Tag: red wine


Dec
2016

Lauterbach Cellars Estate Syrah 2009

categories: Booze, Wine

On a recent visit to Sonoma County wine country, I popped by the mom-and-pop Lauterbach Cellars to see a boutique wine business in action. Not only was I welcome with generosity of hospitality, good spirits, and a wealth of wine knowledge — I was absolutely blown away by what this couple creates. Self-educated winemaker Stew Lauterbach and wife Barb pretty much just make the wines they like and like the wines they make. But today I want to highlight one of my favorites in the current Lauterbach line up.

lauterbach-cellars_syrah

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Nov
2016

Chateau St Jean Sonoma County Pinot Noir 2012

categories: Booze, Wine

Along with Wente and Chateau Ste Michelle, Chateau St. Jean is another wine producer that has established itself as a regular in our cellar. I first fell in love with CSJ after tasting their standard Chardonnay — totally Cal-oaked to perfection — and I have to say I knew the love was real after tasting their Pinot Noir. Light and lively, there’s nothing serious about Chateau St. Jean’s Sonoma County Pinot Noir — it’s simply easy drinking for any night of the week.

chateau-st-jean-sonoma-coast-pinot-noir-2012

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Nov
2016

Sleeper Cellars Sonoma County Pinot Noir 2013

categories: Booze, Wine

I had never heard of Sleeper Cellars before I received a generous shipment of wine samples from Last Bottle Wines, so I really didn’t know what to expect. Well, ok, I had some idea of what to expect — it’s a Russian River Pinot Noir, right? Right. But I have to say that Sleeper Cellars, whoever you are, you completely exceeded my expectations (which are quite high given the elegant Pinots that seem to burst from RRV).

sleeper-sonoma-county-pinot-noir-2013

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Nov
2016

Robert Mondavi Private Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

categories: Booze, Wine

Cabernet Sauvignon aged in Bourbon Barrels

A Limited Release offering from Robert Mondavi

After my mixed review of Apothic Inferno — a red blend aged 10 months in whiskey barrels, I became curious about this concept. I know it’s nothing new, per se, but it’s a something I don’t have a lot of tasting experience in. Knowing that there are a few, shall we say, well-established wine producers dabbling in this art, I thought I’d give it another go. And you can’t argue that Robert Mondavi is one of the most well-established California wineries to date.

So hold on to your horses, cowboys, Briscoe’s going Bourbon Barrel bobbing…

robert-mondavi-bourbon-barrel-cab

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Nov
2016

Domaine Carneros Estate Pinot Noir 2013

categories: Booze, Wine

I guess I’m excited about my upcoming Sonoma trip because it seems lately, every time I’m scouring the wine aisle for inspiration, I’ve been immediately drawn to Sonoma or Napa wines. And when you see a name like Domaine Carneros, well, it’s in the name right? Wine from the heart of Napa Valley. And so it is that I came across Domaine Carneros Estate Pinot Noir.

domaine-carneros-estate-pinot-noir-2013

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