• Thursday throwaway

    Updated: 2012-08-30 15:22:25
    Vintage 2012 Vintage 2012 so far has been the most “normal” year I can remember. No frost last Spring. No damp, rainy conditions into June. Here we are, just days away from Labor Day, and there hasn’t yet been one of those notorious heat events that lasts for days, wrecking havoc in the vineyards. Of [...]

  • Mission Grape Has Played a Major Role in California Wine Viticultural History

    Updated: 2012-08-30 11:00:26
    The following was a final project that I wrote for my Enology class taught by Pat Henderson, winemaker for Valley of the Moon. After my presentation, which included a tasting of a light but flavorful Malvadino Mission wine, Pat asked for permission to use this piece in future classes… Permission granted. So, today, I’m not [...]

  • Should we taste wines based on alcohol level?

    Updated: 2012-08-29 14:58:33
    Jon Bonné wrote a very balanced article on Randy Dunn and his Dunn Vineyards in Sunday’s S.F. Chronicle, pointing out some of the practices that Dunn feels have “penalized” [Jon’s word] his wines’ reviews and scores. I personally have found Dunn’s Cabernets hard and tannic on those occasions when I’ve tasted them–Jon alluded to the [...]

  • Oregon Pinot Gris Symposium ~ What individual Oregon wineries can do to market the benefits of their own Pinot Gris

    Updated: 2012-08-29 11:00:23
    At the Second Annual Oregon Pinot Gris Symposium presented by Oak Knoll Winery, Paul Gregutt was asked to return as the keynote speaker. The reason for this is multilayered. First and foremost, Paul’s been writing about Northwest wines for over 25 years. He’s tasted Oregon Pinot Gris during that time, now understanding them better than [...]

  • Can expensive California wines sell themselves to a new generation of wine lovers?

    Updated: 2012-08-28 15:19:41
    That was the issue raised in the North Bay Business Journal, which interviewed Jayson Pahlmeyer, from the eponymous winery, and his company president, Brian Hilliard. Brian cut to the heart of the issue with this statement: “A long-standing stalwart for Napa wineries have [sic] been baby boomers, and now we’re trying to jump on the [...]

  • Oregon Pinot Gris Symposium Sheds More Light on Oregon Pinot Gris as a Regional Specialty

    Updated: 2012-08-28 11:00:27
    Starting with Wine Enthusiast’s Paul Gregutt’s keynote speech, the Second Annual Oregon Pinot Gris Symposium sponsored by Oak Knoll Winery, was off and running. Paul Gregutt’s no stranger to Oregon wines, having written about the Northwest since the mid 1980s. His first assignment came from Harvey Steiman at Wine Spectator, as a matter of fact. [...]

  • ***+ Chez Ray Stage Gulch Vineyard Syrah, Petaluma, Sonoma CA, 2007 - Homemade Wine Tasting & Review

    Updated: 2012-08-27 22:44:00
    : , , , skip to main skip to sidebar Chez Ray Winemaking Trials , tribulations and . tips Monday , August 27, 2012 Chez Ray Stage Gulch Vineyard Syrah , Petaluma , Sonoma CA , 2007 Homemade Wine Tasting Review Find prices and retail availability for commercial Sonoma . syrah By way of background : Stage Gulch Vineyard Syrah from Petaluma , Sonoma CA for the 2007 vintage was made from frozen grapes procured from Brehm Vineyards , as code number 527 07SGS . nbsp For my collection , the finished wine is called SG7P , because it was fermented with Pasteur yeast . nbsp Here is the approach used to winemaking for this . selection Original Tasting and Review April , 2010 In the glass : Stage Gulch Vineyard Syrah 2007 shows as medium deep velvet red in the glass , opaque at the center . nbsp On

  • And, the PS I Love You’s Phenomenal Service Award goes to….

    Updated: 2012-08-27 11:00:01
    It’s with great pleasure that the Board of Directors announced at their annual meeting that Concannon Vineyard is the PS I Love You 2012 Phenomenal Service Award. [Pictured at the 10th Annual Petite Sirah Symposium, left to right: Evan Goldstein (keynote speaker), John Concannon, and Jim Concannon.] I’ve long marveled at what Concannon has done to [...]

  • Protected: Oregon Pinot Gris Symposium ~ What Oregon wineries can do as a group to market the benefits of Oregon Pinot Gris

    Updated: 2012-08-26 17:49:40
    There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

  • Pinot Gris ~ Comparing (light) apples, to (medium) oranges, to (heavy) pear flavors

    Updated: 2012-08-24 11:00:13
    I just read a story by Joshua Mason on SCNOW, Published: August 14, 2012 entitled, A pinot gris for every taste, darnit. The title totally intrigued me, because I’m working with a group of Oregon wineries on a Pinot Gris project to get publicity for their variety. (Of course, I was intrigued.) Joshua has lived [...]

  • In the Land of Gucci, along comes Volére Wine Couture

    Updated: 2012-08-23 11:00:08
    Move over Gucci, you’ve got competition coming from the land of wine… Volére Wine Fashion Couture. Definitely aimed at the female audience, although I can see a drag queen or two wanting to tote this one. This pocket book wine container is all that… Volére Couture Wines are an original collection of premium, artisan wines wrapped [...]

  • Life with Maggie – Part 2

    Updated: 2012-08-17 19:11:56
    We last talked to Maggie about 3 years ago, just after she had embarked on her new venture at Antica Terra winery and vineyard, in Oregon. After working with Manfred and Elaine Krankl at Sine Qua Non for the better part of a decade, as well as starting her own label for California Syrah, Maggie [...]

  • Blueberry Wine Time

    Updated: 2012-08-12 01:35:42
    In many areas, blueberries are now in season and perhaps even available for picking depending on where you live. Now might be a good time to consider making that blueberry wine.

  • Updated Review: *** Chez Ray Cabernet Sauvignon, CA, 2002

    Updated: 2012-08-07 01:28:00
    : : , , skip to main skip to sidebar Chez Ray Winemaking Trials , tribulations and . tips Monday , August 06, 2012 Updated Review : Chez Ray Cabernet Sauvignon , CA , 2002 This well-aged kit wine was prepared from Wine Art Gold version cabernet sauvignon from 2002. It is deep magenta in the glass , even after eight years in the bottle . nbsp Aromas are full , fleshy and lightly sweet . nbsp On the palate , this does show the classic kit wine simpleness on the palate , with no challenging tannins nor acids . nbsp The flavor is a bit less fruity than some of the kit wines , however , offering a more satisfying sleekness . nbsp In that regard , the primary palate note is a dry black cherry , buttressed by ripe blackberry . nbsp Because of the pleasantness , a three star rating on the

  • Review & Rating: Chez Ray Syrah, Alexander Valley, Sonoma, CA, 2007 (S7)

    Updated: 2012-08-06 01:18:00
    : : , , , , skip to main skip to sidebar Chez Ray Winemaking Trials , tribulations and . tips Sunday , August 05, 2012 Review Rating : Chez Ray Syrah , Alexander Valley , Sonoma , CA , 2007 S7 This is Chez Ray Syrah from frozen Alexander Valley must from Brehm Vineyards , Sonoma , CA 2007 . vintage Immediately below are notes from our 2011 blending party S7 2007 Lodi Syrah , CA Ray : color , mid brick aroma , bold , some black cherry , alcoholic flavor , chocolate and sweet , bright 3+ for depth . nbsp Jim : color , deep red pink aroma , spice flavor , good fruit , slight tannic finish , 4+ . nbsp Eric : nbsp aroma , not much aroma flavor , thin , a bit spicy and acidic 2. Rob : color , very deep red aroma , grassy , fresh flavvor , smooth , tannic 3. Updated review This tasting is a few

  • Review: *** C8 Chez Ray Lanza Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, CA, 2008

    Updated: 2012-08-04 04:19:00
    : : , , , skip to main skip to sidebar Chez Ray Winemaking Trials , tribulations and . tips Friday , August 03, 2012 Review : C8 Chez Ray Lanza Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon , Lodi , CA , 2008 Original tasting and review This is C8 Chez Ray Lanza Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon , Lodi , CA , 2008. The wine was vinted from fresh grapes , described here In the : glass Medium magenta , opaque in the . center On the : nose Poured at cool room temperature and swirled vigorously , shows bold , deep fruitiness . nbsp From the aroma , seems like this will be fresh , young , primary with thick blackberry . flavors On the : palate The primary elements on the palate are in fact round and full in the mid-palate . nbsp Yes , primary blackberry fruit is still apparent , but not overwhelming . nbsp Some oak

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