HEB is the largest wine seller in the state.

Their everyday Caymus price is $65-ish. Always 10% off on six bottles (can be mixed, one Caymus and 5 $10 bottles) and twice per year all Napa wines are 10% off, so effectively close to 20% off for six or more.

That Alexander Valley Silver Oak is every day $56-ish and I bought six last week for $51. The 2007 isn't that great, but the 2008 is pretty dang good...

Rononeill,

I've actually been to those two wineries but didn't get quite the treatment you did at CdN. That experience sounds awesome. We are definitely going to Italy next year but with our son coming with us (5 yrs old when we go), I don't know if we'll make it south of Florence or spend most of our time in the northern lakes and mountains area. My preference has been made clear to my wife though!

Had a '09 A. Rafenelli cab at lunch today. Not bad for the price.

Canard shipment came in today... '09 Zin, Adam's Blend and Rescuer... Christmas in March!

"Today, we showed the resolve of the United States. Today we made a statement to the world... That you can hit us, you can knock us down, but we're gonna get up. And when we do, we will find you and kick your ass!"
- Robert E Clark II, Cpt USN, Commandant of Midshipmen May 1, 2011

@Cecil77, I was in HEB yesterday and the NAPA sale is from April 3-16th. 10% off and an additional 10% for 6 or more.

Thanks! I'll be warming up the credit card!

Thinking about a few more bottles of Caymus Special Selection, and maybe a couple more Insignia.

If anyone is into Spanish Garnacha the 2009 Alto Moncayo is damn good. I think I paid $20+ at Specs.

Also, we are headed to Florence area for a week so if anyone has any winery recommendations that would be awesome.

Youbet, Montalcino has great wine (Brunellos). Casanova de Neri, Altesino, and Poggio Antica are good stops. As rononiell mentioned, call ahead to set something up as they aren't like Cali wineries. Banfi on the other hand is quite Americanized and you can just walk in there.


[This message has been edited by Bsd (edited 3/27/2013 9:26p).]

I meant to post this months ago, but keep forgetting - Orin Swift's "The Prisoner" is awesome. Big, full bodied red blend, probably heavier on the Zin side. Around $30-35.

Agree! Very good wine, considering the money, it's great!

Had a 2009 Orin Swift Mercury Head cab last night.

Decanted for a couple of hours and was great.

Never had a bad Orin Swift wine.

They have a new one called Phareon but pretty pricey at I believe 175 a bottle.

Anyone have any knowledge of that one?

Had a Lakoya last week... holy sheet...

I actually like the Orin Swift Abstract better than The Prisoner.

Wow, hadn't heard of it. But it looks great! I'll look for it. Thanks.

Grabbed a couple of bottles of 2009 Parlay "The Bookmaker" (from Ramian) today at HEB because, well... because. It was hidden in the 2010.

"Today, we showed the resolve of the United States. Today we made a statement to the world... That you can hit us, you can knock us down, but we're gonna get up. And when we do, we will find you and kick your ass!"
- Robert E Clark II, Cpt USN, Commandant of Midshipmen May 1, 2011

quote:

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They have a new one called Phareon but pretty pricey at I believe 175 a bottle.

Anyone have any knowledge of that one?

---

we have one on the way (Pharaon)!

HEB Napa wine sale started today!

The take so far:

2011 Orin Swift The Prisoner 2 ea.
2009 Antica 2ea.
2008 Chimney Rock Stags Leap District Cab 2 ea.
2009 Robert Mondavi Oakville Cab 4 ea.
2009 Groth Cab 1 ea.
2010 Caymus Special Selection 1 ea.

What's the sale?

I saw you haul ass across Bandera the other day.

Nevermind, I see above... 10%. Nice.

plus ten percent more for six

quote:

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I saw you haul ass across Bandera the other day.

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The wife and I are at Taco Cabana every Monday around 5:30 after she gets off from the store (Kiss the Cook) for cheap margaritas. Join us!

Cecil: What was your approx. drive out price for those?

TP

Looks like I am heading to HEB tonight... :-)

"Today, we showed the resolve of the United States. Today we made a statement to the world... That you can hit us, you can knock us down, but we're gonna get up. And when we do, we will find you and kick your ass!"
- Robert E Clark II, Cpt USN, Commandant of Midshipmen May 1, 2011

I'd head to HEB to check this out but I already have a closest full of wine waiting to get into one of my wine cabinets!

Since I have mostly lurked on this thread I figured it was time to enter into the discussion. And since my cellar is so modest, I can actually list everything that is in it!

'02 Silver Oak Alexander 1.75ml
'03 Silver Oak Alexander - was actually our guest sign in from our wedding
'06 Silver Oak Alexander
'07 Silver Oak Alexander
'08 Caymus
'07 Emerson Brown Cab Sav
'06 Robert Sinskey Marcien
'97 Clos du Val Cab Sav Reserve
'09 Clos du Val Cab Sav State Lane Vineyard
'09 Clos du Val 3 Graces Red
'09 Frank Family Napa Cab Sav
'08 Duckhorn Howell Mountain Cab Sav
'10 Merryvale Pinot Noir Carneros (already drank 1, great bottle)
'10 Sullivan RRV Chardonnay
'11 Duckhorn Sav Blanc Sauvage
'11 Clos du Val Ariadne

Recently enjoyed a '01 Phoenix Cab Sav, last one of 1/2 case in my cellar, was perfect. I am in the Clos du Val wine club and just had a '10 Cab Franc that was awesome, ordered 3 more, highly recommend.

quote:

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The wife and I are at Taco Cabana every Monday around 5:30 after she gets off from the store (Kiss the Cook) for cheap margaritas. Join us!

---

This particular morning you were headed to the bank.

Thanks for the offer. I'd love to meet up sometime.

2 x '09mParlay "The Bookmaker"
2 x '08 Raman Cab Franc
1 x '09 Orin Swift Pappillon
1 x '09 Canard Cab Sav

Should be going back for more this weekend... The '06 Thomas Knoll awaits.

"Today, we showed the resolve of the United States. Today we made a statement to the world... That you can hit us, you can knock us down, but we're gonna get up. And when we do, we will find you and kick your ass!"
- Robert E Clark II, Cpt USN, Commandant of Midshipmen May 1, 2011

quote:

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Cecil: What was your approx. drive out price for those?

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Not including sales tax:
2011 Orin Swift The Prisoner $28.34
2009 Antica $42.10
2008 Chimney Rock Stags Leap District Cab $53.45
2009 Robert Mondavi Oakville $49.95
2009 Groth Cab $34.78
2010 Caymus Special Selection $101.24

Great, Cecil. Thanks for the continuing education.

The 6+ price for 2008 Grgich Hill Cabernet is $33.99 which is a really low price, Wine Searcher reports the price as $44 to $65...

East Dallas Ag, have you thought about getting some 2008 of the Alexander Silver Oak while you still can. Pretty highly rated and you can find it on sale.

Pretty solid haul today. Items of note:
- check your receipt, I found errors where the system missed napa discounts on sparkling and low range napa stuff (mumm, Avalon, Joel gott)
- on the plus side, parraduxx marked as 50 rang up as 35.

Last night we enjoyed a 2006 Ovid Experiment Cab and a 2005 Karl Lawrence Reserve Gary Morisolo Vineyard Cab. Both were delicious!

Just got my allocation case of Turley shipped today. Yum!

HEB sale sounds great.. Need to hit that.

FWIW, Orin Swift winery sold the "Prisoner" and "Saldo" labels to Quintessa in 2010. David Phinney is still the winemaker for both wines, however.

It was a distribution related move. But, If you look at your 2011 label it no longer makes reference to Orin Swift. I haven't tasted the 2011 vintage, but Prisoner is one of my favorite wines!

Opened a Domaine Chandon E'toile sur lees '03 and a J Viognier Hoot Owl vineyard '11 to go with the ad hoc fried chicken I made. Both paired extremely well.