Elyse Winery 2016 GlenLyon Vineyard Sonoma County Syrah; 2014 York Creek Vineyard Napa Petite Sirah Continuing on with my Elyse Winery visit, see my November 1, 2019 review of their 2018 California Rose & 2015 Sonoma County Chardonnay and November 15, 2019 review of their 2014 Korte Ranch Vineyard Napa Zinfandel, 2014 Morisoli Vineyard Napa Zinfandel &2014 Dry Creek Valley Sonoma County Zinfandel together with some of its history. After thirty years of stewardship, Ray and Nancy decided that it was time to retire. What began as a casual conversation over dinner evolved into the next chapter for Elyse Winery. In October 2018, Ray and Nancy Coursen sold Elyse Winery…
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2017 Napa Carneros Red Shoulder Ranch Shafer 2016 Napa Relentless Shafer Vineyards traces its beginnings to 1972 when John Shafer left a 23-year career in the publishing industry and, with his family, moved to the Napa Valley to pursue a second career in wine. After purchasing a 210-acre estate in Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District, the Shafer family faced the arduous task of replanting the existing vineyards, which dated to the 1920s, and terracing the steep and rocky hillsides, eventually expanding vineyard acreage to its current 50 acres. From a modest beginning of 1,000 cases in 1978, the winery has grown steadily until…
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Frank Family Vineyards Napa Valley Zinfandel 2015 Recently I went to a tasting event and was able to try a selection of Frank Family Vineyards Fine Wines. A full selection is only available at the winery. Frank Family Vineyards first constructed as the Larkmead Winery in 1884, where a train had run through which is now their driveway. The building was refinished with native sandstone from the nearby hills in 1906 and still stands tall today, and at some point the original stone building was remolded. Richard (Rich) Frank started the winery as a hobby; and named it “Frank Family” to promote a Family atmosphere. The winery is believed to…
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Jaffurs Syrah Santa Barbara County 2016 In the Fall of 2018 I took a trip to Santa Barbara, CA to visit a few selective wineries and taste some of their current offerings, particularly the Rhone blends. There were four of us tasting wines and my comments, on each of the wines tasted, incorporate nuances from everyone’s palate. It was a great trip, the wines were outstanding and the folks I met at each of the wineries were extremely informative, helpful and very generous with their time. The wineries have “Wine Clubs” which offer some tremendous, small production, wines that can only be obtained directly from the vineyard. I recommend to…
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Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 2014 In 1900, at age 13, Louis Martini emigrates from his native Genoa, Italy to the U.S., where he joins his father, a fisherman, in San Francisco. In 1906, Louis makes his first wine alongside his father, who wisely sends him back to Italy to hone his craft and study winemaking at the university in Alba (Piedmont). In 1911, Louis returns to CA where he makes his first martini wine. In 1922, Louis forms the L.M. Martini Grape Products Company, producing sacramental and medicinal wine in the Prohibition-era. In 1933, Louis puts down roots in Napa, one of the original 5 wineries founded…
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The Prisoner 2013 Napa Valley Red Wine Established in 2009, The Prisoner Wine Co. emerged with the change in tenure of the Napa Valley red blend and the typical California Zinfandel. With over a decade of winemaking experience at Ravenswood crafting Zinfandel, winemaker, Jen Beloz started The Prisoner Wine Company along with a family of growers and a winemaking team to grow and produce a selection of premium blends, including Cuttings, Blindfold, and Thorn. The Prisoner was created and inspired by the drinkable “mixed black grapes” first made by the Italian immigrants who originally settled in the Napa Valley. In 2003 The Prisoner was launched and soon became the…
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Ridge 2012 Sonoma Three Valleys Ridge Vineyards history begins in 1885 when Osea Perrone, a prominent Italian doctor in San Francisco, purchased 180 acres of land near the top of Monte Bello ridge. Perrone terraced the slopes, planted vineyards and constructed the Monte Bello Winery, producing the first vintage in 1982. In the 1940’s, William Short purchased the abandoned winery and vineyards just below Perrone’s property and planted new vines. From there a number of partnerships were formed with the surrounding vineyards, mostly by individuals with Stanford Research Institute credentials, up until 1986 when the Japanese pharmaceutical company Otsuka became the owners. The Ridge team is still more like a group of inspired…
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Turley 2012 Howell Mountain Cedarman Zinfandel For the past 20 years, the strongest hand at the Zinfandel wheel has been Larry Turley of Turley Wine Cellars, which released its first wines with the 1993 vintage. Turley pioneered a plush, richly fruity style of Zinfandel that helped establish the varietal as a world-class contender. Turley’s Zins appear on some of the wine lists of America’s best restaurants. Born in Tennessee and raised in Georgia, Larry has spent the better part of his life on a farm. This being the south, they were primarily tobacco and dairy farms; nevertheless, his respect for the land and its cultivation began at a young age.…
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Clos Du Val 2011 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Clos Du Val, French for “small vineyard estate of a small valley,” was founded in 1972 in the now legendary Stags Leap District of Napa Valley by Franco-American entrepreneur John Goelet. After a worldwide search to purchase vineyard properties from which to craft world-class wines, 150 acres in Stags Leap and 180 acres in Carneros were chosen, solidifying Clos Du Val’s iconic stature and formidable place in Napa Valley history. Today, Winemaker Kristy Melton, handcrafts wines to reflect the classic style, finesse and grace Clos Du Val is known for. The Three Graces, Splendor, Mirth and Joy have adorned Clos Du Val’s labels…
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Ferrari-Carano 2012 Siena The Ferrari-Carano Winery was founded in 1981 by Don and Rhonda Carano and is located in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley. If you enjoy pairing food with wine, be sure to visit the Ferrari-Carano website where Rhonda has a number of recipes. So if you are adventurous and have a passion for good food and wine, then try some of her recipes. I opened the 2012 Siena, which is a blend of Sangiovese, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep Ruby color with aromas of red and black fruits and spicy notes. The palate shows the fruit well as berries and cherries take over with almost a jammy…