January 2010
We start the year with much going on. If the rain continues, it could set the stage much like last year, for a historic vintage.
Wine Spectator extended us a special invitation this year to join the big boys and go on pouring tours / tasting tours in New York, Los Vegas and Washington DC. We are so flattered but we don't have enough inventory to go around. Our Wine Club members are protected and what's left will soon be on allocation. Next year we will have an additional 100 cases and the following year we will have achieved our goal of 600 cases max.
While Vito was doing his athletic fund-raising swimming and Linda her unbelievable bike racing across half the U.S. we stumbled across a kindred spirit. Martin Strel is a legend of a man and there is no comparison to what he has accomplished. Please visit www.amazonswim.com and watch the trailer of his movie and then go see it. He obviously has good taste in wine.
The next news was that Robert Parker said fabulous and highly complimentary things about us and our winery, its taste and such, but didn't give us the rating we expected.
"This tiny boutique operation produces a Cabernet Sauvignon from Atlas Peak fruit. It offers a sweet black currant and plum-scented nose with cedar, licorice, and smoke in the background. Attractive, round, lush, and relatively evolved for a 2007, this charming Cabernet is ideal for drinking over the next decade." -Robert M.Parker Jr.
I don't know if its an industry thing when you start out but if you remember our first rating from from WS was a little disappointing too, but is was the same score as Screaming Eagle so go figure.
The better news is that Robert Parker's partner Howard Kaplan, who does the executive Wine Seminars, just announced that we are included in Napa's Finest Cabernets Blind Tasting in NY. Look at the line up below. Howard had us in a blind tasting once before and we came in right behind Harlan and ahead of Araujo and Caymus special selection.
Ok, my head is getting big again writing this, but it is clearly an honor to not only be mentioned in the same breath as these fine wines but to be in the same room with this lineup is an extraordinary honor for us.
If you have never attended one of Howard's events it is a must. They are extremely well managed and the people you meet are the best.
2006 California Cabernets
Wednesday, March 10 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Blind Tasting Cost: $250 Limited to 38
Beginning with the 2004 vintage, California has been on a roll, as superior quality wines seem to have become the norm rather than the exception. This was certainly the case in 2006, particularly for Napa Cabernet, which turned out to be the most successful category for California wines.
Wine critics have supported this view by awarding big scores to top 2006 Cabernets. Furthermore, the EWS team has been doing some tasting on our own and found lots of great Cabs to wholeheartedly endorse the vintage.
For this blind tasting, we have gathered 13 Cabernet-based wines from 2006 for your tasting pleasure and critical scrutiny. Our selections either have a high rating on their résumé or they are favorites of EWS. If these Cabs are in the league with the best 2004s and 2005s, which we believe they are, you are in for a real treat!
Here's our spectacular lineup:
Araujo "Eisele Vineyard" (92-93WA, 95IWC)
Arkenstone
Bialla (94WS)
Colgin "IX Estate" (100WA, 95IWC, 97WS)
Drinkward Peschon (93WA - cult favorite)
Futo (95WA, 94IWC)
Hundred Acre "Ark" (96WA, 95IWC, 93WS)
Karl Lawrence
Leweling "Wight Vineyard" (94WA)
Peter Michael "Les Pavots" (96WA, 94IWC, 95WS)
Ramey "Pedregal" (95+WA, 95IWC, 94WS)
Schrader "CCS" (100WA, 93WS)
Tor Kenward "Beckstoffer To-Kalon" (96WA, 95IWC, 95WS)
Simply go to www.ewswine.com and sign up fast because it is limited to 38 people in NY and takes place March 10th.
We have a lot more news but like me, some wine lovers have a limited attention span and get thirsty after reading this. I'll save some news for February.
Wishing all of you a very good start in this new year and as always thanks for sharing our passion. Vito, Linda and Dick