http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php WCWN General Forum WCWN Forums - UBB.threads(tm) http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=359111#Post359111 Posted by Chris Langston:
[quote=Michael Pare]Ok, thanks. NOW, since it seems Fontodi is the #1 pick, who imports that into the US. Any ideas? Thanks, Michael P. [/quote] Vinifera (Ronkonkoma NY) was the importer of record last I checked...not the strongest of sales organizations ever ]]> Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:54:17 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=359105#Post359105 Posted by Steve Edmunds:
Casey; I sent you a pm, did you see it?]]> Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:35:18 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=359102#Post359102 Posted by R. Sschiffman:
I haven't had one recently. I took a bottle of it to a restaurant last night as a backup, but didn't end up using it. My last two bottles of it were weird. The wine was almost port like. I will open it when I go out tonight and report back. I'm involved in restaurant judging for the Best of State awards. It's 22 restaurants this month.]]> Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:04:09 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=359090#Post359090 Posted by Ken Zinns:
Bummer, Bob. We'll miss seeing you again this year. Hope you can make it back out this way before too long.]]> Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:39:15 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=359067#Post359067 Posted by Bob Foster:
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/03/10/2597931/grape-moth-threatens-napa-valley.html]]> Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:57:34 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=359048#Post359048 Posted by geo t.:
[quote=Ken Zinns]Very cool! Interesting to see how much some labels have changed over the years and how little some of the others have. [/quote] Yes, labels like the Lafite, Mondavi and Montelena are just about exactly the same, while Burgess was changing almost every vintage back then!]]> Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:37:36 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=359027#Post359027 Posted by CMH:
Wow, what a trip. Hey Ken- are you looking for an apprentice?! Great write ups. I'm going to a Qupe / Verdad tasting down here in Scottsdale next Tuesday. ]]> Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:53:56 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=359019#Post359019 Posted by ksyrah:
The Wine Ghetto and the other min-Wine Ghettos in Lompoc are cool places, lots of neighbors for help and borrowing equipment. I didn't realize Brewer Clifton had moved a bit to the west. -Al]]> Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:58:29 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=359017#Post359017 Posted by Andrew M c N e e s:
Nobody huh? Well last year there was a great crowd, then almost over done for the public part. This year it's in a bigger building in Del Mar. Well Sunday will be here in a few short days. If anyone sees a wine they want me to seek out just let me know. Tercero will be my 1st stop. ]]> Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:19:08 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=359014#Post359014 Posted by Ken Zinns:
Andrew, this is the same article I linked to this morning: [url=http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358972#Post358972]Napa winery & vineyard foreclosures looming [/url] The article I linked was on the SFGate website (they picked it up from Bloomberg) so it should not be a problem for anyone to view it there.]]> Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:47:41 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=359005#Post359005 Posted by Brad Harrington:
This is how I have always thought about it too.]]> Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:39:06 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358992#Post358992 Posted by geo t.:
Bob Weir and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead brought their latest musical project, Furthur, to Chicago for two shows last week, and we've got [b][url=http://blogs.gangofpour.com/furthur]the pictures and video[/url][/b] to prove it. Damn, did we have a good time! :whistle:]]> Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:20:07 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358986#Post358986 Posted by Bob Davis:
I always hate to read about someone going under. Given the distress in expensive wines in general I wonder what the prices will show at MacArthurs California Barrel Tasting here in DC this April. This event used to bring in many of the top names in Napa Cabs but over the last few years it's moved into some lesser/unknown names. BD]]> Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:14:35 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358983#Post358983 Posted by larry schaffer:
Andrew and Kristen are very generous folks indeed . . . Cheers!]]> Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:27:59 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358970#Post358970 Posted by Ken Zinns:
Sounds like that was a fun day, Alan. Jon Bonné at SFGate also wrote up some thoughts about Monte Bello on his blog yesterday: [url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/wine/detail?entry_id=58567]A tribute to Monte Bello[/url] ]]> Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:36:02 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358941#Post358941 Posted by TomHill:
I was just looking at folks who were "new" to me. Not just folks who were new to RR. Not to worry...I'll be by. Tom ]]> Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:53:53 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358921#Post358921 Posted by BTraub:
I've always liked the Flowers pinots, but I usually give them at least 5 years in the cellar. They aren't showy or fruit-forward, but elegant and balanced. Some of the old ones (made by LaFollette) were pretty oaky when young, but I think many have aged better than many expected. Still, the prices have really gotten up there, so I made the '07 CMR my last Flowers purchase. I'm curious about their '08's. They had a lot of smoke up in that area of the Sonoma Coast, Hirsch got hit pretty hard and it's virtually across the street from Flowers. Yet the recent Flowers mailer offering their '08's made no mention of smoke whatsoever. Most wineries in the area are at least addressing the issue, but Flowers ignored it. Has anyone tasted their '08's? I'm wondering about the direction of this winery since the Heeneus takeover.]]> Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:25:29 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358912#Post358912 Posted by TomHill:
Nicely done article & summary by JonBonne in today's SFChron on PinotGate: [url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/07/FD8R1CAAHL.DTL]SFChron: BonneOnPinotgate[/url] Apparently, Constellation got caught up in the scandal (if you call it that...I find it a tempest in a teapot). Gallo defends itself by stating that you can't test the wine for varietal purity (which I believe is correct...DNA testing cannot be used on wine itself..as I understand). Constellation asserts they [b]did[/b] test the wine (but fails to claim they verified its purity). Gawd...didn't anybody just [b]taste[/b] the friggin' stuff!!??? I liked Jon's simple solution to the problem: "there's an easy solution: Stop drinking cheap Pinot." Tom ]]> Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:16:30 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358875#Post358875 Posted by Jeff Cuppett:
Bryan, Have had good experiences with these guys ? Right wine shipped, on time, etc ? A friend of mine was asking me. While they seem to have decent prices on things, I've never had any direct experience buying from them. Thanks, JC]]> Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:38:11 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358866#Post358866 Posted by Bob Cuozzi:
I would have to go with any of Mike Officer's Carlisle Zins.....he is my "go to" Zinfandel now. When I am in Austin and away from getting to my Carlisle stash I usually go with Biale, which is available there. The "Black Chicken" is usually available. Some Segeshio zins have been tasty also. Turley zins can be pricey but the Hayne and Uberroth Vineyard bottlings are really quite amazing. Cheers from a cool South Korea, Bob ]]> Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:33:10 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358860#Post358860 Posted by Ken Zinns:
A rockslide over the weekend closed Hwy. 96 near Orleans, about 5 miles from John & Kimberly Cabot's Humboldt County vineyard, but I just saw the news report today: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/03/04/state/n104503S50.DTL Guess it takes awhile for the news to reach civilization from way up there in the boonies! ;) Kimberly Cabot reported on Facebook that they're all ok but the road that detours around the highway closure is very narrow and windy, and that the highway won't be cleared for 4-8 weeks. Yow! Someone actually captured the rockslide on video - pretty amazing clip: http://blogs.redding.com/ddarling/archives/2010/03/rocking-and-rol.html]]> Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:49:31 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358845#Post358845 Posted by Bob Hunnicutt:
Love Dave's wines. I'll be helping out at Hanna at their RRV location. I must be crazy. lol]]> Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:08:18 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358842#Post358842 Posted by Bob Foster:
He is amazing. One year when Mike Dunne and I were running the Pac Rim competition we had Darrell judging for us. We had his panel judge, among other things, dessert wines. As I walked past I realized Darrell was correctly calling wine after wine. (This was a flight of 40 or so wines and the judges had no idea who had entered the competition.)]]> Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:30:45 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358820#Post358820 Posted by Everett Bandman:
Hey, I roast my own beans too! :grin: ]]> Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:46:52 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358775#Post358775 Posted by James Cross:
NBC Today did two stories on icewine during the Olympics, obviously featuring the wines from BC, but they had some others as well. They looked delicious. Also featured were Canadian craft beers. Some of these are very high alcohol.]]> Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:49:42 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358768#Post358768 Posted by TomHill:
[quote=Ken Zinns] Probably the best short overview of wine in the Santa Cruz Mountains that I've read. [b]Jon Bonné has been doing some great writing for SFGate.[/b] [/quote] No argument from me on that point. I have, of course, followed him from the very start...when he was drinking and writing about HeartyBurgundy for his middle school newspaper!!! Tom ]]> Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:36:28 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358725#Post358725 Posted by Brad Harrington:
I mix as many different kinds as I can. I am partial to chili negro's myself but they are often mislabeled. Most Mexican brand chili negro's are made from Chilacua Chili's but often times when you find them dried, from an American company, they are made from Pablanos or even Anaheims. Lucky for me, I have huge Mexican only grocery stores that carry a ton of chilis, both fresh and dried. I usually load up on as many different kinds as I can find, Arbols, Negros, Anchos Pablanos, Jalapenos, Anaheims, Pasillas, Hatchs, Serranos. I mix fresh and dried and use the Chilauca and Negro as the base and then add the other for complexity and heat. I have backed off on the hot ones over the years but still use some of them. I'm getting in the mood to make some of this.]]> Sat, 27 Feb 2010 11:54:48 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358723#Post358723 Posted by Andrew M c N e e s:
i kinda like this one better...]]> Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:58:46 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358673#Post358673 Posted by Roland Dumas:
and all of this is migratory. Blog was "web log" which was an individual's list of interesting URLs that he/she encountered with some commentary. Somewhere along the line, it got inverted. It was commentary with maybe a link or two. The gravitational pull seems to be toward everyone having a soapbox and yelling at everyone else. Thank goodness for noise canceling headphones. I just need analogous technology built into my glasses.]]> Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:58:23 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358656#Post358656 Posted by Bob Foster:
I think it was Parker's shot at critics of the Aussie fruit bombs. I don't mind them for immediate drinking but not for aging.]]> Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:08:39 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358653#Post358653 Posted by Casey Hartlip:
Thanks Fred, I'm getting a copy tomorrow.]]> Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:11:00 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358652#Post358652 Posted by ksyrah:
I imagine it was also a pretty fine lunch. -Al]]> Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:39:03 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358638#Post358638 Posted by Casey Hartlip:
Having sold fruit to Navarro for over 30 year's I can say that Sarah is a true winner. She has great people skills and unreal work ethic. I would imagine that her tasting skills should be pretty darn good too growing up in the family. I'm very happy for Ted and Deborah to have their kids doing so well.]]> Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:09:22 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358622#Post358622 Posted by Mike Christensen:
[quote=Brad Harrington]I used to date her when I was single. [/quote] The word was BUTTER, not BITTER... :) ]]> Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:52:57 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358597#Post358597 Posted by Bernard Roth:
Hmmm... Do I know any wine bloggers? Food bloggers seem to have more influence. This is because wine gets shipped all over, but you have to go to a restaurant to enjoy its offerings. So food bloggers provide a lot more valuable service to dining than wine bloggers do to wining.]]> Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:34:55 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358562#Post358562 Posted by TomHill:
[quote=Ken Zinns]Found this for you, Tom: [url]http://www.wineweb.com/scripts/wineryPg.cfm/2457/Sotoyome%20Winery[/url] Sotoyome Winery 641 Limerick Lane Healdsburg, CA 95448 Phone: (707) 433-2001 Fax: Winery Established: 1974 Wine Production: 3000 cases Winemaker(s): Bill Chaikin Wine Region: Sonoma County - Russian River Valley It looks like there were earlier wineries with the same name. The Gobbi brothers bought the Fairview Winery in Healdsburg in 1882 and renamed it Sotoyome. The Foppiano website mentions their buying the adjoining Sotoyome Vineyard in 1945 and the Sotoyome Winery shutting down in 1950. There may have been other wineries with that name and other owners, don't know. I saw one reference that mentioned a Sotoyome 1984 "Shiraz"! Do you recall the wine being labeled that way, Tom? Couldn't find any info on when the Syrah vines were planted though. [/quote] Thanks, Kenn. Got the following info from FredWassreman. The '84 sounds about the right time from for the RanchoSoto]]> Sun, 21 Feb 2010 10:51:00 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358561#Post358561 Posted by John Tomasso:
we never sleep at moderator HQ.]]> Sun, 21 Feb 2010 10:32:51 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358540#Post358540 Posted by BEB:
[quote=Alan Rath]I heard her skis had too much oak ;) ... [/quote] I thought she had a very international ski style, but apparently it didn't translate in Canada... :p ]]> Sat, 20 Feb 2010 09:15:21 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358535#Post358535 Posted by Brad Harrington:
Sounds good to me, I'm a Petty Fan. Which means if you are a star and I don't get your best stuff, I'm gonna trash you on the internet!! Haha!]]> Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:10:38 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358530#Post358530 Posted by Fred Berry:
You are correct that the crush report covers ALL grapes crushed for wine but I was refering to the thousands of tons left on the vine due to no takers...not crushed=not included]]> Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:11:15 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358519#Post358519 Posted by blil:
Interesting that the Syrah from there is so light and weak that it could be passed off as Pinot Noir. :o ]]> Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:19:51 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358497#Post358497 Posted by Bryan Briscoe:
Congratulations on the house! I'm sure between packing up and unpacking the cellar will be thinned considerably. Best, BB]]> Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:33:50 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358476#Post358476 Posted by Ken Zinns:
Thanks for adding your input, Bob! The dinner we had with Eric Anderson, Al Osterheld, & our traveling crew at School Street Bistro was excellent. And nice to see your lodging alternatives to dropping $$$$ on the Wine & Roses place that was suggested in the SFGate article.]]> Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:25:32 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358412#Post358412 Posted by Michael Pare:
Has anyone else seen this? At the end of an episode where Mo and Lisa go to a tom Wolfe sponsored poetry award ceremony in Vermont. At the end Homer is at a Maple Syrup stand, grabs a bottle, studies the label, pours a big into a goblet wine glass, sips, swirls in his mouth, makes a bunch of weird gestures with his mouth, etc. HILARIOUS! Michael P.]]> Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:24:01 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358371#Post358371 Posted by Paul Eccles:
As with Marc, I've used it about 3 times with no issues. I like it over WTSO because they ship UPS. UPS ground service allows you to send it to the local UPS customer center for pick up. My work doesn't allow personal shipments. Paul]]> Sat, 13 Feb 2010 09:21:51 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358359#Post358359 Posted by Bernard Roth:
If there was to be an official grape of CA, it would almost certainly be Mission. Whatever the heck that varietal was back in the 18th century when Spanish missionaries planted it in CA, Tom Hill was there following it from the very start.]]> Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:44:53 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358358#Post358358 Posted by Bernard Roth:
Agree with JFO. Use the best tomatoes for marinara and pizza. Use cheaper tomatoes when they are cooked down with lots of ingredients. ]]> Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:40:25 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358351#Post358351 Posted by Dan Beart:
Diageo is not the only one to can the bordeaux market. There are a number of smaller importers (lots of them) competing for a market that is shrinking. The US and Britain account for 50% of the bordeaux market. Since the Dubai debacle, the wordlwide recession, the chinese growing bored with vintages of century being called every three years, I don't hold much hope for the poor bordelais. Warehouses are full of 06 and 07 Bordeaux. 08, a decent vintage is almost ready to ship. The 09' are in barell as we speak. The recession and absurd pricing has actually reduced the commercial viability of bordeaux even on the high end. Big us distributors like southern wines & spirits have not purchased a single case of bordeaux in over a year. Many warehouses around the world are bursting at the seems with wine. Add to that an abundance of competing regions making great wine and the trend towards palate diversification spell real trouble. Young French people are a fast shrinking market. In fact]]> Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:33:16 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358345#Post358345 Posted by Bob Davis:
My guess is that based on the cost of land and the cost of doing business in California that the $40 price tag may not be too far out of line with costs. My guess is that he'll sell most if not all of the first few vintages to mailing list customers. BD]]> Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:01:21 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=358318#Post358318 Posted by Casey Hartlip:
Kind of funny about the Snow's Lake property: I was given a tour as part of a Rosenblum growers day and as big as that place is about 75% if it is Cabernet. What a waste of good ground. I bet they could do some really good things with Viognier or Grenache.]]> Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:35:39 PST