California Archives - Page 4 of 6

The 2018 Napa Harvest: A Winemaker’s Dream Vintage

California, Investing, Napa, News, Wine Regions, WinemakingBy Vinfolio Staff November 8, 2018

The 2018 Napa harvest ended on a high note this fall. Most winemakers across the region are reporting superb grape quality, high yields, and low sugar concentration in the fruit. Hudson Vineyards director Kelly MacLeod says, “This year, it really was a winemaker’s dream. They got to consciously choose exactly what they wanted.” While it’s still too early to tell how these wines will develop over time, all of these factors could result in a collectible, age-worthy vintage. If you’re looking for flavorful New-World wines that are well-balanced with comparatively restrained alcohol, the 2018 vintage may be your dream year, too.

Wines from the best California wine regions

A Guide to the Best California Wine Regions

California, Wine RegionsBy Vinfolio Staff September 28, 2018

When I was in my early twenties, my grandmother lived just 30 miles away from the Santa Cruz Mountains. Over the summer, I’d regularly drive down to visit her and we’d spend the weekend exploring some of Santa Cruz’s finest wineries together, from Ridge to Rhys. Through those experiences, I discovered that I preferred Chardonnay from the Santa Cruz Mountains to Chardonnay from Napa Valley; in fact, I currently have close to a dozen bottles of Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard in my cellar at the moment.

Your Guide to the Best Ridge Wine

California, Collecting, Producers, Producers and WineriesBy Vinfolio Staff August 17, 2018

When I travel, I love to check out wine shops in different countries and always notice that the California selection at any shop outside of the U.S. is minuscule–usually only a handful of wines. But I’ve noticed that in Australia and Europe, if a shop is going to carry a California Cabernet, it’s always from Ridge Vineyards. The estate’s flagship Monte Bello label is highly sought-after among collectors, so much so that every year hundreds of wine enthusiasts from around the world journey to the Santa Cruz Mountains just to taste Ridge’s iconic Cabernet.

Dominus wine scores are consistently high.

Analyzing Dominus Wine Scores: How to Invest in This Legendary Producer

Buying Wine, California, Producers, Producers and Wineries, Wine MarketsBy Vinfolio Staff January 26, 2018

In the late 1990s, you could buy Dominus’ flagship wine directly from the estate for just $65 per bottle; today, many of these wines are worth anywhere from $250 to $500 apiece on the secondary market, sometimes more if the vintage is especially high in quality. However, it’s not just the ever-increasing market value that draws wine enthusiasts to this producer. Dominus wine scores are also among the highest in Napa year after year, and the estate’s offerings very frequently outrank other superb California wineries–even the famed Opus One. Critics and collectors alike adore Dominus’ small-scale, Bordeaux-style wines, and analyses like the one Liv-ex publishes project that these wines may continue to grow in value significantly over the next few years. Now is perhaps the best time to invest in wines from this high-quality estate, and by following this guide, you can learn how to make the most out of every bottle you purchase.

Colgin and Scarecrow made some of the best 2014 Napa Cabernet

The Best 2014 Napa Cabernet: From Colgin to Scarecrow

California, Napa, Varietals, Wine RegionsBy Vinfolio Staff January 4, 2018

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is so much more than a bold, jammy fruit bomb; in years when the weather is perfect and the harvest conditions are just right, even the boldest of producers can craft wines that are balanced, refined, and elegantly supple in personality. This is precisely what happened during the 2014 growing season. The best 2014 Napa Cabernet has that rare, legendary combination of elegance, youthful charm, and robust tannins that will allow these wines to age spectacularly over the next 25 years or more. In other words, these are wines that will impress you whether you choose to uncork them now or wait until they’ve reached their full potential in 30 years. The 2014 vintage is the perfect balance of soft fruit and a firm backbone, making it one of the greatest Napa vintages of the past two decades, and well worth a space in your cellar.

Build Your Sine Qua Non Collection: The Best Sine Qua Non Labels for Your Cellar

Buying Wine, CaliforniaBy Vinfolio Staff July 28, 2017

MENTIONED IN THIS POST: -Sine Qua Non -Harlan -DRC -Sine Qua Non The Bride -Sine Qua Non Pagan Poetry -Guigal New World wines taste better today than they have in the history of the wine industry. California cult wines, in particular, have greatly improved in quality since the 1960s, yet one cult winery seems to…

Unicorn Wine: 1941 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Is a Legendary Cask That Could Be Too Rare to Drink

California, Collecting, Producers and WineriesBy Vinfolio Staff June 8, 2017

MENTIONED IN THIS POST: -Inglenook 2013 -Shafer When I first started drinking and collecting wine, I was convinced that no bottle was too rare to drink. After all, wine was meant to be drunk. Sure, I might feel sheepish after opening a rare bottle, but I always believed that the pleasure of tasting that ultra…

Hidden Gem of the Month: 2012 Colgin Cariad Is a California Blend with Great Aging Potential

Buying Wine, California, CollectingBy Vinfolio Staff April 13, 2017

MENTIONED IN THIS POST: –Colgin Cellars –Abreu Vineyards I’ve long been familiar with Colgin’s classic Cabernet Sauvignon, but recently, I’ve found a new love: Cariad. This is perhaps fitting since the name “Cariad” means “love” in Welsh. Full of intense tannin and layers of fruit, the proprietary Bordeaux-style blend from the Colgin estate is more…

Remembering Margrit Mondavi: How One Woman Helped Change the Perception of Napa Valley Wine

California, History, Napa, News, Producers and Wineries, WineriesBy Vinfolio Staff October 17, 2016

We lost a wine icon this year. Margrit Mondavi passed away from cancer on September 2, 2016, and although she is no longer with us, she leaves behind a long legacy that will ripple through California’s wine industry for decades. My father-in-law remembers the first time he met Margrit Mondavi. “She was magnanimous and sharp…

Unicorn Wines: 1971 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard Is a Rare Wine with a Rich History

Buying Wine, California, Collecting, Producers and WineriesBy Vinfolio Staff August 29, 2016

When I first took an interest in wine, Ridge was my gateway to finer bottles. As a child, I’d visit my family in California every year, and I’d always see at least one Ridge bottle resting on the rack in my grandma’s pantry; it was her go-to celebration wine. By the time I was old…

A Dash of Spice in the Best California Wine Blends: How Petite Sirah is Transforming Napa Valley

California, Varietals, Wine RegionsBy Vinfolio Staff August 8, 2016

The first time I tried a glass of Petite Sirah at a restaurant, I had no idea what was in store for my senses. Hearing the name “Petite Sirah” roll off the sommelier’s tongue conjured up images of tiny, delicate grapes, like a miniature version of the Rhone Syrah I knew so well. After one…

Hidden Gem of the Month: Looking for the Best Napa Valley Vintages? The 2013 Scarecrow Has It All

California, Napa, Producers and Wineries, WineriesBy Harley Hoffmann August 1, 2016

Wine critic Richard Jennings never understood the hype around California cult Cabernet. He admits that these wines are usually ultra-concentrated and flavorful, but, he says, “I also believe the great majority of wines in this category are hardly deserving of the stratospheric prices and disproportionate attention they have received over the years.” However, that was…