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VHR, Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2008-2019
United States: California, Verticals & Retrospectives, featured
, Mar 2022
Over the last decade or so, the VHR, Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon has established itself as one of the elite wines of Napa Valley. This retrospective, back to the inaugural 2008, provided a fascinating opportunity to check in on the early vintages and revisit more recent releases that complete the arc of the last dozen years here.
The Judgement of Clapham Junction
France: Bordeaux, United Kingdom, United States: California, featured, France: Burgundy
, Mar 2022
No tasting has altered the world of wine as the late Steven Spurrier's Judgement of Paris in 1976. As a member of our "Southwold" group, we honoured our departed friend with an informal recreation of that epochal event last October with a raft of spectacular wines from Bordeaux and California.
California North Coast: Eyes Wide Open
United States: California, featured
, Jan 2022
As is our custom, we present our reviews of new releases from Sonoma County and neighboring North Coast appellations in a series of installments over the coming weeks. This report focuses on the 2020s and the 2019s, which I first covered in last year’s article. There’s a lot to talk about, so grab a glass and settle in. This might take a while.
The 2019 Napa Valley Cabernets: A Deep Dive
United States: California, featured
, Jan 2022
My annual report on Napa Valley is jam-packed. The 2019 Cabernets are big, bold wines that show the extroverted side of Napa Valley. There are plenty of fabulous wines at all levels, but 2019 does not have the across the board consistency of a truly great vintage, so readers will have to be selective.
Cellar Favorite: 2001 Kunin Syrah Alisos Vineyards
United States: California, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Dec 2021
Kunin’s 2001 Syrah Alisos Vineyards is an eye-opening wine. Still wonderfully fresh at age twenty, the 2001 impresses with its soaring floral/spice aromatics and vibrant, dark red-toned fruit.
Breaking News: Justin Willett Acquires Iconic Fiddlestix Vineyard
United States: California, featured, General Interest
, Nov 2021
Justin Willett’s acquisition of the iconic Fiddlestix Vineyard is sure to make waves for many reasons. For over a decade Willett's superb wines at Tyler have placed him in the upper echelon of Santa Barbara producers. With this investment Willett sends a strong message that the future of Tyler is very much as an estate winery in the Sta. Rita Hills and makes him one of the biggest advocates of the appellation. At Fiddlestix, Willett leads a team with partners Erik Mallea and Todd Gray of Willett-Mallea Farming and entrepreneur/wine lover William Borgers.
Santa Barbara: On the Road…Finally!
United States: California, featured
, Oct 2021
Santa Barbara continues its streak of superb vintages with the 2019s. Chardonnay and red Rhône varieties are particularly strong, while the Pinots are just a bit less consistent. There’s plenty more to explore in this report, including Bordeaux blends and the first of the 2020s. As I have written before, the vinous landscape in Santa Barbara has so much to offer.
Cellar Favorite: 1977 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Glen Ellen Vineyards
United States: California, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Oct 2021
Needless to say, readers who own or can find the 1977 will enjoy more than a wine, as the 1977 represents a piece of history.
The Enduring Power of California’s Old-Vine Field Blends
United States: California, featured, Fellowship
, Aug 2021
My discovery of Zinfandel, and more specifically its role in California’s old-vine field blends, came late in my wine education. The word ‘discovery,’ of course, is an overstatement; I had tasted Zinfandel before and associated a very specific set of characteristics with it: big, high-octane, low to medium quality - or sweet and pink. I thought this description was also well-supported by my own research; I had sampled many of the grape’s defining wines and found those views to be fairly accurate. But this was different...
California Vineyard Series: Kamen Vineyard
California Vineyard Series, United States: California, featured
, May 2021
With its undulating hills and striking contours, Kamen is one of the most evocative estates in Sonoma. The vineyard is just a short drive from the town square, yet it feels very remote. Screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen bought his property in 1980, mostly for the views, as he tells it. “I had just sold the screenplay for The Karate Kid and I wanted to celebrate,” Kamen told me recently.