Monthly Archives: February 2022

Dutton Goldfield New Releases: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir from the 2019 Vintage

Posted on February 26, 2022 by don

This article reviews the new, 2019 releases of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Dutton Goldfield winery near Sebastopol. The 2019 vintage in Northern California was cool, reminiscent of vintages two or three decades ago.  At least until the Kincade … Continue reading →

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Selections from Eden Estate, a Boutique Winery in Saratoga

Posted on February 24, 2022 by don

John Couch, former Apple executive, created the Eden Estate vineyard and winery in Saratoga in the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation, and asked Bill Brosseau to help him make the wine.  We review their Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon selections below. The … Continue reading →

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South Africa’s Cool Climate Wines from Richard Kershaw

Posted on February 23, 2022 by don

Although the Western Cape’s closest southern neighbor is Antarctica, it’s not usually thought of as being a cool climate wine region. Enter Richard Kershaw MW, who established his eponymous winery in Elgin in 2012 with the goal of creating site-specific, … Continue reading →

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Santa Barbara’s SAMsARA Winery: Current Releases

Posted on February 22, 2022 by don

Located in Goleta, home to UC Santa Barbara, the SAMsARA winery is owned by Joan and Dave Szkutak who purchased it in 2017 from Chad Melville.  SAMsARA sources grapes from some of Santa Barbara’s best vineyards in the Sta. Rita … Continue reading →

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Bodegas Juan Gil and El Nido: Raising the Bar in Jumilla

Posted on February 20, 2022 by don

Founded in 1916 by Juan Gil Jiménez, Juan Gil Bodegas Familiares is now managed by the fourth generation of the family. We recently visited the Juan Gil winery in Jumilla and tasted the wines with Miguel Gil, President, and Loren … Continue reading →

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Dragonette: Seeking Perfection in the Sta. Rita Hills

Posted on February 16, 2022 by don

Dragonette is a story about three wine-loving, young men, two of whom worked in a wine store in LA, decided to make wine and ended up producing stellar ones.  It helps, of course, that they ended up in one of … Continue reading →

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Liquid Farm: In Search of Burgundy in the Sta Rita Hills

Posted on February 15, 2022 by don

The Sta Rita Hills is a collegial place where vineyards share fruit and winemakers share their knowledge and experience. Inspired by the wines of Burgundy, Jeff Nelson started Liquid Farm in 2009 with assistance from Brandon Sparks-Gillis, winemaker at Dragonette. … Continue reading →

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Boordy Vineyards: New Releases from Maryland

Posted on February 14, 2022 by don

Boordy Vineyards was founded in 1945 by Philip Wagner, one of America’s most influential post WWII winemakers. About a decade ago, Boordy’s current owner, UC Davis graduate Rob Deford, began a major replanting of old vineyards, planting new vineyards in … Continue reading →

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Peake Ranch: New Releases from the Sta. Rita Hills

Posted on February 13, 2022 by don

Founded in 2012 by John and Gillian Wagner of Los Angeles, Peake Ranch occupies 105 acres (50 planted) on the southeastern end of the Santa Rita Hills on Santa Rosa Road.  The plantings at the ranch include seven different clones … Continue reading →

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Viña Elena’s Bruma del Estrecho de Marín: Expressions of Terroir in Jumilla

Posted on February 10, 2022 by don

Located at the southernmost part of Jumilla just 60 km from the Mediterranean, Viña Elena was founded in 1948 by Francisco Pacheco Pérez. Today, the third generation of the Pacheco family makes the wine and manages the vineyards and winery. … Continue reading →

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