Category Archives: California

Sangiacomo Wines: Current Releases from Sonoma

Posted on September 14, 2020 by don

The Sangiacomos are third generation farmers in Sonoma with fifteen different vineyards and more than 100 individually farmed sites  located in Carneros, Sonoma Coast, Petaluma Gap and Sonoma Valley. Until recently they exclusively sold grapes to the top wineries in Sonoma … Continue reading →

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Siduri Pinot Noir: Latest Releases from California and Oregon

Posted on July 23, 2020 by don

Siduri is one of America’s preeminent producers of Pinot Noir. Under the guidance of founder Adam Lee, it produces a wide variety of vineyard designated premium wines and blends from celebrated vineyards in California and Oregon. Adam and his winemaker, … Continue reading →

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Cameron Hughes: An American Negociant Offering Wines of Superb Value

Posted on July 20, 2020 by don

Cameron Hughes is a wine négociant who started his eponymous enterprise in 2001, buying excess, bulk wine from well-known California wineries, bottling it and selling it at Costco and other discount locations.  This business model works well when there’s surplus wine. … Continue reading →

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James MacPhail’s Tongue Dancer: New Releases from Russian River Valley and the Sonoma Coast

Posted on July 20, 2020 by don

Veteran winemaker James MacPhail has four new offerings of his Tongue Dancer wines, and each is a pleasure to drink.  Sourced from top vineyards in the Russian River Valley and the Sonoma Coast, the new releases include a Chardonnay, a Pinot … Continue reading →

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Flora Spring of Napa Valley: Current Releases

Posted on July 14, 2020 by don

Flora Springs is one of the Napa Valley’s storied wineries.  Located at the base of the Mayacamas mountain range in Napa Valley, it became famous in the 1990s, especially for its Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, its best known for its flagship wine, … Continue reading →

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Ron Rubin’s Very Good Value Wines from the Russian River Valley

Posted on July 10, 2020 by don

Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley is home to some of California’s best vineyards and winemakers, and many of the wines are priced accordingly.  It’s not easy to find inexpensive, good quality wines from this part of the wine world.  Ron Rubin is … Continue reading →

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Cabernet Sauvignon from Lake County’s Hawk and Horse Vineyard: 2008-2016

Posted on May 21, 2020 by don

Hawk and Horse is a family-owned and operated, Demeter-Biodynamic certified vineyard located in the Mayacamas Mountain range of the Red Hills AVA of Lake County [see map below].  The 18 acre, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard has red volcanic soils and … Continue reading →

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Napa’s Castello di Amorosa Spreads its Wings

Posted on May 11, 2020 by don

This Napa-based family winery was opened in April 2007 by owner Dario Sattui.  It operates from an authentically built castle and winery situated in the hills just south of the city of Calistoga.  On our visit to the Castello a … Continue reading →

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Le Cadeau Vineyard: New Releases from Willamette Valley

Posted on April 28, 2020 by mike

Le Cadeau Vineyard is one of Willamette Valley’s premier family wineries.  Established in 1997 by founders Deb and Tom Mortimer, Le Cadeau  was one of the early pioneers in Oregon’s Chehalem Mountains, dedicated to producing high quality Chardonnay and Pinot … Continue reading →

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Crooked Path of Paso Robles: New Releases

Posted on April 24, 2020 by mike

Crooked Path Cellars is owned by Nancy and Craig Stoller and Vino Del Sol, importer and marketing agent of wines from Argentina, Chile and New Zealand. Craig is also CEO of Sunridge Nurseries, the only California-certified nursery block in the … Continue reading →

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