We did book everything and all our communication was through Renee.

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We need more wine marketers like this:

Australia Wine Ad

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That's greatness!

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We need more wine marketers like this:

Australia Wine Ad

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That's greatness!

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I approve this message.

haha. good stuff.

cecil with the spottswoode and cardinale purchases!! those price points are well above what you usually say you spend!! why am I using exclamation points?

anyway, looks like I'm gonna plan a Feb Napa trip for the wife's B-day. nothing extravagant, but going to actually stay in Napa which will be a first for us.

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Looking at northern Sonoma (staying in Windsor most likely) in March or April. Any recs in that area? I'm sure we'll make a day trip over to Napa, but I'm really looking for good wineries in the northern Sonoma county and/or the Russian River Valley.

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Love that area. Off the top of my head I would recommend getting an appointment at Rochiolli. Also Copain does a nice tasting and I have heard good things about Porter Creek. I have never been to Porter Creek but have tried a couple of their wines and they were very good. Did a long appointment tasting at Papapeitro Perry and enjoyed that quite a bit. wines aren't cheap but I enjoy them.

I also always hype a place called Medlock Ames. check out their tasting room and adjacent cocktail bar on the web. fun place to visit, IMO, and I enjoy their wines.

Lots of other places, too, just depends on your wine preferences and what you are looking for in tastings

for dining, if you like the "off the beaten path" kinda experience, drive out to Guerneville and eat at Boon Eat+Drink. we went for lunch on our last trip and food was great and a nice wine list almost exclusively wines of the area.

you can go old school at Willi's Wine Bar, which is along 101 between Windsor and Santa Rosa.

also lots of good places in healdsburg, obviously, right up the road.

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cecil with the spottswoode and cardinale purchases!! those price points are well above what you usually say you spend!! why am I using exclamation points?

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I wish. The Cardinale was three bottles of the Mt. Brave cab. Quite frankly I didn't find the Cardinale anywhere near worth what they're charging for it.

Spottswoode was one of their cab and 5 of the Lyndenhurst Cab. Opened a bottle last night and it was quite good!

Graduate three kids from college in the spring. Two at Ivys. More wine after that!

Storybook got here today.

Just learning about "flash release" or "flash extraction". Bending Branch here in Comort, Texas has one of the machines. Is this a legit process or just some flash-in-the-pan new process?

Sounds legit, and would be perfect for Texas grapes. Since the skins are ripe, you want more of those tannins, and less of the seed tannins, which aren't ripe.

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Graduate three kids from college in the spring.

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Instant pay raise!

Sharing is caring...

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Looking at northern Sonoma (staying in Windsor most likely) in March or April. Any recs in that area? I'm sure we'll make a day trip over to Napa, but I'm really looking for good wineries in the northern Sonoma county and/or the Russian River Valley.

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West Dry Creek Rd is always fun.

Try the Farmhouse Inn for dinner. I've always wanted to go there.

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Looking at northern Sonoma (staying in Windsor most likely) in March or April. Any recs in that area? I'm sure we'll make a day trip over to Napa, but I'm really looking for good wineries in the northern Sonoma county and/or the Russian River Valley.

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West Dry Creek Rd is always fun.

Try the Farmhouse Inn for dinner. I've always wanted to go there.

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Ridge
Siduri
Benovia
Arista
Martinelli
Papapietro Perry
Carol Shelton
Moshin

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for dining, if you like the "off the beaten path" kinda experience, drive out to Guerneville and eat at Boon Eat+Drink. we went for lunch on our last trip and food was great and a nice wine list almost exclusively wines of the area.

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We stayed just outside of Guerneville this past May. Boon's probably the best restaurant in the area and I would also recommend if you find yourself in that area. But it's not a destination. Neither the restaurant nor the Guerneville area itself. At least not to the extent that Healdsburg is.

yeah, that area was pretty disappointing. not much to see, but it is a nice drive out there, IMO which is why I'd probably recommend lunch then take 116 to more winery tasting room options.

We were out there in August. I've got to get my fix of Napa every 6 months or so. It helps recharge by body by being out there relaxing.

On a side note I am planning a few days in Epernay with a day trip up to Reims for our honeymoon. I figure I'll hit one or two big champagne houses and maybe a few smaller growers while out there. Any recommendations or must sees? I'm planning on staying on the Avenue De Champagne; there is supposed to be boutique champagne bars all over the place.

Kongsgaard, Realm, Heitz and Sarocka arrived today.

Quivet for me.

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Kongsgaard, Realm, Heitz and Sarocka arrived today.

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Which Kongsgaard did you get? I bought a 375ml of the Judge Chardonnay at a restaurant once and it was delicious.

Also, I didn't get Realm today but received Quivet and Carter.

Realm came in last week for me. Quivet and Schramsberg today. My favorite time of the year.

And Schramsberg last week for me. Interesting how all this gets out around the country.

Got my Quivet yesterday, question is how long can I hold off from opening one...

Last night I couldn't resist and opened a Napa Valley Cab.

After one sip I was very impressed. Then I put on my glasses and looked at the label. It was one of the Kenefick Ranch. So we decanted it for an hour and finished it off!

We still have some 07 and 08 Kenefick cabs so my patience will be rewarded.

so our new cellar is considerably more adequate than the last, and I'm looking to selectively add 2010 or older Napa cabs, or anything potentially more interesting, from anyone looking to thin the herd. Post up or PM!

You're about 2.5 years too late for my stash!

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Kongsgaard, Realm, Heitz and Sarocka arrived today.

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where do you live? My Sarocka is on weather hold.

I got all my Delille stuff last week. Nothing else so far [sad banana]

Clos Pegase today

Did anyone buy Ancillary today? If you did and are passing on the whole cluster pinot, I'd be interested in your bottles. Thanks for reading.

. But I took the two I was allowed.

I bought mine too. BSD, is it as good as advertised?

I have no idea. His whole cluster syrahs have been good and I don't even like Syrah! I wanted to sacrifice one at a young age and then cellar the rest. I got two so no biggie if I can't land more.

Picked up two '09s to age for my son (up to a case of nice 2009 wine for him now) and an '07 ager for me and the misses.

Has anyone every tried Proper Wines from WA? Their syrah has good reviews on cellar tracker, but wanted to see what you guys thought.

They offer a 3-pack which is perfect

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Has anyone every tried Proper Wines from WA? Their syrah has good reviews on cellar tracker, but wanted to see what you guys thought.

They offer a 3-pack which is perfect

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I drink quite a bit of Washington wines but not familiar with these guys, sorry. you just looking for some syrah's to acquire and try?