Michael David Winery Chardonnay 2015

categories: Booze, Wine

A good wine is like a good book (or movie or favorite t-shirt). Sometimes when you find one you like you just keep going back to it over and over and never stop to think about what else the author has written or winemaker has produced (or director or designer has created). Such was my case with Michael David Winery: I only ever knew him for his Petite Petit. Well, lo-and-behold, he makes other wines — and you can find those wines at the store! Well, I at least found Michael David Winery Chardonnay…

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19
Oct
2016

MacRostie Winery & Vineyards Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2014

categories: Booze, Wine

I first heard of MacRostie Winery & Vineyard while editing winery reviews at work. It’s not a small name winery, in fact, the MacRostie’s have roots in Sonoma County dating back to the early 70s before Sonoma was the wine country we know now. Suffice it to say, they’re well-established both in name and product. But I think theirs is a name and product a lot of grocery-store wine consumers haven’t heard of.

Their wines float to the top shelf, they’re not in mid-line eye-level. And I think there’s a mis-conception about “top shelf” wines. Just because a wine is literally located on the top shelf doesn’t mean it’s obscure, fancy, or pricey. I’ve only recently trained my eyes to gaze upwards in the wine aisle. And, when I did, I found MacRostie Winery Sonoma Coast Chardonnay.

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18
Oct
2016

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards Sonoma County “Old Vines” Zinfandel 2013

categories: Booze, Wine

I’ve been having fun experimenting with Zinfandels lately. I found that the key to this experiment is to chose from reputable wineries who reside in the heart of Zinfandel heaven (Sonoma). This may mean gazing your eyes upward in the wine aisle, and it may mean stretching that price limit a few dollars higher. But I say to you, as an average wine consumer who’s in the throws of discovering what “good wine” really means, it’s worth it. And St. Francis Zinfandel? It’s totally worth it.

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17
Oct
2016

Winemaker One-on-One: Jean-Francois Pellet

categories: Booze, Wine

Walla Walla, Washington Winemaker Jean Francois Pellet

jean-franaois-pellet-in-pepper-bridge-vineyard — Photo Courtesy of Pepper Bridge Winery website

Before the Wine & Spirit Magazine Top 100 Tasting event, I sat down with Pepper Bridge Winery and Amavi Cellars winemaker Jean Francois Pellet to taste and discuss his Washington Wines.

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10
Oct
2016

Kenwood Vineyards Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc 2014

categories: Booze, Wine

Sauvignon Blanc has never been my go-to wine, but I’ve recently found a new appreciation for the varietal. I mean, I guess it’s true with any wine — there will by bad ones and there will be good ones and it all depends on the land, the hands, and the man (or woman). What I mean is, regardless of grape, the end result will be a product of its environment as well as the winemaker’s hand in the winemaking process. I had a chance to sip and savor this Sauvignon Blanc alongside Kenwood Vineyards winemaker himself, Pat Henderson, and learn first hand what went in to crafting this SB.