2008 CALERA, Estate Chardonnay, Mt. Harlan

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

Truly Burgundian styled with a great price

2002 PARADOR, Tempranillo Reserva, Rancho Chimiles Vineyard, Napa Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

Introducing the ONLY domestic Tempranillo on the wine list of the French Laundry. That’s impressive because it is so cheap for their very pricy wine list. They mark it up to $110 because when they’re going down on you as you drink it, it’s still a great deal, especially if you can get Chris Hoel as your sommelier. This is the finest Tempranillo ever produced in California and if you want a wine that REALLY pairs with food, this is it. Being a new release at seven and a half years of age, this shows no apparent oxidation or deterioration. It’s fresh, red, spicy, and built to last. The barrel and bottle age have merely resolved the wine to where it’s incredibly enjoyable, satisfying, and gives instant gratification to those of us who have a hard time cellaring. It is by no means on the way down, it has a long life ahead of it and promises to deliver for many years. Flavors of spice dried strawberries, pomegranate, cherry, light herbs, and nuances of oak and earth are seamlessly knit together with a few years of age that they don’t charge you for. We taste A LOT of California wines and this is one of the most unique, classy, complex, and true to varietal character wines we’ve ever seen.

2005 WHITE ROCK, Laureate Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

This brand new release is the epitome of “real wine”. Already aged for two years in their cave (not some warehouse in Vallejo) this ’05 Cab is just approaching its drinking window and promises to live for a long time. The complexity and balance of this wine is enough to confuse you and make you fall down. The flavors seem to be a cross of California, Bordeaux, Stag’s Leap District, and Atlas Peak. It’s bold, balanced, big and badass, earthy, minerally, forward, site-specific, unmanipulated, pure, fragrant, flavorful, and is one of my personal favorites. If you’ve never visited this winery, you are really screwing the pooch. We also have 2005 White Rock, Estate Claret, Napa-$34.50

2007 VICE VERSA, LE PETIT VICE, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

Everyone needs a little vice.

2007 RAMEY WINE CELLARS, Chardonnay, Hyde Vineyard, Napa Valley Carneros

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

Maybe you don’t want to wait five more years to drink your Chard and maybe you like a big, fat, buttery, ooey-gooey-rich-and-chewy Chardonnay as opposed to something like the Hanzell. If your wife, girlfriend, or metro-sexual boyfriend or husband loves fat Chard that pairs well with nothing except techno music and ecstasy then this will make them jump up and down and go, “Oh my GAWD! I love you!” As much as I don’t like buttery Chardonnay I must admit this stuff is really, really good. When this sexy wine spreads its legs in your glass, you’ll be blown by aromas and flavors of ripe pear, baked apple, vanilla custard, lemon syrup, and sweet butter.

2008 PONT DE CHEVALIER, Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Knights Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

There are a few wineries out here that charge $100 for Sauvignon Blanc while believing they have a world class wine because they put it in brand new oak barrels and have a fancy winery that makes you feel like you’re getting blown when you pull up and park in the pristine manicured parking lot and gardens. Hailing from their estate vineyard in Knights Valley, this no bullshit, super-extra-ultra-premium Sauvignon Blanc has the soul of a crisp, minerally, flinty, white Bordeaux with intense fruit and ripeness from our blazing California sun. The pressed juice was fermented in stainless steel and transferred to two year old neutral oak barrels where it remained in contact with the lees while aging. I think everyone would drink more Sauvignon Blanc if more Sauvignon Blanc tasted like this. You’ll find nuances of melon, lemon, kiwi, crisp pear, and a light spice, barely accented by a touch of French oak. This superb wine will pair with foods far better than the usual suspects, and with its brilliant acidity and loads of fruit, you could drink it with a steak.

2006 PIERSON MEYER, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

(180 cases produced) This is a real cool and quick story. For twenty years Alan Pierson was the estate manager and helped build Peter Michael winery to what it is today. Robbie Meyer was the winemaker there for five years. They met and formed this partnership while also starting the Sage label which you are probably familiar with. The Sage wines were so good, Darioush bought the whole project including the vineyards on Mt. Veeder which in result freed these guys up to make the Pierson Meyer and L’Angevin wines full time. These Pierson Meyer offerings are outrageously great and thrilling wines from some of the best vineyards in northern California made by a couple of the most talented vino-eno-viti-gritty people in the world.....Coming from the Versant Vineyard on Pritchard Hill, this dense and extracted wine is a blast of blackberry, mocha, tobacco, and spice ready to drink now if you eat bolts but built to age for a while if you’re not into getting your ass kicked today. They were nice enough to use only 70% new oak, letting the fruit shine through with only an accent of wood. We had these guys visit our store who have a wine shop in NYC and they couldn’t believe that we even HAD Pierson Meyer Cabernet. They said they thought it was the greatest thing since fake boobs and they charged $150 for it at their shop. There are a lot of wines out there that we’ve all bought for $150+ that are crap compared to this Cab. And just in time for summer…..

2009 PIERSON MEYER, Sauvignon Blanc, Ryan’s Vineyard, Napa Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

(150 cases produced) I can’t remember the last time I was so jacked up over a Sauvignon Blanc except for the Knights Bridge. The 2008 Pierson Meyer was one of the best S.B.’s in the store a few months ago. We had some wine reps in here who sell one of the ass raping $100 Sauvignon Blancs we previously discussed. They were truly alarmed and ashamed when they realized this very reasonably priced wine kicked the crap out of their sadly overpriced, one hundred dollar, oak bomb, Sauvignon Blanc. This perfect S.B. was fermented in NEUTRAL oak barrels to enhance the wine’s mouthfeel without ruining the wine with woody flavors. The wine is incredible on the palate with flavors of pear, apple, melon, bright flowery nuances, and a silky, weighty, almost oily mouthfeel. Last year this was $28. This year it’s even less for the same awesome quality. I can’t recommend a Sauvignon Blanc more than this. Especially for the money.

2009 PETER FRANUS, Albarino, Carneros, Napa Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

2007 PAUL HOBBS, Cabernet Sauvignon Crossbarn, Napa Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

Down from fifty bucks. Sweet price.

2007 PALOMA, Estate Merlot, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

Introducing the ONLY domestic Tempranillo on the wine list of the French Laundry. That’s impressive because it is so cheap for their very pricey wine list. They mark it up to $110 because when they’re going down on you as you drink it, it’s still a great deal, especially if you can get Chris Hoel as your sommelier. This is the finest Tempranillo ever produced in California and if you want a wine that REALLY pairs with food, this is it. Being a new release at seven and a half years of age, this shows no apparent oxidation or deterioration. It’s fresh, red, spicy, and built to last. The barrel and bottle age have merely resolved the wine to where it’s incredibly enjoyable, satisfying, and gives instant gratification to those of us who have a hard time cellaring. It is by no means on the way down, it has a long life ahead of it and promises to deliver for many years. Flavors of spice dried strawberries, pomegranate, cherry, light herbs, and nuances of oak and earth are seamlessly knit together with a few years of age that they don’t charge you for. We taste A LOT of California wines and this is one of the most unique, classy, complex, and true to varietal character wines we’ve ever seen.

2009 PARADOR CELLARS, Tempranillo Rose, Napa Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

Nicely priced and imminently chuggable.

2007 PALOMA, Estate Merlot, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

Here’s one most of you missed. The greatest Merlot in Napa and the greatest bestest wine in the whole world from the 2001 vintage. Get on the stick kids. Pafuckingloma!

2006 MOUNT EDEN VINEYARDS, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

There’s a lot of wineries out here that make wine as a “beverage” that won’t really age and has no apparent tannin or anything abrasive because they barely pressed it and made it to taste finished when opened upon release. Those wines are finished. Done. Gone before they got there. M.E.V. makes real wines that really develop as they age. This is awesome cellar worthy Cabernet for people who dig REAL wines.

2006 LYNMAR ESTATE, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

How could you have missed this one? Probably the cheapest Pinot Noir Paul Hobbs makes, this is big, full bodied, estate grown wine and is insanely good for $28. Formerly $45.

2008 LIOCO, Chardonnay, Sonoma County

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

Nicely priced and imminently chuggable.

2009 LAGIER MEREDITH, Rose of Syrah, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

Nicely priced and imminently chuggable.

2007 KOBALT, SPECIAL K, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

(185 cases produced) Over the years people have used Special-K for many purposes such as dieting, breading chicken, knocking out your horse, or to enhance a fun experience and/or take a break from the hectic traumas of everyday life. Bigger and badder than a drunken Clydesdale on a quarter pound of meth, this very “special” wine is composed of their finest barrels of the vintage. The wine is extremely complex showing all the above mentioned flavors with even brighter notes of raspberry, black cherry, cocoa, and a hint of sweet vanilla. When you’re trying to break this beast, decant it for up to five hours or keep it in your wine barn or for 7-10 years from vintage date.

2007 KOBALT, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

(681 cases produced) Here’s a wine from Kevin Carriker and winemaking guru Mark Herold of Merus fame. This stuff is as fearless and crazy as the miners that chew cocoa leaves and charcoal in search of the rare blue mineral. There’s a crazy bucking hose on the label warning the drinker to ride another horse and give this wild one some time (2-3 years) to calm down or you might get bucked. The wine is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Malbec from the Coombsville area of Napa Valley. It gets big scores from Parker and the boys and has a great seven vintage track record. The wine is big and dark with colors of black, purple, and blue. Flavors of currant, blueberry, mocha, and black plum are accentuated with nuances of herbs, leather, and oak, all bound to melt together with a few years in the corral...This horse has a big brother that can’t be roped, tamed, or saddled. The only thing that calms it down is…..

2006 KNIGHTS BRIDGE, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Knights Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

I’ve always had a hard time at sleeping at night after I let someone screw themselves over by selling them a case of expensive, crappy Cabernet they asked for and think is good. I get over it when the processing company kicks me the money two days later, but it still makes me feel dirty. Not like “I-screwed-Quagmire’s-dad-dirty”, just good old fashioned “I-can’t-believe-I-just-did-that-dirty.” That is not the case here. You should feel like a dirty lowlife if you have the money and don’t buy this wine. This is, in my humble opinion, the best new winery in California, showing GREATNESS in ALL of their wines. This property is next to the legendary Peter Michael Vineyards which you won’t see wines from unless you’re on their mailing list or in some expensive dining establishment. This spot in Knights Valley is magical and produces wines of incredible quality. These guys aren’t interested in making a lot of wine, just the best wines possible. While there’s a lot of hype on the 2007 vintage, this uncommonly great 2006 is so damn awesome I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t tell you about it. The grapes are grown in three different types of volcanic soils producing fruit with great concentration and complexity when blended together. The wine is an awesome color of purple-rimmed-ruby-red with a nose of violet, cassis, black cherry, tobacco, bittersweet chocolate, and a reminiscent whiff of the rocks where the stressed vines reside. Like all great wines, the flavors on the palate are a more amplified version of the bouquet delivering the same nuances from beginning to end which can take a while because of the very long and expansive finish. It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 100% new French oak barrels, with a reasonable alcohol level of 14.5%, and I guarantee, 100% completely awesome.

2007 KNIGHTS BRIDGE, Chardonnay, Alder Springs Vineyard, Mendocino

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

Rarely in the history of California winemaking have people achieved perfection with white wines. Stony Hill, Hanzell, and Mount Eden Vineyards are a few that have nailed it in some years making Chardonnays that would make your grail holy. Knights Bridge could be joining the club with this one. Alder Springs is an anomaly of a vineyard, cut into the rugged hillsides of Mendocino with a microclimate all of its own. Only two wineries get Chardonnay grapes from this vineyard and the other one usually oaks fucks it up somehow. This Chardonnay has truly Burgundian qualities of minerality, acidity, and unparalleled flavors that come from only the greatest vineyards in the world. The purity, intensity, and balance of this wine has rarely been captured in California Chardonnays. Grapes from thirteen year old vines were whole cluster pressed, fermented for four weeks at 58 degrees in new French oak, and then barrel aged with the lees being stirred every two weeks. It has nearly assaulting flavors of pear, white peach, apple, and minerality with a light nutty nuance. The finish is vibrant, long, and intense. It should age well and develop for another 5-7 years, at least.

2007 HANZELL VINEYARDS, Estate Chardonnay, Sonoma County

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

(regularly $70.00) $23 discount -Yes, one of the greats, the legends, the things dreams and priceless memories come from. Ahhh…..Hanzell Chardonnay. And now with Groezinger’s massive buying power and complete disregard for the winery’s requested and suggested price, I’m gonna piss them off and make you real happy at the same time. For $48 bucks you can land one of the finest Chards in the land. Hanzell is serious Chard that’s built to age and develop and tastes like it was smuggled over from Burgundy. One third of the wine was fermented in new French oak and underwent malo-lactic fermentation. The remaining two thirds was fermented in stainless steel without malo-lactic fermentation, then transferred to 2 and 3 year old oak barrels for eleven months. The finished wine is one of Hanzell’s finest Chardonnays ever with flavors of lemon, pear, almond, and hazelnut, seamlessly knit together with crisp acidity and a hint of oak.

2007 GHOST BLOCK, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Napa Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

Haunting the cult wines. 3 Bottle Limit

2007 GEMSTONE, Facets, Estate Red Blend, Yountville, Napa Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

This blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petite Verdot rivals the BIG Gem$tone for half the price. Boasting brighter fruit and some fuzzy tannins, I almost like this wine more. The blend gives the wine nuances and complexity not present in the big dog. On #2 & #3 only, you will receive a 10% discount when you purchase a mixed case. All the other wines here are already discounted.

2006 GEMSTONE, Proprietary Red, Yountville, Napa Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

This stuff is big, dark, fat and rich, with a 2% blend of Petite Verdot for color. If you weren’t in the mood to spend $150 they also offer a wine ½ the price an ¾ the quality called….

2007 FORT ROSS, Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

Nicely priced and imminently chuggable.

1.) 2007 DOMINUS ESTATE, Napanook Vineyard, Yountville, Napa Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

2007 DESANTE, Old Vine Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 22:36:41 -0700

Nicely priced and imminently chuggable.

2007 BRICELAND VINEYARDS, Pinot Noir, La Chien Blanc Vineyard, Humboldt County