Bigger Than Your Head, August 9, 2023 If any two people in the California wine industry could be called a power couple, that epithet could go to Bibiana Gonzalez Rave and her husband Jeff Pisoni. Bibiana — let’s use first names — is owner and winemaker of Cattleya Wines, a producer of chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Sonoma County. Jeff, whose family has a long history in Santa Lucia Highlands, produces chardonnay and Pinot Noir under the Lucia label. Each has a second label for more moderately priced wines, Alma de Cattleya for Bibiana and Lucy for Jeff. Together, under their married name — Bibia ..read more

    May 2023 Issue 2022 Shared Notes Les Leçons des Maîtres 93 points Light straw color; dried earth, tart lemon aroma, biting, chalky, medium depth, alive; medium bodied, zingy on the palate; dry, fine acidity, well balanced; tart citrus and chalky flavors, persistent; medium finish. The post wine.com 93 Points for the 2022 Les Leçons des Maîtres appeared first on Shared Notes ..read more

2021 Les Pierres Qui Décident and Les Leçons des Maîtres Get our editors’ exclusive picks from recent blind tastings of complex Oregon Pinot Noirs, rich Barolos and lively California Sauvignon Blancs. Also featured are Australian Cabernets and Syrahs, plus white Burgundies, including grands crus. Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley Les Pierres Qui Décident 2021 94 points | $75 | 107 cases made | White Distinctive, revealing robust Key lime, yuzu, lemon verbena and lemon zest notes, with a savory thread of saline and a touch of dried ginger and graham cracker. As powerful as this is, there ..read more

Winemaker Bibiana Gonzales Rave also has a passion for coffee. Along with her husband, Jeff Pisoni, she produces fair-trade coffee Shared Notes at their Pisoni production facility in Rohnert Park. Photo credit: Chad Surmick. Bibiana González Rave is naturally high energy, nearly shimmering with joy at her many passions: family, Sonoma wines, and her new Shared Notes coffee, imported from her native Colombia. It helps, she says with a laugh, that she adores the coffee of her home country, sipping up to 10 cups a day. “Colombia is one of the most predominant producers of really high-quality co ..read more

Jeff and Bibiana the year they started their Shared Notes venture. Photo credit: Rachel B. 10 years ago, Bibiana and Jeff set out to create something together. This would be a wine label dedicated to exceptional and age-worthy Sauvignon Blanc. The goal from the outset was to gain inspiration from two famed regions in France that produce noteworthy styles of this wine: Bordeaux and the Loire Valley (home to Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé). The resulting wines would be Les leçons des maîtres and Les pierres qui décident. Both wines are stylistically different, but made with exacting standards that ..read more

The continued surge of terrific Sauvignon Blancs from California has cemented the wine’s reputation as one of the most consistent and affordable whites in the state. What’s even more exciting for fans of this complex, fragrant and refreshing variety is how many different expressions there are. The examples I have reviewed over the past year represent impressive quality across a diverse mix of styles. In recent years, I have been highlighting the various means by which Golden State producers have shown their enthusiasm for Sauvignon Blanc, including the use of updated farming techniques and cel ..read more

Tasting Sonoma Wines: Bolder and Brighter, with a Unique Coastal Kick In this report we mainly focus on the 2018 and 2019 vintages, which are both fantastic years but for different reasons…2019 was generally cooler, resulting in more elegant and restrained wines with real charm. —Nathan Slone, Associate Editor Image: jamessuckling.com 2019 Les leçons des maîtres – 94 points Subtle aromas of green mango, green apple, stone, jasmine and minerals follow through to a medium body with an attractive combination of nicely integrated phenolics and acidity. Creamy, subtle finish. 2019 Les pierres qui ..read more

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