Category: Wine Reviews
2002 Three Saints Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara, California
Three Saints Vineyard is a small production vineyard that I really don’t know much about. They make a Pinot, a
1999 Martella Vineyards “Fiddletown” Zinfandel, Amador County, California
I have already sung Michael Martella’s praises in conjunction with his Hammer Syrah but in case you didn’t notice, let
2001 Villa Toscano “Fox Creek Vineyard” Zinfandel, Shenandoah Valley, California
A week or so ago, I had a friend come visit me from the Sierra Foothills in Amador county. Knowing
2001 Laetitia Estate Pinot Noir, Arroyo Grand Valley, Central Coast California
The Arroyo Grand Valley, home to Laetitia, is located just outside of San Luis Obispo, California. It is one of
2002 Turkey Flat Grenache, Barossa Valley, Australia
Turkey Flat Vineyards was established in 1847, giving it some of the oldest vines in Australia, which contribute to the
2001 Howell Mountain Vineyards “Beatty Ranch” Zinfandel, Napa
Two vineyards are better than one, certainly, but combining two properties to create a new winery doesn’t always make for
2001 Handley Pinot Noir, Mendocino County
Quaint is perhaps the best adjective to describe Handley Cellars, a small family run operation south of Mendocino in the
2001 Skewis Pinot Noir, Floodgate Vineyard, Anderson Valley
There’s something to be said for focus — doing one thing and doing it well. But why is it that
2003 Palama Salento Rosato Metiusco, Puglia, Italy
The winery at Azienda Vinicola Palama has been around since 1936, and is still in the Palama family. While proprietor
2002 Salvatore Murana Zibibbo Bianco, Pantelleria, Italy
Imagine yourself shipwrecked and storm tossed in the middle of the ancient Mediterranean. By some stroke of luck you find
2000 Morgan “Gary’s Vineyard” Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, California
It’s not a huge leap from veterinary medicine to winemaking, and that leap is made even shorter when you’re enrolled
2001 Joseph Swan “Cuvee de Trois” Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma
Vineyards are often the stuff of dreams, the long sought after goals of some, or simply an inevitable plan for
2000 Ceja Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa
Many of the small production wineries and their wines that I feature here are built with the help of migrant
Hartford Family Vineyards’ Current Releases
I’ve reviewed at least one Hartford Family wine here already, but on a beautiful, sunny Father’s day afternoon this week,
2001 Gargiulo Vineyards “Money Road Ranch” Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville
I think there’s an interesting phenomenon happening in Napa right now. It seems every day there’s a new small Napa
2001 Liparita Chardonnay, Carneros
Liparita was launched in 1987 with 100 cases of Chardonnay and derives its name from from the Sicilian island of
2001 Stephen Ross Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley, California
Continuing with my tastings in recent weeks of wines from the California Central Coast here is a great Pinot from
2001 Detert Cabernet Franc, Oakville
It seems like many of Napa’s best small producers have the same story: earlier in the century someone buys a
2002 Jacques & Francois Lurton “Les Fumees Blanches” Fume Blanc, Vin de Pays d’Oc, France
Jacques and Francois Lurton preside over a modern-day wine dynasty that breaks the mold of their predecessors. The sons of
