ZD Wines loses co-founder, ’04 Raymond Napa Valley Reserve Cab and more

Busy day again today, so here’s a quick round-up of Napa Valley-related items from across the world wide web…

Wine Enthusiast Online shares the sad news of the passing of Norman de Leuze, the co-founder of Napa’s ZD Wines. Here’s an excerpt:

DeLeuze was a pioneer in organic grapegrowing. The story is that when he was advised to spray his vineyard with a chemical, in the early 1980s, he donned a chemical suit, then posted “No Entry” signs around the perimeter. It wasn’t long before he thought to himself, “No way. We’re never going to spray again.”

Further details can be found on the ZD Wines website.

Gannett News Service has a nice round-up of affordable (under $10) California Cabernets (none from the Napa Valley) as well as a few moderately priced reds, some of which do come from these parts, including a couple of our personal favorites:

2004 Raymond Napa Valley Reserve cabernet sauvignon. $35. Earthy aromas of blackberries, black currants, black cherries and cedar. More dark fruit on the palate plus blueberries, pepper and wood.

2005 Bouchaine Estate Napa Carneros pinot noir. $45. A huge pinot noir, with smoky aromas of black cherries and flowers. Rich and intense dark fruit in the mouth, it was powerful yet elegant, a match for almost any meat.

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About the Author

TrevR has written 706 posts on The Cork Board. He was born and aged in the Napa Valley and has a passion for wine, writing and social media, which led him to co-found this blog in early 2007. Follow him on Twitter @TrevR.