We’ve just completed the second round of the Monte Bello Assemblage Tasting, and the blend is in! It was quite a remarkable tasting; somewhat unique in its architecture, as compared to some past editions, in that it was essentially divided… Read More ›
We don’t do a great many events in any given year up here on our mountain, so when we do stage them, we try to thoroughly imbue them with all the passion and gravitas our four-sizes-that-day wine-hearts can muster. Our… Read More ›
I was early, by intention. I wanted to absorb the air, the space, the mojo. Ghosts of Shamans past — silken-shadowed, proud and twirling — wove the naked canes with threads of dripping gossamer. In my car, the metal murmuring… Read More ›
I like Mondays. Why? May I present … … my Monday Morning Meeting. We started in on the zinfandels first. The tasters: Myself Paul Draper (CEO, Head Winemaker) Eric Baugher (VP of Winemaking, Monte Bello) David Amadia (VP Sales &… Read More ›
As far as I am concerned, there is very little that music CAN’T teach us about wine. Music in general, and Jazz in particular. So I am going to return to the well of melody yet again, to draw up… Read More ›
Decided to have a bit of fun today, and when one wants fun, what better way than with a quick round of Word Association! Our victims today are the bright, brilliant, congenial, and above all patient Monte Bello Tasting Room… Read More ›
I am in the Wine Industry, and so of course I do read the “major” publications. Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Wine Advocate, etc. And I recently got to thinking about the publication titles: Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Wine Advocate. What’s… Read More ›
The wine have been double-decanted … … and tasted … … and the glasses have been filled … Antonio Galloni’s computer is plugged in, Eric Baugher is at the table, the olive oil has been poured, the Watsonville Sourdough has been sliced, the… Read More ›
It’s not necessarily how it sounds; The Tasting Mat. It’s not a physical location. It is, however, a physical object. It’s your guide through the tasting. And as such, it’s a very important document. Page 1. Three wines. It begins…. Read More ›
Monte Bello Noir? It was a dark and stormy night. Except it wasn’t. What it actually was, was a warm and sunny morning, with the low sun casting rays through the gauze of morning haze that lightly veiled the vineyards… Read More ›
