Alvaro Bustillos

9.1

Fathers day — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The 14 is a blend of 77% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc & 7% Merlot. Nose of; ruby dark cassis, blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, hues of blue fruits, pepper and liquid violets. The mouthfeel is lush & ruby. M+ body & M+ tannins. Blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries and hues of blue fruits. Crushed rocks, soft leather, dry herbs, underbrush, loamy soil powder, notes of cigar, violets, dark florals, nice acidity and beautifully round, lush finish with sex appeal. Photos of; an aerial view of Pepper Bridge, estate grapes going through veraison, Owner-Norm McKibben, and ground shot of the estate. Producer notes and history...Norm McKibben is one of founding fathers of Walla Walla's wine industry. To his good friends and colleagues, he is better know as "Stormin' Norman." In Norm's 30 plus years in Walla Walla, the valley has evolved from a 40 vineyard acres to an appellation with more than 2,800 acres under vine. A good portion of the boom can be attributed to Norm even after coming to the game late after working for several decades as an engineer in the construction industry. Not wanting to retire after, he moved to Walla Walla to become an apple farmer. In 1989, he realized Walla Walla's potential for grape growing. Norm planted his first vineyard with help from his wife, Virginia and their eldest son, Shane. Two years later, Norm added Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. These vines soon became the backbone of Pepper Bridge. Not long after he expanded his business and resume further. Norm got involved in the budding wine industry. He served as a partner and director at Canoe Ridge Vineyards, Hogue Cellars and worked with a number of Walla Walla's leading vintners. In 1996, he partnered with Gary Figgins of Leonetti Cellar and Marty Clubb of L'Ecole No. 41. At this point, McKibben had increased his vineyard holdings to 200 acres. In 1998, Norm officially started Pepper Bridge Winery. Today, Pepper Bridge Winery is a benchmark property in Walla Walla and Norm is an icon of the industry. He manages and consults for more than 600 acres of the top vineyard sites in Walla Walla; Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills and Les Collines. Norm also has introduced state of the art irrigation systems, soil moisture temperature monitoring equipment and sustainable farming techniques. Norm is a big believer in sustainable viticulture. All of his vineyards are certified sustainable by VINEA, the Walla Walla Valley's Sustainable Trust, and LIVE, an Oregon-based sustainable viticulture organization. They are also certified Salmon Safe and are monitored by the IOBC, the international body responsible for setting sustainability standards. In 1998, the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers honored Norm as "Grape Grower of the Year." That same year, he was appointed chair of the Washington Wine Commission and served in that position until retiring from the organization in 2001. If there is a Maverick of the Walla Walla wine producers, it would be Norm. — 8 years ago

Duilio Ramallo

9.9

Happy Fathers Day. — 9 years ago

Pat Crowe

9.2

A very happy Fathers Day — 9 years ago

with Barbara

Bryan Rawson

9.1

Steak and Cab. Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads out there. Great day — 9 years ago

Tommy Struhm

9.2

Only seemed fitting to pop this one for Fathers Day. — 10 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.1

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there. Great fathers day wine right here! — 10 years ago

Lynn Penner-Ash

Owner/Winemaker Penner-Ash

9.1

Nice dark fruit and dense texture. Great w spencer steak and Fathers Day — 11 years ago

Wine101Hamden

9.1

Have yet to open the 2010. Would enjoy to hear some feedback on this from others. My experience with these wines is that they are not built for aging as one of my 2008 Naga was on its end cycle. I'm looking forward to opening this on Fathers Day 2014. We'll see how that goes...Edited on 9/18/14, opened on 8/1/14 for last broadcast of WCCC in Hartford, CT and shared with several of the Dj's. Seemed fitting that a hard rock station & a hard rockin Vino would pair well together. Needless to say, the 2010 Judith is a powerhouse of crimson brick, leather, tobacco leaf. Big tannins. We sampled through half the bottle then recorked it to share with 2 customers of mine 3 weeks later. In that 3 weeks time, this mountain of a Cab finally opened up with this velvety mocha covered espresso bean mouthfeel. Should've let it rest for another few years but the time was fitting to share with some special people that brought Maynard's music to the masses of CT. I have a 2011 Judith that will sit for several more years, waiting for hard rock to return to the airwaves of CT. \m/ — 11 years ago

Jackson D. Toof

9.4

Smooth. Good with pasta with meat sauce. Drank over Fathers Day. — 7 years ago

Vivian

9.6

Love this. Very smooth. Enjoyed it with family on Fathers Day — 8 years ago

Jennifer Hoffman

9.5

With Spittler's on Fathers Day — 8 years ago

Taylor Spivey

10

The reason I fell in love with wine, popped my cherry or grape I should say. I was 19 and took this from my fathers stash, definitely got in trouble but it was worth it! — 8 years ago

Craig Benner

9.2

Sunday scotch for all the fathers out there. Oban hits the spot. — 9 years ago

Meg

10

went big tonight. Been saving this Abreu gem for the perfect moment, and I realized it's time to take the moment and make it perfect (and get it poppin!) Enjoying a gorgeous day almost exclusively outside, and this beautiful gem is complimenting a festive low country broil in our shady backyard. The first scent is a touch smoky, blackberries, licorice (maybe a little star anise?) - decanted two hours and could have gone longer. 'Wishing a very Happy Fathers' Day to all! Have a good week. Xoxo #dime — 9 years ago

Brian Grech

9.4

Inspired. I hear the Founding Fathers loved this stuff. — 9 years ago

with Ashley and Michael

Matthew Cohen

9.3

2011. Not your fathers green cab franc. Really meaty with a hint of licorice. A great change of pace wine. — 10 years ago

Craig Becraft

10

Not your fathers Beaujolais Decanted opened up after two hours in the glass to concentrated black fruit tea smoke with fine tannins great minerality salinity long finish — 11 years ago

Jon Hoke

9.4

Fathers Day Weekend — 11 years ago

Dave Carruthers

9.3

Happy Fathers Day !! Awesome example of an Amarone offering... so smooth but with full body lots of flavour :-) — 7 years ago

Merritt Santino Raül Gilé

9.2

Pommard is so Willamette it's uncanny. (Or vice versa). This was pretty awesome on fathers day. Threw in a couple OR pinots after and didn't miss a beat. — 8 years ago

with Alison

Ignacio Sarmiento

8.9

Haney House - Fathers day — 8 years ago

David Blattner

9.2

Happy Fathers Day from my daughter and son in law. Shipped from the vineyard from their honeymoon. Light, refreshing Chianti. — 9 years ago

Heather Steele

9.5

Happy Fathers Day....hawkes 2011 ..... Tasting room 2 years ago! Yum — 9 years ago

DAD Wine Lover

9.0

Happy Fathers Day!!! — 9 years ago

K J

9.0

Smooth. Nice Deep. Fathers office. Good tannins. — 9 years ago

Charlie Beatty

Buyer wineworksonline.com

10

Wow! Fathers Day treat Peter Michael Ma Danseuse Pinot 2011! A first for me. Bing Cherries and a great night watching US Open from Far northwest ! Needs time to open but when it does . A must with boned in fillet ! Rare but a must with this awesome Pinot!!! CB — 10 years ago

James Wells

9.0

Lovely bottle...favourite of my fathers — 11 years ago

Steve Rura

8.9

Happy Fathers Day! — 11 years ago

Courtnee Westendorf

10

Mamma rosa fathers day dinner. — 12 years ago