• California,  Chardonnay,  Exceptional White,  Sonoma

    Exceptional White

    Patz & Hall 2012 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay I recently reviewed Patz & Hall 2011 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, see July 22, 2014.  I thought the wine was impressive, but in 2012 the growing season was longer and cooler allowing the winemaker to pick the fruit at the peak of ripeness.  As luck turned out I was eating dinner at Delmar restaurant in Chatham, MA, on Cape Cod, and their wine list had Patz & Hall’s Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, but listed the 2011 vintage.  I asked the bartender Tim to root around and see if they might have the 2012 vintage.  Eureka, Tim came back with a 2012 Dutton Ranch.  Founded by…

  • California,  Chardonnay,  Mid-Week Wines,  Sonoma

    Mid-Week White

    Chateau St. Jean 2011 Chardonnay Robert Young Vineyards Not long ago, I commented on Chateau St. Jean’s 2011 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, today I am going to comment on their single vineyard Chardonnay from the Robert Young Vineyards.  The estate of Chateau St. Jean is located at the foot of Sugarloaf Ridge in the Sonoma Valley near Kenwood, California.  The estate was founded in 1973 and recognized as a true leader in “Vineyard Designated” wines.  The winemaker, Margo Van Staaveren, brings with her 30 years of experience and draws out the best that Chateau St. Jean vineyards has to offer. The Robert Young Vineyard is tucked away in a protected cove…

  • California,  Chardonnay,  Exceptional White,  Sonoma

    Exceptional White

    Patz & Hall 2011 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay Russian River Valley I recently reviewed Patz & Hall 2012 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, see July 11, 2014.  I was impressed by this wine I had to try Patz & Hall’s Dutton Ranch Chardonnay and was able to grab a 2011 vintage.  Founded by 4 individuals Patz & Hall is one of California’s premier wineries. In 2011 the growing season was extremely cool resulting in a very small crop, with tiny berries in small clusters.  Such low yields heighten the wine’s concentration, density and texture.  Dutton Ranch, Russian River Valley, is one of several single vineyard Chardonnay’s offered by Patz & Hall.  Opening a bottle…

  • Cabernet Franc,  Cabernet Sauvignon,  California,  Exceptional Red,  Merlot,  Sonoma

    Exceptional Red

    Beringer 2010 Knights Valley Caberinet Sauvignon Beringer Vineyards roots date back about 140 years ago when Jacob Beringer sailed from his home in Mainz Germany to New York. After arriving in the “new world”, Jacob heard that the rocky hillside soil and fertile valley floor of Napa Valley resembled that of the vineyards back home in Germany. Jacob, and his brother Frederick, headed for Napa and purchased 215 acres of land in 1875, becoming one of the first wineries in Napa. A lot of time has passed and Beringer has perfected its craft of making fine wines, balancing time-tested traditions with modern technology, resulting in a portfolio of admired vineyards,…

  • California,  Chardonnay,  Exceptional White,  Sonoma

    Exceptional White

    Patz & Hall 2012 Sonoma Coast 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 premier wineries, with a renowned portfolio of single-vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. The seeds for Patz & Hall were planted in the 1980s when assistant winemaker James Hall and national sales manager Donald Patz struck up a close friendship while working together at Flora Springs Winery and Vineyards. The two discovered a mutual enthusiasm for a rich and compelling style of wine made by applying traditional winemaking techniques to fruit from elite,…

  • California,  Exceptional Red,  Pinot Noir,  Sonoma

    Exceptional Red

    Joseph Phelps 2011 Pinot Freestone Vineyards Exceptional Red for a Red, White & Blue Day! I recently posted comments on Joseph Phelps 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, their regular Cabernet offering, and was extremely impressed with the wine I wanted to try their Pinot Noir and see how the quality matches up with his Vinification of other grapes.  I previously discussed That Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a family-owned winery founded in 1973, so refer to my May 2, 2014 Post to get additional background. The philosophy of Joseph Phelps Vineyards is to maintain, preserve and (where possible and appropriate) ecologically enhance the natural vineyard environment.  While this goal is essential for present…

  • California,  Sauvignon Blanc,  Sonoma

    Exceptional White

    Merry Edwards 2011 Sauvignon Blanc Warm weather is finally arriving so it’s time to pop open a Sauvignon Blanc, but not just any Sauvignon Blanc, let’s kick off the summer with one of the best.  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.  For the next decade, Merry consulted for numerous wineries, large and small, in Oregon and many diverse appellations of California. In 1997, family and friends joined Merry to found Merry Edwards Winery, with a focus…

  • California,  Carignane,  Exceptional Red,  Grenache,  Petite Sirah,  Sonoma,  Zinfandel

    Exceptional Red

    Ridge 2011 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…

  • California,  Chardonnay,  Mid-Week Wines,  Sonoma

    Mid-Week White

    Sonoma-Cutrer 2012 Russian River Ranches Chardonnay Recently I commented on Sonoma-Cutrer 2010 Russian River Pinot Noir (see March 7, 2014 post) and described that 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,…

  • California,  Pinot Noir,  Sonoma,  Weekend Selection

    Weekend Selection

    David Bruce 2011 Sonoma Coast 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. A young dermatologist, David Bruce, discovered wine while a medical student. After completing his medical residency, David Bruce purchased 40 acres of land above the fog-line in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He cleared the land (by himself) and planted the vineyard (also by himself). During the 1960’s there were only a few working wineries in the region. In the first 25 years of…