Monthly Archives: October 2012

Concha y Toro’s Terroir Driven Wines from Coastal and River Basin Vineyards

Posted on October 19, 2012 by don

Concha y Toro winemaker Marcelo Papa was in town this week, and we met up with him to taste new releases and catch up on the news from Chile.  We last tasted with Marcelo in Santiago while preparing our report … Continue reading →

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Book Review: A Vineyard in Napa — The Story of Shafer Vineyards

Posted on October 18, 2012 by don

In the early 1970s, John Shafer, a Midwest businessman with no experience growing grapes or making wine purchased a 209 acre, steeply terrained farm in a part of the Napa Valley known as Stags Leap.  Fast forward forty years, and … Continue reading →

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New Zealand Wines from Lake Chalice

Posted on October 11, 2012 by don

Lake Chalice is a medium sized, privately owned winery located in New Zealand’s Marlborough wine region. It was established in 1989 by Chris Gambitsis and Phil Binnie on the original 28 acre, notoriously stony Falcon Vineyard but has since expanded … Continue reading →

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Paso Robles’ Unique Terroir: Margarita Vineyard and Ancient Peaks Wines

Posted on October 9, 2012 by don

Late this summer, we spent a week meeting winemakers, tasting wines, and visiting some of the special vineyards of Paso Robles to prepare our Report # 33: The Wines of Paso Robles.  Margarita Vineyard, home to Ancient Peaks Winery, is … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Roy Cloud’s To Burgundy and Back Again

Posted on October 5, 2012 by don

  There are many books on wine. Most are low calorie, fluffy tomes. Some are pedantic and boring.   A very few are actually fun to read.  Roy Cloud’s To Burgundy and Back Again [Lyons Press, Guilford, CT] is one of … Continue reading →

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Petite Sirah from the Hess Collection

Posted on October 4, 2012 by mike

Our friend, Randle Johnson, (pictured here) winemaker at the Hess Collection, is a Petite Sirah enthusiast. He loves working with the grape and produces rich age-worthy wines from different vineyards in Mendocino County. His colleague, Dave Guffy, produces one from … Continue reading →

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