The Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers hosted a seminar and tasting yesterday to showcase the passing of the torch in California’s winegrowing families.
Featured speakers included Warren Bogle, whose family has been farming in Clarksburg for 6 generations. I’ve often featured their great value wines on this blog and in my classes. [...]

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We visited with Joe Lange at the winery during the summer and he took us through their most state-of-the-art facility. We learned about the tremendous commitment the Lange family has made to sustainability.  And on top of that, they’re making some awesome wines like the one described below. Full disclosure – Joe and I both [...]

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Bogle Vineyards, California, Petite Sirah 2007 With notes back to 2001 this wine is still a favorite for showing a sense of tannin in an affordable package. The price has been steady as well.The fruit is sourced from Clarksburg and Lodi. V&B in Graton. 13.5% $8.99 at Bottle Barn Bogle

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R, Clarksburg, Salman Vineyard, Cabernet Franc 2006 The nose combines vanilla with red fruits and a little cedar. There is suppleness to the palate and a moderate amount of Cab Franc’s natural acidity with plenty of California fruit. The vineyard is located on Sutter Island. If you haven’t been to Clarksburg you must make the [...]

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Rancho Sisquoc, Santa Barbara County, Sylvaner 2007 There’s a bit of flintiness in the nose. Sylvaner isn’t typically an aromatic daredevil so that’s OK. In the mouth there’s a very grapy flavor, almost like a native labrusca, very hard to describe. With 1.7% RS there’s a richness to the palate. Kudos to Rancho Sisquoc for [...]

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Bogle, California, Chenin Blanc 2005 This back vintage was lingering in the cellar. There’s a sense of candied tropical fruits, roundness in the palate augmented by a touch of RS and braced by an appropriate amount of acidity. It’s all stainless steel for the production of this clean and fruity wine. V&B in Clarksburg 12.5% [...]

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Vinum Cellars Clarksburg CNW Wilson Vineyards Chenin Blanc 2006
From the ABC crowd at Vinum, these guys are willing to bet on the ‘other grapes’. Barrel fermented and aged 6 months in oak for complexity yet the bracing side of Chenin shines through. P&B in Oakville 13% $8.49 at Bottle Barn Vinum
Husch Mendocino Chenin Blanc [...]

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