We'll be picking the Oak Knoll District Merlot next. 2008 Hanzell Estate Sonoma Pinot Noir Briny, musky, with notes of damp earth and mild but fresh spice aromas with bright fresh and sweet grape notes on top. Harvest is progressing nicely, if slowly, here in Napa Valley. Our 2011 St. In Rutherford our newly contracted 1.27 MORE >>

Now owned by Anthony Russell (son of the founder) and producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The wines produced here are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc, all very balanced, elegant, and Burgundian as you can imagine. Hermanus is a coastal town about in the most southern part of S. African winemaking world. MORE >>

A few weeks ago I read a very nice review on the New York Cork Report about a Long Island dry Rose` made with 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. believe I had a few Pinot Noir in the past that were about this color. This Long Island wine sounded very interesting. Saturday was that day. Warm, about 65F, the wine was wonderful. MORE >>

Over on HuffPo , there’s a piece up about the Red Bicyclette/faux pinot saga. As it touches on some issues that astute readers will remember from Wine Politics , I reproduce her comment here with permission: 1) As a previous post-er said, rightly, Pinot Noir is a grape. It is not an appellation. We all start somewhere. MORE >>

This has been one fantastic year of enlightenment for me when it comes to all things wine. Believe I may do a year end article on the subject. If I do, I will have to include the German grape, Dornfelder as one of the highlights. Dornfelder is a cross between Helfensteiner and Heroldrebe grapes. It is the 3rd most planted red wine grape in Germany. MORE >>