Rosso, Italy’s most distinguished wine journal, notes that today Pio Cesare “invariably offers…

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1997 Barolo
Bottle Notes

Pick My Next Bottle – 1997 Barolo

The February installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on 1997 Barolo. 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. I plan on opening the winning bottle on February 27th and publishing an in-depth Bottle Note on the 28th. The…

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