Gargiulo is a nice, intimate tasting as well. A lot of the others are available locally so I would pass on those.

Which brings me to a question. I'm reading "The House of Mondavi" - it's a good read although a bit salacious, so I'm uncertain of it's literal truth.

Question: Has anyone tried Tim Mondavi's "Continuum" or Michael Mondavi's "M".

How is the visit to Continuum? Can you even buy a bottle?

Far Niente is readily available, but I do recommend their tasting/tour.

I enjoyed "The House of Mondavi" when I read it a few years ago. That family really did put Napa on the map, even though they had well documented internal conflict. I still like the Mondavi Reserve Cab at the right price. I haven't been to the Oakville winery in over 15 years but I remember it being a good tour for beginners with some good history.

I've had "M" but for $160/bottle, I thought it was a waste of money.

For Continuum, I'd call or email for an appointment. They started out as mostly valley floor fruit but are slowly transitioning to Pritchard Hill grapes as those vines mature. I haven't been to the actual winery but have loved every wine I've had from them. Same for Ovid. Both are mailing list wines. Here's your warning though: they ain't cheap!!!

I'll be damned, just got an email from Continuum: "Please join Carissa Mondavi and Carlo Mondavi of Continuum Estate for a special dinner at Brennan's of Houston."
I really wish I could make this dinner!

[This message has been edited by BSD (edited 9/17/2013 7:00p).]

Only 1 more month til my Napa trip and the exciting news is that my treatment is now complete so I can enjoy one glass when I'm out there!!!

Congrats on completing the treatment.

That's great, BSD.

Good to hear BSD.
Opened a 2012 Honoro Vera tonight. It is the second wine of Ateca, which is sort of funny, because Ateca is a $15 wine. However, I dare anyone to find a better Garnacha for less than $7. Find it, and I'll buy it from you. This is a great wine to have with a fatty, juicy hamburger, which I had tonight. HEB has this wine.

10:45 Friday morning.

Already thinking about what I want to open tonight.

One of them days, I guess.

Damn, I wish I lived closer to you, Cecil!

Going to Napa on Wednesday. Anyone have an off-the-map winery I should go to? Been there many times so looking for something different.

Smucket: Just peruse all these pages. There are gems throughout.

Great news BSD!

Looking for some ideas for mid-range priced reds that I can stop by Specs and pick up. I enjoy Faust and Caravan (Darioush) both around the $40 range. Any other recommendations that are similar?

I got to go to the Favorite Brands tasting the other day. I started with Carnival of Love and Gemstone, and it got better from there. Yesterday was Ambiente. I'll add some if what I got to try when I get home.

Wines I've tasted at industry tastings lately and recommend. Prices listed are wholesale, not retail. Expect 20-40% markups.

Pezat Bordeaux Superieur rouge 2011 $19
Vieux Chateau Mazerat Saint-Emilion 2010 $80
World's End Cabernet Sauvignon "Good Times Bad Times" 2009 $106
World's End Cabernet Franc "Against The Wind" 2009 $36
Mollydooker Carnival of Love 2010 $70
Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 $50
Kamen Cabernet Sauvignon Kashmir 2009 $80
Gemstone Cabernet Sauvignon $65
Hestan Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 $50
Hestan Cabernet Sauvignon Stephanie 2008 $40
Hestan Red Blend Stephanie 2007 $75
Liparita Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 2009
Liparita Cabernet Sauvignon Y Block Yountville 2009
Crossbarn Chardonnay 2012
Crossbarn Pinot Noir 2011 $35
Crossbarn Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Paul Hobbs Chardonnay 2011
Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Stagecoach 2010
Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon 2010
Bramare Cabernet Sauvignon Lujan de Cuyo 2009
Bramare Malbec Valle de Uco 2011
O'Shaughnessy OAB Howell Mountain
Masut Pinot Noir 2011
Kasmer & Blaise Pinot Noir Primos Hill 2009 $50
Molnar Family Pinot Noir Posiedon's Vineyard 2011 $30
Obsidian Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 $30
Obsidian Ridge Red Blend Half Mile 2009 $60

That was one day.

Thanks HTown... will look into some of those! I have a good list of $20-$30 bottles, and $75 plus... just looking for something in the middle.

I haven't bought a bottle of red wine at Specs in years but I went to their website today and searched US Cabs and blends in the $30-50 and here are the wines that I would seek out:

Ch Montelena
Chappellet
Corison
Frank Family
Kenefick Ranch (I know Mike Smith of Myriad/Quivet makes a Kenefick Ranch cab so I would be interested in trying this one)
Larkmead
Maldonado
Ramian
Snowden

In the $20-$50 range. All cabs or blends

Hess Allomi <---- low $20 range
Bennett Lane Maximus <-----
Antica <---
Chimney Rock
Creo
Grgich Hills
Groth
Honig <-----
Ramey <-----
Von Strasser <----
Rombauer
Ferrari Carano
Fall Creek Meritus (yup, a Texas wine makes this list)

I'll hopefully get my list from this past Wednesday typed up either tonight or tomorrow. There were a ton of wines tasted that should retail in the $20-$50 range.

opened a bottle of 2011 ramspeck pinot the other night. we ordered pizza w our foodie friends across the street. i poured it without any fanfare and within two tastes everyone was blown away. we'd had it before and i'd always thought it was a "good" <$20 bottle, but w pizza, it really rocked.

its no scarecrow, but it is a really nice better-than-daily-drinker that i highly recommend.

OK, my two allocations (max 6 bottles each) for M. Etain go live on Oct 8th. If anyone wants 'em, let me know.

Price?

Anybody interested in going in together for 2 or three bottles each?

$125 per, then add tax and shipping. I want to say its $150 per, all in.

Ok guys, you can thank me later...

quote:

---

We would like to announce the debut of our exciting new Pinot Noir project Ancillary Cellars. Ancillary Cellars is a joint venture between Mike Smith and Mark Carter focusing on cool climate Pinot Noir crafted in a Burgundian style.

Our initial 2012 vintage will feature two single vineyard Pinot Noirs from the Sonoma Coast. The first is crafted from fruit out of the prestigious Sun Chase Vineyard in the hills just above Sonoma Valley. This site benefits from the cool ocean breezes of the Petaluma gap. The second Pinot heralds from the famed Sangiacomo Vineyard located at the western base of the Sonoma Hills. Here cool air and fog from the Pacific Ocean gets trapped throughout the summer and fall; resulting in balanced ripe fruit with ideal acidity and signature Mike Smith style and finish.


Ancillary Sun Chase Vineyard Pinot Noir $45
195 cases produced

Ancillary Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir $45
96 cases produced


We will be releasing the Ancillary wines via email on October 29th at 10am. As a customer of Myriad Cellars, Quivet Cellars and Carter Cellars you will automatically receive an offer on this date. You may also sign up for the Ancillary Cellars mailing list on the website www.ancillarycellars.com
The wines will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and quantities are limited.


We look forward to seeing you on October 29th!


Mike Smith & Mark Carter
www.ancillarycellars.com
707.737.6018

---

So how much is your allocation?

As an aside, Louis Jadot just purchased a property in Oregon to do a Pinot project. It will be interesting to see what comes out of there. The vineyard supplied grapes to Big Table Farm, which makes some excellent wines.

[This message has been edited by HTownAg98 (edited 9/30/2013 8:13p).]

You left out the logo!

quote:

---

So how much is your allocation?

---

I have no clue but it sounds like hopping on that mailing list will get you a shot at buying on this first round.

Yeah, I got on Mike's list just recently and received the email.

I personally wouldn't pay $45 for someone's first shot at a varietal. and not sure you can really make a 'Burgundian' style pinot from those areas, although I know all producers claim that is their goal.

mcphail makes a very nice pinot from sangiacammo (sp?) but it is richer than most burgundies.

I'll take a shot with these two particular guys...

Knowing what I know about Mike Smith, I'm a buyer...and I don't even drink. Everything that guy touches turns to liquid gold.

sounds good, you rich buys buy that stuff and don't put any more price pressure on the guys I like!