• California,  Chardonnay,  Exceptional White,  Russian River Valley,  Sonoma

    Exceptional White

    Sonoma-Cutrer The Cutrer Sonoma Chardonnay 2015 I first became acquainted with Sonoma-Cutrer during a Sonoma wine tasting event in the 80’s and met Brice Cutrer Jones. When I tasted his Chardonnay, in a word, outstanding, one of the best I have tasted, but that was a while ago. The Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay was my “go-to” Chardonnay until about the time Brice Cutrer Jones was no longer associated with the winery. In 1999, Brown-Forman, the Kentucky-based drinks giant acquired Sonoma-Cutrer, and 2 years later fired Brice Cutrer Jones. Since Brice’s departure, the Chardonnay was good, but not “outstanding”. I have tried several vintages throughout the early 2000’s and was…

  • California,  Chardonnay,  Exceptional White,  Muscat,  Sauvignon Blanc,  Sonoma

    Exceptional White

    Orin Swift Mannequin 2015 Chardonnay The history of Orin Swift Cellars dates back to 1995 when on a lark, David Swift Phinney took a friend up on an offer and went to Florence, Italy to spend a semester “studying”. During that time, he was introduced to wine, how it was made, and got hooked. A few more years of university led to graduation and eventually a job at Robert Mondavi Winery in 1997 as a temporary harvest worker. Deciding that if he was going to work this hard, it would eventually have to be for himself, so in 1998 he founded Orin Swift Cellars; Orin is his father’s middle name…

  • California,  Pinot Noir,  Sonoma,  Weekend Selection

    Weekend Selection

    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…

  • California,  Chardonnay,  Exceptional White,  Sonoma

    Exceptional White

    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,…

  • California,  Cellar Selection,  Pinot Noir,  Sonoma

    Cellar Selection

    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…

  • California,  Pinot Noir,  Sonoma,  Weekend Selection

    Weekend Selection

    David Bruce 2014 Sonoma County Pinot Noir The David Bruce Winery was founded in the remote Santa Cruz Mountains in the early 1960’s and was one of the first of a new generation of wineries that would lead a modern resurgence of premium winemaking in the region. David Bruce Winery has earned an international reputation throughout its nearly four decades for its dedication to producing the greatest pinot noir in the world. In pursuit of his goal, the winery has adhered to traditional European winemaking practices that trace their lineage back to the early pioneers of winemaking in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley. David Bruce Winery has…

  • Cabernet Sauvignon,  California,  Cellar Selection,  Sonoma

    Cellar Selection

    Hidden Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Surrounded by gnarled oak and Manzanita forests on the south and western slopes of Spring Mountain in the Mayacamas mountain range, Hidden Ridge Vineyard is so remote it can be reached only by heavy-duty four-wheel-drive vehicles, by foot or by helicopter. The 55-acre vineyard was developed and planted by husband and wife team Casidy Ward and Lynn Hofacket to grow stellar mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Made by winemaking team Marco DiGiulio and Timothy Milos at Bin to Bottle in Napa, efforts in the vineyard and the cellar have produced a Cabernet Sauvignon that sings loudly, on slopes as steep as 55%. Bought this on a recommendation…

  • California,  Cellar Selection,  Pinot Noir,  Russian River Valley,  Sonoma

    Cellar Selection

    Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Eastside Road Neighbors 2013 Williams Selyem Winery began as a dream of two friends, Ed Selyem and Burt Williams, who pursued weekend winemaking as a hobby in 1979 in a garage in Forestville, California, and made their first commercial vintage in 1981. In less than two decades, Burt and Ed created a cult-status winery receiving global praise. Together they set the standard for Pinot Noir winemaking in the U. S. Today John and Kathe Dyson, purchased the winery from Burt and Ed in 1998, carry on the passion for Pinot Noir winemaking. Had this at an event; Barrel aged for 15 months (60% new and 40%…

  • California,  Pinot Noir,  Sonoma,  Weekend Selection

    Weekend Selection

    Merry Edwards 2013 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir One of California’s first woman winemakers, Merry Edwards began her career at Mount Eden Vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains in 1974. She went on to become the founding winemaker at Matanzas Creek in 1977 and remained there until 1984. In 1997, family and friends joined Merry to found Merry Edwards Winery, with a focus on producing Pinot Noirs with a sense of place from Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast. Living her dream, she and her husband, Ken Coopersmith, now manage five estate vineyards: Coopersmith, Cresta d’Oro, Flax, Georganne and Meredith. They maintain collaborative relationships with several other dedicated growers to supplement…

  • California,  Cellar Selection,  Pinot Noir,  Sonoma

    Cellar Selection

    Belle Glos 2014 Dairman Pinot Noir Owner/winemaker, Joe Wagner chose the name Belle Glos (pronounced “BELL GLOSS”) to honor his grandmother, Lorna Belle Glos Wagner. Lorna was a co-founder of Caymus Vineyards, an inspirational figure to Joseph and an avid lover of Pinot Noir. Belle Glos produces Pinot Noirs produced from California’s noteworthy coastal wine-growing regions. While each vineyard location lies near the Pacific Ocean, the climate differences are significant, varying with the amount of fog, wind, sunlight, and soil type at each site. Each Vineyard Designate is crafted to distill the purest essence of the locale into elegant expressions of California Pinot Noir. As a fifth generation Napa Valley…