Pinot Noir

Domestic Selection: Pinot Noir, 1988. Paraiso Springs

August 26, 2016

Paraiso Hot Springs are situated in the Santa Lucia foothills, 40 minutes south of Salinas in Northern California’s Monterey County. While establishing the Soledad Mission, Franciscan padres used the springs’ curative waters for healing purposes. The monks also planted early vineyards there. Two hundred years later (1973), current owner Richard Smith planted modern vineyards, eleven… read more »

Domestic Selection: Pinot Noir, 1987. Peacock Hill

August 23, 2016

Things certainly are looking good for us WOMC enthusiasts in 1992! I would never have imagined that Paul could find two lovely Pinot Noirs within such a short period of time (seven months), especially considering the price class of most Pinot Noirs. The last one was Tony Austin’s 1988 (#691A) sent last June. That was… read more »

Domestic Selection: Pinot Noir, 1988. Austin Cellars

August 19, 2016

Anthony Austin’s roots go back to the very early days of California wine… literally. His ancestors were granted a homestead in 1881 in Sonoma County, and are said to have planted the first Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the Russian River Valley. After attending U.C. Davis’ viticultural school, Austin became a protege of the country’s most… read more »

Import Selection: Wintervine, 1988.

August 18, 2016

Mark Cashmore, a chemistry and physics school teacher, turned winemaker, is giving the French wine industry fits. He is an Australian winemaker who has dared to try the unusual… made a success of it… and has had the unabashed gall to tweek the nose of the French (Hmm!). First he blends Pinot Noir and Cabernet… read more »

Import Selection: Rioja, 1985, Federico Paternina

July 26, 2016

During the 1880’s a vine plague, the root burrowing phylloxera vastratrix, spawned a mass exodus of several hundred French families from Bordeaux due south 150 miles to Spain’s uninfected Ebro Valley. An unprecedented surge in Spanish wine production ensued. The Rioja vine growing region got its name from a small tributary called Rio Oja of… read more »

Domestic Selection: Pinot Noir, 1987, Congress Springs

July 21, 2016

The Congress Springs Winery, situated on the Santa Clara side of the rugged Santa Cruz mountain is surrounded by such illustrious neighbors as David Bruce, Martin Ray, Mount Eden and Ridge Vineyards. Dan Gehrs and his wife Robin rebuilt the winery (which dates from the 1890’s) in 1976. Dan’s winemaking philosophy… “We don’t try to… read more »

Domestic Selections: September 1989

February 9, 2016

Wines evaluated last month: 301 Rejected: 249 Approved: 52 Selected: 2 It still is summer – at least from the weather point of view! – even though we are knocking at the doors of autumn. So here are two summer wines again. For the red wine this month I finally found a blush… read more »

International Pinot Noir Celebration

February 1, 2016

The Oregon winemakers did it again! A great event. Their second annual International Pinot Noir Celebration (Aug. 1988) was a smash hit. Held on the campus of Linfield College in McMinville, Oregon; the congregation was composed of winemakers, trade and press personalities, and serious wine enthusiasts (about 500 total). There were several sessions of intensive… read more »

Rose

October 2, 2015

The Rose are made from red wines from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Malbec, and more.

October 2, 2015

Pinot Noir comes from a grape (vitis vinifera), meaning pine and black that requires a consistent warm climate during the days and followed by cold evenings. It is a light-bodied to medium-bodied wine. This wine is popular in France and is commonly used for sparkling wine.