Anthill Farms Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2015 Three guys crossed paths while working at Williams-Selyem in 2003 after a few years as cellar rats in California, Oregon, and Virginia, started Anthill Farms in 2004, making eight-and-a-half barrels of wine their first year. Today, they make eight single-vineyard Pinots and two appellation wines every year; depending on the vintage, they also produce a couple of Syrahs and a Chardonnay. Most of their wines are released to their mailing list members while a small amount of wine is released every year to restaurants and wine shops. The fruit for this Pinot comes from two of the coolest, most coastal parts of this…
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Browne Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Inspired by the greatness of one man, owner Andrew Brown’s Grandfather, William Bitner Browne, built the winery on standards of integrity and excellence. As a curator of the brightest talent, best vineyards and the divining rod of winning concepts at Precept Wine, where Andrew serves as its CEO, his groundbreaking feats across the wine industry carry through to his own family legacy in wine, Browne Family. Browne Family Vineyards was 15 years in the making before its first vintage ever debuted. Vineyards, winemakers and cellar masters committed to world-class wine production were carefully and deliberately selected to represent the best of the Columbia Valley…
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Louis Latour Meursault 2013 The Louis Latour winery was the first purpose-built cuverie in France and remains the oldest still-functioning. A unique railway system with elevators allows the entire wine-making process to be achieved by the use of gravity. This eliminates the threat of oxidation from unnecessary pumping of the must. Situated just south of Volnay and Pommard in the Côte de Beaune, Meursault is the most extensive southerly white wine commune of the Côte-d’Or. The perfect south-easterly exposure and the stony, marl soil contribute greatly to the remarkable finesse of which the wines of Meursault are capable. Typical Meursault tend to be very full, mellow wines and mature somewhat…
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Angeline Reserve Pinot Noir 2015 Courtney Benham acquired the historic Martini & Prati winery in July 2003, which is now Martin Ray Winery with a Tasting Room, the structure, dates back to the 1900’s, and was used to serve as a stable and bunkhouse where Italian immigrants stayed during harvest and crush. Established in 1881 as the Twin Fir Winery, the historic site is distinguished as the oldest winery in continuous operation in Sonoma County and one of the oldest wineries in California. The winery was able to stay in operation during prohibition by selling sacramental wines by train to Rabbis through a winery in New York. Ruby red with…
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Patz & Hall 2014 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay Patz & Hall was founded in 1988 by four individuals; Donald Patz, James Hall, Anne Moses and Heather Patz. Together, they have turned Patz & Hall into one of California’s most highly regarded wineries, with a celebrated portfolio of single-vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. I previously reviewed the 2011, 2012 & 2013 vintages of Dutton Ranch chardonnay and found the wines impressive, but the 2014 growing season was remarkable. Bright straw yellow with aromas of fresh fruit, stone fruits and citrus with floral notes. On the palate, the flavor was somewhat complex, full and rich with layered flavors of peach, green apple,…
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Hall Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2014 Kathryn Walt Hall is the proprietor of Hall Wines and has been involved in the California wine industry since her family first purchased a vineyard over thirty years ago. She has had a distinguished career as a successful businesswoman, community activist, and most recently as the United States Ambassador to Austria. Kathryn Hall and her family have been grape growers in Mendocino County since 1972. The Walt family owns 63 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc in the Redwood Valley and has sold their grapes to such wineries as Fetzer, Parducci and Beringer. Kathryn managed the family vineyard from…
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Maddy Txakoli Bizkaiko Txakolina 2015 Who is Maddy? Maddy is a Mythological Goddess from the Basque Country and has appeared in local rural legends since time immemorial. She is a deity with a woman’s body and face, who is described as attractive and elegantly dressed. She is said to be able to fly over the peaks of the mountains, where she lives and from which she foretells and ordains the climate. As the Queen of Nature, she wields her magic over the earth, the wind, the sun and the water, decisively influencing the quality of the harvest. Maddy captures the best qualities of the Ondarrabi Zuri variety of grape. This…
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Miner Napa Valley Chardonnay 2014 Following a number of years spent working in the software industry, Dave Miner got his start in wine in 1993 as President of Oakville Ranch Vineyards, owned by his late uncle, Robert Miner. Having spent years as an enthusiastic wine consumer and collector, Dave had a natural affinity for the business. In 1998 Dave and Emily Miner, founded Miner Family Winery tucked along the eastern hills of the Oakville appellation in the heart of Napa Valley Aged for 10 Months, 30% New French Oak, sunshine yellow with full concentrated stone fruit aromas. On the palate crisp apple, melon and citrus flavors with gentle toasty oak…
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Juvé y Camps Reserva De La Familia 2013 Cava Juvé y Camps has been a family run company for three generations and has garnered an international reputation. Over two hundred years ago, Joan Juvé Mir, a bold and enterprising vine grower laid the foundations of what would become the family firm. He began the task which was carried on by his son, Antoni Juvé Escaiola, who, amongst other challenges, had to confront the effects of the terrible phylloxera plague. Advocating replanting, with other leading figures of the Penedes, he led a drive to restore the vineyards and to rebuild the wine production of the region. A man respected and loved…
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Hartford Court Land’s Edge Vineyards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2014 Hartford Family Winery was founded in 1994 as a result of Don and Jennifer Hartford’s appreciation for the wines, the people, and the unique vineyards near their Russian River Valley home. Located in the Sonoma County town of Forestville, the winery is about 15 miles from the cool Pacific Coast. From a vineyard a few miles away from the Pacific Ocean and aged, in French Oak, about 1/3 new, deep ruby with black fruit aromas and earthy floral spice notes. On the palate, raspberry, black cherry and blueberry flavors, rich and complex with integrated spice and oak. Smooth tannins with…