Marin County Pinot?

[RS_Beck]

Stewart - Thanks for the info.

The two Chileno Valley Pinots I’ve enjoyed; one was wade made by Willowbrook and the other was a side project by the assistant wine maker at Fogerty called Precedent.

That was awhile ago, not sure from which vineyards they sourced their fruit.

[RS_Beck]

My experience with Kendric is that it also improves in the cellar, at least over 5 - 8 years. The '06 I had in my cellar started out really nice and kept getting better every year, but then I ran out a few years ago.

Haven’t had the '09, but the '10 I had recently was really nice.

[Ken_Zinns]

@RS Beck

The two Chileno Valley Pinots I’ve enjoyed; one was wade made by Willowbrook and the other was a side project by the assistant wine maker at Fogerty called Precedent.

That was awhile ago, not sure from which vineyards they sourced their fruit.

Both the Willowbrook and Precedent wines were sourced from Chileno Valley Vineyard. Pretty sure that 2009 was the last Willowbrook Pinot from Chileno Valley - they no longer source from there AFAIK. The Precedent bottling - from Nathan Kandler, who’s now the winemaker at Thomas Fogarty - was a one-off from the 2006 vintage. Nathan does continue to make wine under his Precedent label (including some really good old-vine field-blend Zin from Evangelho Vineyard) but no more Pinots.

[RS_Beck]

Thanks!

[Drew_Goin]

Thanks for the help, guys!

[Ken_Zinns]

Some very sad Marin County wine news to pass along. I just heard about it today, but Susan Pey of Pey-Marin Vineyards passed away unexpectedly in early March. The wines that she and her husband Jonathan made were exceptional - among the best Pinot Noir made from Marin fruit, a terrific Marin Riesling (and even a little Merlot from cool Marin), plus Sonoma Coast Syrah under their Spicerack label and Napa Cab under their Textbook label.

Marin winemaking pioneer Susan Pey dies at 52

My best to Jonathan and to their family.

[Drew_Goin]

So sorry to hear that, Ken.

I have heard good things about the Pey-Marin Riesling and Pinot Noir.

The Textbook line includes a Napa Merlot as well.

[Paul_H_Galli]

@Ken Zinns

Some very sad Marin County wine news to pass along. I just heard about it today, but Susan Pey of Pey-Marin Vineyards passed away unexpectedly in early March. The wines that she and her husband Jonathan made were exceptional - among the best Pinot Noir made from Marin fruit, a terrific Marin Riesling (and even a little Merlot from cool Marin), plus Sonoma Coast Syrah under their Spicerack label and Napa Cab under their Textbook label.

Marin winemaking pioneer Susan Pey dies at 52

My best to Jonathan and to their family.

Wow Ken, that is a shocker…
My condolences to Jonathan and family.

TTT

[Ken_Zinns]

On a brighter note, the Marin County Wine Celebration will be back this year - coming up on Sunday June 26th. It will be at new venue this time, Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley. I’ve been to this event about five times in the past and it’s always fun. The smaller size makes it easy to make the rounds and taste all the wines being poured. A bunch of high-quality producers are pouring, some of whom don’t you don’t see at many events. And the food is always really tasty.

Presenting wineries include: Kendric – Pey Marin – Bailiwick – Dutton-Goldfield – Brooks Note – Pacheco – Pt. Reyes – Deloach – Burning Bench – McEvoy – Thackrey – Couloir – Ernest Bloom – Skywalker – Easkoot - Terrien

PLUS Complimentary Artisan Cheeses, Charcuterie, Breads, Olives and Olive Oils from top Marin growers and makers.

Definitely recommended if you’re looking for something fun to do in the Bay Area that afternoon.

More info here:
Marin County Wine Celebration 2016

[Stewart_Johnson]

@Ken Zinns

On a brighter note, the Marin County Wine Celebration will be back this year - coming up on Sunday June 26th. It will be at new venue this time, Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley. I’ve been to this event about five times in the past and it’s always fun. The smaller size makes it easy to make the rounds and taste all the wines being poured. A bunch of high-quality producers are pouring, some of whom don’t you don’t see at many events. And the food is always really tasty.

Presenting wineries include: Kendric – Pey Marin – Bailiwick – Dutton-Goldfield – Brooks Note – Pacheco – Pt. Reyes – Deloach – Burning Bench – McEvoy – Thackrey – Couloir – Ernest Bloom – Skywalker – Easkoot - Terrien

PLUS Complimentary Artisan Cheeses, Charcuterie, Breads, Olives and Olive Oils from top Marin growers and makers.

Definitely recommended if you’re looking for something fun to do in the Bay Area that afternoon.

More info here:
Marin County Wine Celebration 2016

Needless to say, I second this recommendation. I also want to pass on a promo code for tickets. Use “Wine Lover” at checkout to bring the ticket price down to $40. A steal!

[Paul_H_Galli]

@Mike Evans

I’m a huge fan of the Kendric Pinots I’ve had 2009 and 2010).

Great wine at a great price!

TTT

[Stewart_Johnson]

@ncostanzo1

@Peter Kleban

@ncostanzo1

Sean Thackery Wine Company also makes a Devil’s Gulch Pinot Noir, also very good and interesting in its own right.

I had the Sean Thackrey
Andromeda 2008
Devil’s Gulch Ranch
Pinot Noir

and found it almost undrinkable. Tasted like a wet blanket, probably the worst PN I’ve ever had. (By contrast, his Pleiades Old Vines 2013 was very interesting, if a little young).

I tasted the '08 at the visit to the facility in Forestville, I wasn’t a big fan but then had the '12 which I enjoyed a lot. His wines are different, I think a lot of people will say that, I also enjoyed the Pleiades Old Vines as well that’s a good QPR drinker.

I thought the Thackrey Devil’s Gulch PNs showed really well at the Marin Wine Celebration yesterday. I’ve not always been able to draw a bead on this wine and have sometimes been unsure how much of the vineyard was showing thru the winemaking. Both the '12 and the '13 poured yesterday, on the other hand, seemed to show Devil’s Gulch at its best – lot’s of pine and tomato that smells/tastes better than it sounds.

[dougwilder]

No mention of Easkoot (Matt Duffy) and Couloir (Jon Grant)?

[Drew_Goin]

Hmmm, I wonder if Ken Zinns has any tasting event updates for us…

[Ken_Zinns]

@Drew Goin

Hmmm, I wonder if Ken Zinns has any tasting event updates for us…

It’s coming but it will be awhile…too backed up with other work at the moment.

@dougwilder

No mention of Easkoot (Matt Duffy) and Couloir (Jon Grant)?

Both among the highlights, along with Kendric, Pey-Marin, Bailiwick, several others.

[Drew_Goin]

Ken, judging from the Facebook posts, you have your hands full!

[Ken_Zinns]

@Drew Goin

Ken, judging from the Facebook posts, you have your hands full!

And that’s not even counting my “real” job!

[Richard_T_r_i_m_p_i]

@Ken Zinns

Both among the highlights, along with Kendric, Pey-Marin, Bailiwick, several others.

Haven’t bought Pey-Marin since 2004 vintage. A little clunky initially it rounded out surprisingly well after 3 - 5 years as the oak folded in. Tasty!

RT

[Stewart_Johnson]

@dougwilder

No mention of Easkoot (Matt Duffy) and Couloir (Jon Grant)?

Couloir was pouring a new (2015, I think) chard from Devil’s Gulch that was really nice – lean and chalky. That fruit has mostly gone for sparkling before, but Jon’s still version was excellent.

[Ken_Zinns]

@Stewart Johnson

@dougwilder

No mention of Easkoot (Matt Duffy) and Couloir (Jon Grant)?

Couloir was pouring a new (2015, I think) chard from Devil’s Gulch that was really nice – lean and chalky. That fruit has mostly gone for sparkling before, but Jon’s still version was excellent.

Yes, that Chardonnay from Devil’s Gulch was really good, my favorite Chard of the tasting. It actually is under Jon’s Straight Line label - I believe he only does Pinots under the Couloir label.