Category Archives: California
Syrah, Ramey Wine Cellars, Sonoma Coast AVA, California, 2013, 14.5% abv (US$59)
Four years ago this month, I graduated with the WSET Diploma – a credential anyone who works in wine and spirits will know is that difficult. Drinking lots of interesting things to support my wine studies and habit has never … Continue reading
Chardonnay, Wayfarer, Wayfarer Vineyard, Fort Ross – Seaview AVA, Sonoma County, California, 14.5% abv, 2014, US$89
So, a Winellama walks into the new Las Vegas Total Wine and asks whether they carry any wines from California’s Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. “Oh no, most definitely not,” she is told. Except they do, because after an hour of browsing, … Continue reading
Murrieta’s Well Estate Vineyard, Livermore Valley AVA, California
Next time you are in San Francisco – or somewhere around the Bay area – here’s a winery you can plan a trip to and be at in about 2 hours. Murrieta’s Well is one of the original wineries of … Continue reading
Syrah, Alban Vineyards, Patrina, Edna Valley, California, 2013, 15.5% abv, US$50
People often ask me, “What is your favourite red wine?” Syrah, hands down. But, not just any old Syrah. It has to be well made – and this one is. You. Must. Drink. This. Alban Vineyards is located in Edna … Continue reading
Pinot Noir, Poseidon Vineyard, Primo’s Hill, Los Carneros, Napa Valley, California, 2014, 14.3% abv. US$49
On a trip to California while on the hunt for Napa and Sonoma wines, we found this bottle of Primo’s Hill Pinot Noir from Poseidon Vineyard at @BirdRockFineWine. Only 125 cases were made of this from fruit grown on two … Continue reading
Cabernet Sauvignon, Caymus Vineyards, Special Selection, Napa Valley, California, 1994, 13.9% abv. C$250.00
If you were going to write about a classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, this would be the one to write about. This bottle was 22 years old when we opened it. Think about that for a minute. Twenty-two years ago in … Continue reading
Pinot Noir, Toulouse, Alexander Valley AVA, California, 2011, 14% abv., US$28
Toulouse is located near the northwestern end of the Alexander Valley AVA, a few short kilometers after emerging from the switchback drive through the Navarro River Redwoods State Park from Mendocino on the Californian coast. We visited there in August … Continue reading
Chardonnay, Migration, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, 14.1% abv, US$32
About 10 days after we visited Migration’s Alexander Valley tasting room and winery in August 2016, it was sold as part of the Duckhorn Wine Company deal (which includes Duckhorn Vineyards, Paraduxx, Goldeneye and Migration) to San Francisco-based TSG Consumer … Continue reading
Cabernet Sauvignon, J.Lohr, Seven Oaks, Paso Robles, California, 2013, 13.5% abv, C$23
Although Jerry Lohr may have started out small in the 1970s, you could hardly say he stayed that way. Today, his Californian wine empire encompasses vineyards in three regions (Monterey, Paso Robles and Napa) growing grapes on 3,633 acres and … Continue reading
Cabernet Sauvignon, Caymus Vineyards, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, 1 litre, 2014, 14.8% abv, US$90
It doesn’t get much better or more stereotypical Napa Valley red than this! Caymus is an entrenched Napa brand. Big time rich, deep, and larger than life, their wines are those one thinks of when lusting after one the luscious … Continue reading
