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I agree about the oak being prevalent and that these wines need a lot of time. FWIW, I have had the 2013 and 2014 Torre's side-by-side a few times and I prefer the 2014. To me there is much more fruit and balance in the 2014.

Ed

Sc0tt Fitzger@ld wrote: Matthew, start laying down some Ridge Monte Bello. Sign up for the futures program - these wines will only get more expensive with time. +1 on the Ridge Monte Bello. And you may also be able to find back vintages that are in your $225 price range target to get an idea of wha...

We went to Ridge last fall, after the fires, and bought some of the 2016 Torre Merlot and 2016 Klein Cab. Ridge had an open house with food that weekend, and were generously donating a portion of each sale to the Relief efforts. Tried a bottle of each within a few weeks, and bought some more during ...

Jeremy Mullman wrote:
Good luck with the procedure.

+1, Good luck, Brian.

Ridge Estate, Rafanelli and Keenan.

Ed

Alan Rath wrote: Not overly structured? I used to buy this years ago. Every one I’ve had was amazingly tasty, complex, and fascinating, but oh so tannic. Alan, this vintage has structure but also is very approachable. Both my wife and I thought it was very enjoyable. In fact, she gave me the buy si...

Carlisle Derivative and Gruner.

Ed

Sh@n A wrote:
Pasta: Would love to hear your favorites

Barilla Pasta for us.

Ed

Best wishes for continued good health, Subu!

Ed

2015 Fattoria Galardi "Terra Di Lavoro" for $29.99. We gave it a few hours of air and it was delicious.

Ed

Thanks for the notes, Mike. I was wondering about the longevity of the 2011 vintage of Monte Bello. Appreciate you posting your impressions, and I will keep my remaining bottles in the cellar!

Ed

Jay Hack wrote:
1998 Araujo!!!

Good call there. I would also add the 1998 Shafer Hillside Select. Every bottle that we have had has been outstanding.

Ed

We opened a 2002 Ridge Monte Bello last weekend. Decanted for 2+ hours before serving. To me, this is just entering it's drinking window. Not the biggest Monte Bello, but extremely well-balanced, with black fruits and a little dill on the palate, with a nice mix of tannin and acidity on the finish. ...

We love the 2018 Nigl "Freiheit" Grüner Veltliner. $18 and perfect for warm weather. Great recommendations so far!

Ed

Happy Anniversary to you and your wife, Tim!

Dave has a good point regarding a back-up. And, if you need a good dessert wine for after dinner, I would highly recommend a 2010 Climens. Lots of good choices from Barsac and Sauternes in 2010.

Ed

Great wine. We had a bottle earlier this year. The 1994 Montelena Estate was better than the 1997, IMO. It had a little more polish and complexity, although it is hard to go wrong with either vintage!

Ed

Pork Tenderloin on the grill, scalloped potatoes and our last 2005 Schrader CCS. Superb meal and wine!

Ed

Manresa was mentioned in this article by Esther Mobley in the SF Chronicle about restaurants selling some of their wine in order to continue their cash flow.

Ed

https://www.sfchronicle.com/wine/articl ... 192956.php

John Stimson wrote:
Oh, crap, and now Ed put armagnac, one of the few things that makes being alive so glorious, on his list.

Sorry, John! I have a few friends that feel the same way about Armagnac as you do, and think I am crazy.

Ed

Howard Cooper wrote: I have not tried the 1991 Calistoga Cuvee, but the 1991 estate IMHO is one of the best wines Chateau Montelena has made. Agree. The 1991 Estate is one of the best California Cabernet's that I have ever had. We have two bottles left that we are looking to hold on to until the 30...

1. Jagermeister 2. Scotch 3. Gin 4. Vanilla, Apple, Peach, Salted Caramel or other flavor-infused Bourbons. 5. Domestic Sangiovese 6. Most California Sauvignon Blanc 7. Hard Seltzer 8. Mixing anything with Sparkling wine/Champagne 9. Any alcohol aged in a bourbon barrel except Bourbon 10. Armagnac T...

Eric Ifune wrote:
On the spur of the moment, a 1982 Mouton.

Awesome! Well done.

Brian Tuite wrote:
2018 is going to rock across the varietal board

Making room for 2018 purchases, sir!

Ed

We bought some Rafanelli and Carlisle from 2018, and look forward to trying them once we have them. You have some time traveling that you should share regarding the 2108's!

Ed

We have been at 4 bottles for a number of years. No plans to change since we live close to both of their facilities and enjoy the component tastings and other events that are normally hosted by Ridge. At some point we may start buying more half bottles but not this year!

Ed

Thank you for the note. We really enjoyed the 2014.

Ed

Buying very selectively. Bought a case of Keenan Merlot for 50% off. My wife loves the wine and the price was really good. Easy call there! Not currently buying anything on the high-end as I think there is going to be some downward pressure on prices.

Ed

Their stores have also been closed since the Shelter-in-place. Deliveries only.

Ed

Jim F wrote:
Not sure. I quit the club over a year ago. Go to keenanwinery.com, then scroll down a bit. Right hand box says 20% off. Left hand box is 50% off their merlot by the case. Does that work?

$22 for their 2015 Merlot is quite a deal! Thank you for the heads-up!

Ed

Blake, we found a few bottles of the Spier Seaward at our local Total Wine. Less than $20 before any discounts. Opened one, gave it a lot of air, and it was a really enjoyable bottle, especially for the price point. Started off with blue fruit and oak flavors dominating the profile, and then that ga...

Steve Saxon wrote:
Drank a 90 Krug and a 90 Margaux last night.......I have a new baby granddaughter!

Congratulations, Steve!!

We had the 1990 Palmer a few years ago, as 1990 is our wedding anniversary year. What a great wine. Wish I had a few more bottles lying sideways!

Ed

GregT wrote: Public transportation will also be affected but interestingly, automobile traffic also seems lighter than usual. I don't know if that's the actual case or not but it would make sense if people are increasingly working from home and avoiding travel that would be exclusively for pleasure...

The April Assemblage tasting has not been cancelled yet. The Saturday event is sold out and the Sunday event still had tickets available as of today.

Ed

A few that I would add would be Dry Creek, Truett Hurst and Nalle.

Ed

Howard Cooper wrote: Does anyone buy classic California producers like: Mount Eden ABC Forman Heitz Joseph Swan Stony Hill And others - or it is just the latest flavor of the month? I continue to buy Forman and Mount Eden, just not through their mailing list. Forman sells in increments of 12 bottle...

Howard Cooper wrote: Does anyone buy classic California producers like: Mount Eden ABC Forman Heitz Joseph Swan Stony Hill And others - or it is just the latest flavor of the month? I continue to buy Forman and Mount Eden, just not through their mailing list. Forman sells in increments of 12 bottle...

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, Anthony! Regarding mailing lists, the ones that we continue to buy from do have some common themes. They are 1) excellent customer service and people that we enjoy supporting; 2) allowing pick-up of the wines as an option to shipping; 3) having events during...

Add me to the list of those who have a Weber Charcoal Grill and love it. We have had the 22" Performance Grill for 12 years and it still works great. I have to admit that this is the first time that I have seen the vortex for the Charcoal Grill. Looks like something to consider! Joseph, thanks for m...

Thomas Keim wrote: '84 and '87 are highly underrated vintages, and worth seeking out for all the names listed above - the '87 Montelena is still one of my all time favorite Cabs with a little bottle age - Both are excellent vintages for California Cabernet. The 1984 Ridge Monte Bello we had a few y...

We found some of these at Costco for $47. A very nice wine at that price point.

Ed

I am surprised that Whitton Ranch is not on the list, as well as Lytton Springs. Otherwise, I am 10/10 for trying wines from those vineyards.

49ers by 4. 2014 Carlisle Derivative for the white and 2012 Ridge Geyserville for the red. And Drake's Denogginizer for the beer!

Ed

Happy 70th, Bob! Great notes on some great wines!

Thanks to all for the kind words, everyone. Wine certainly does help develop great friendships.

My wife and I went to the San Francisco UGC last Friday. We stayed overnight in The City, so I was enjoying the wines and talking to friends more than doing any serious note taking. Talked to fellow WB'er Alan Rath and introduced myself to Roy Piper, and spent some time talking to him. My favorites ...

I found out last week that our dear friend Dave L. passed away. My wife and I had met Dave in line at a Chateau Montelena Movable Feast party over 20 years ago, struck up a conversation, and had been friends since. Dave was one of the 3 people that I learned the most about wine from, along with my l...

Neal.Mollen wrote: Ed, are the "new" Mayacamas wines made in the same style as the ones from the 70s and 80s? I hope so, and not just because I have a few from recent years bought on that premise Neal, I had the 2013, 2014 and 2015 recently and I would say a similar style. They are probably a touch...

+1 on Dunn HM, Spottswoode, Forman and Montelena Estate for Napa. I would also add Mayacamas. And Monte Bello from 2015 is excellent if you are looking to go outside of Napa.

Ed

George Chadwick wrote: Just did some research on 2015 2016 2017 2018 Armailhac. Bought three bottles of 2016 from HDH despite the fact it has the strongest tannic spine of the four vintages and I don't intend to age it. $50 per. George, some of the local Costco's in the Bay Area are currently carry...

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