Featured Wine Commentary
THREE CRU CLASSÉ LADIES OF THE COTES DE PROVENCE
Left to Right: Adeline de Barry, Chateau de Saint-Martin; Aurélie Bertin Teillaud, Chateau Sainte Roseline; Valérie Rousselle, Chateau Roubine This past September on a great trip that covered 10 countries in 18 days my wife, Laurie, and I, along with our friends and neighbors, Jim and Marcia Wolfe, spent a week on the Côte d’Azure […]
Click here to read entire article »ALONG THE BURGUNDY TRAIL – VINTAGE 2010
Ruins of the Abbey of Saint Vivant under restoration INTRODUCTION I previously published a brief note on the 2010 vintage as compared with the 2009 vintage. As I said then, the two vintages are completely different. (To read that article click here.) Below is the table of contents (click on each item to read) for […]
Click here to read entire article »THE OJAI VINEYARD
The Ojai Vineyard was started in 1983 by Adam Tolmach along with his wife Helen. Adam had been a partner with Jim Clendenen in starting Au Bon Climat in 1982. Prior to that time, he was the enologist at Zaca Mesa winery which was one of the early pioneer wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley. It was there that he met Jim Clendenen. He remained a partner of Au Bon Climat until 1991 as he continued to develop his winery.
Click here to read entire article »KUDOS FOR CALERA
Owner Josh Jensen, an Oxford graduate, became interested in wine at an early age. And after graduation his interest led him to Burgundy where in 1970 and 1971 he apprenticed at Domaine Romanee Conti and Domaine Dujac. Domaine Romanee Conti is the greatest Domaine in Burgundy and has a history dating back hundreds of years. Domaine Dujac was founded in 1968 and produced fabulous wines in 1969 just before Josh arrived.
Click here to read entire article »THE HOLY TRINITY OF WINERIES
THE HOLY TRINITY OF WINERIES INTRODUCTION These three wineries are housed in one facility in Santa Maria. Au Bon Climat Winery (which means “a well exposed vineyard”) was founded in 1982 by Jim Clendenen and Adam Tolmach. Qupé Winery was also started in 1982 by Bob Lindquist. Chanin Wine Company was started in 2007 by […]
Click here to read entire article »MOUNT EDEN VINEYARDS AND DOMAINE EDEN — SOMETHING OLD AND SOMETHING NEW
Mount Eden Vineyards is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It was launched in 1972 on the site of the old Martin Ray Estate which was started in 1945. My first visit to Mount Eden was in the early 1970s. The wines from here are some of the best made in California and I have been tasting, drinking, and writing about them for over 40 years.
Click here to read entire article »RIDGE VINEYARDS – UNCOMPROMISING QUALITY
The history of Ridge Vineyards begins in 1885, when Osea Perrone, a doctor who became a prominent member of San Francisco’s Italian community, bought 180 acres near the top of Monte Bello Ridge. He terraced the slopes and planted vineyards; using native limestone, he constructed the Monte Bello Winery, producing the first vintage under that name in 1892.
Click here to read entire article »The Dueling Inexpensive Red Wine Line-Ups — Which Ones Went To The Drinking Round And Which Ones Went Down The Drain?
I have always been curious. In all of my endeavors, I have referred to this trait as “turning over rocks.” You have to turn over rocks to see what is underneath. That takes some effort. Many people do not care. But for those that do, there is no assurance of what you will find. Maybe it will be a gold nugget or maybe it will be a rattle snake! Or, even more likely, it will be something in between. So it is with wine.
Click here to read entire article »A Pair To Draw From – Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard and Quinta Cruz
This is the story of two wineries, one is the remains of a winery that was established in the early days of the California wine boom and the other is only a few years old. But they have a lot in common. They are now united in one winery facility. They have a common proprietor/winemaker with a long history of making balanced, harmonious, and flavorful wines without excessive oak or alcohol.
Click here to read entire article »T FOR TWO – TABLAS CREEK AND TYLER TOO!
This is a tale of two wineries. Both are relatively new and both come from different perspectives. But both have one thing in common. That is to produce wines that are harmonious and have complexity and balance. The results so far from both wineries are very impressive. They are definitely wines to seek out.
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