Pursuit
Turley
Rattlesnake Ridge Howell Mountain Zinfandel 2015
My constant pursuit of the perfect Zinfandel turned up this beautiful example from Helen Turley. A perfect balance of fruit (tart and dark), alcohol (high), sweet tannin and finish. Definitely belongs in my top ten! — 8 years ago
La Follette
North Coast Pinot Noir 2013
In Somm: Into the Bottle, Greg La Follette described his commitment to providing value with the quip "I am perfectly happy scraping by and roasting squirrels under bridges, as long as I can make really great wine." That sort of masochistic pursuit of value deserves to be pointed out. And at $20, this is indeed a value. The bouquet intertwines ripe black cherry, richly spiced potpourri, and loam. The nose follows through in a juicy style on the palate, but with a notable measure of balance. I bought a lot of this, so maybe Greg can roast a pig tonight. — 9 years ago
Pursuit
Rutherford Vineyard Georges III Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Delicious with a nice filet — 9 years ago
Pursuit
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Conplex pero fake, short, not too much of anything... — 10 years ago
Weingut Bründlmayer
Brut Sekt White Blend
If there is any singular concept that inspires me about wine it’s a pursuit toward truth. This is that and it’s vibrant with laser precision and a nakedness, proudly showing you all it has and with little bravado.
Chalky, subtlety spiced citrus, jolty lemons, ginger yellow apple, and quince. Beautiful. — 6 years ago
Salon
'S' Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Brut Chardonnay 1985
What a treat! A Salon vertical from vintages 10yrs apart. The release of only 30vintages over the past 100yrs is a testament to the pursuit of quality. This 1985 was very much alive and kicking. Tons of layers of white fruit toasted honey covered nuts.#primetimewinetime #右上の会 — 8 years ago
Edmond Cornu & Fils
Corton-Bressandes Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2008
This is not a showstopper wine. There is nothing here that makes you sit up taller in your chair, cock you head to the side and say whoa. But it is really complete, detailed, complex Burgundy at a great price. Sometimes I think the pursuit of the exceptional gets in the way of enjoying the merely classic expression of excellent terroir. I enjoyed this a lot. — 9 years ago
Snowden
Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Extremely elegant. As included In Pursuit of Balance. — 10 years ago
L'Enclos de Saint Jacques
Bordeaux Contrôlée 2012
Surpringly light for a French wine. Nice but not highly remarkable. Pursuit. — 10 years ago
SpierHead
Pursuit 2012
She sprints into the fog laddened forest. Her white gown floating behind and showing glimpses of her calves and delicate feet.
You follow in hopes of a glimpse of her face or a kiss from her lips. You come to a fork in the road. Which way did she go?
Her laughter floats through the crispy air. The pursuit continues. — 7 years ago
Giuseppe Quintarelli
Valpolicella Classico Superiore Corvina Blend 2000
Is there another gear when you ratchet up your wine experience?
Clos de la Tech Pinot tasting -- outstanding craftsmanship and pursuit of quality. Intro of 2012 vintage features several stars, led by Cote de Sud -- truly a nugget among semi-precious gems. And then...back to the residence for 2012 Mastro Janni Brunello (swell) followed by 2009 Brigaldara Amarone (special). And then...out comes the 2000 Quintarelli Valpolicella -- is there another level, an overdrive gear from here? Arguably NO, this Quintarelli answers every question wine consumers may conjure. Yes, I believe this is the destination! — 9 years ago
Sebastiani
Gravel Bed Sonoma County Red Blend 2014
One glass deep and in pursuit of giving this a proper read I had to recork it in lieu of immediately demolishing the bottle in an orgy of self-indulgent hedonism. The 2014 picks up where the 2013 left off. Richer, darker, with slightly more structure yielding a more true meritage style, but just as damn delicious. — 9 years ago
Hirsch Vineyards
Block 8 Pinot Noir 2013
Beautifully balanced, fragrant yet meaty, great intensity with great finesse, only 12.8% with so much more going on than some Cali Pinots with 14%+. In Pursuit of Bravo! — 10 years ago
Connor Smith
There are a lot of California wineries out there that are valuable to the man at the top mostly as a way to impress their friends. There are not many that are primarily a way to satisfy the founder’s hopeless geekery for wine, soil, weather, and getting his hands dirty. 🍇🌞💨⛏
Kevin Harvey made his money in Silicon Valley as an entrepreneur and investor. But his journey to winemaking didn’t begin with a business transaction, but by planting vines in his backyard and vinifying it himself in his garage. He had the itch: he had to get real with it.
Harvey has spent most of the past 20 years developing brand new vineyard sites - often targeting old Christmas tree farms! He is deeply involved with research, planning, getting soil and grape analytics, setting up weather stations, and viticulture - though, with the fruits of his labor (pun intended) being of such remarkable potential, it is perhaps wise to turn the cellar work over to veteran winemaker Jeff Brinkman to realize it.
The result of Harvey’s outstanding grape material and Brinkman’s capable hands in undeniable. In a world full of California winemakers trying to take their shot at Burgundy, Rhys has accomplished what so often gets lost in the pursuit of style: an honest and clear communication from the vines. That’s the true Burgundian spirit.
Harvey has said their goal is to get you “staring into a glass of vineyard”. This Horseshoe Vineyard Pinot Noir, facing west toward the Pacific taking in a daily blanket of foggy marine layer, can only come from one place. In what seems like the blink of an eye, Rhys has become one of the most celebrated wines in America, with good reason. 🇺🇸🍷 — 6 years ago