3 Likes
OMG Todd French carrying Jen’s auction winnings to the car! Greatest picture ever.
1 Like
What a fantastic day! Missed out on all of those ‘post event’ bubbles and l beers as l was inside trying samples of 20202 Ridge Monte Bello.
Thanks to @Frank_Murray_III and Jill for hosting once again!
3 Likes
Very thoughtful of Thomas and interesting.
I didn’t detect smoke taint but the mid palate through the finish was clipped. It was just okay.
What was your take
1 Like
I tasted Thomas’ bottle plus the PNP-2hr-3hr samples that Uli brought. I didn’t pick up taint on any of them but not a one of them tasted like Monte Bello and that’s the ultimate flaw for me. Stripped down.
2 Likes
Jen’s dad Rick was the hero of the auction…10 lots, I think? I have nearly 4 cases of wine (and a Larry Piggins photo!!! Lucky!) in the back of my car to move to his house today (he’s formally moving into the new place, moved from FL to CA, so he’ll probably be a regular at Falltacular from here on out)
This new producer (another @Phil_Carpenter intro/invite) was getting a LOT of love across the board, more so than I’ve ever seen. Randomly, at these events, friends will pop over and say ‘have you tried XYZ?’ Whatever the wine is…and I think all but one time yesterday it was this producer - tiny production (175 cases on the Chardonnay, 200 some cases on the red blend I recall?)
One very special moment of Deja vu for me came when I happened upon Leo making risotto in the kitchen. I have very vivid memories of a BerserkerFest at his house in Eastchester long ago, it was full and hectic with Berserkers everywhere, wine flowing freely, all his kids still there, one finishing a cello lesson, and then Leo started making risotto. I had never seen it made before, and it was wonderful to watch the master at work, for he deftly worked the giant pot while hosting a group and sipping wine…then I was able to relive the moment last night!
3 Likes
I regret not bidding on the chance to hold that pupper 
. What a Beautiful photo.
That Risotto moved me!
That’s not even a particular favorite dish of mine generally, but Leo’s was so good it blew me away.
1 Like
Thank you all for yesterday. For those who attended, helped, bought auction lots, whatever you did, it all helps.
We raised just under $30,000 (12,000 for tickets and 17,000 for the silent auction). We will be running a secondary auction on Wine Berserkers this week to find homes for the 50 unopened bottles from the event. As soon as I can get some help from Todd French, I will add the auction link here.
We’ve done good work for 19 years together. Let’s keep going, let’s keep doing what we each can to be kind, listen, be curious and do better to see what makes us more alike than different. We can all do our part to shift the tide in what is happening around us.
And most of all, to help those who need us through Laura’s House.
16 Likes
2 Likes
So AMAZING to see you all. Love this event so much. Great to catch up with everyone!
SO glad the Marbeso & Sea Creatures were well received!!
Hope to see you all soon!! Let me know if I can help with anything!
4 Likes
OMG. This is fantastic! I couldn’t believe it when Todd told me how much Jen’s dad had won in the auction. So great!
2 Likes
What a fun day! I showed up early to help pop bottles and all the setup peoples were just standing around drinking and chatting already. And it just kept going for another 9 hours. Sometimes I get worn down after one of these long days but this edition was honestly just a blast from start to finish.
So many highlights but Leo’s risotto was almost as good as his company. So great to see him after so many years, especially considering what he’s been through in the last one. A gem of a man.
Thanks to everyone who contributed and made it great. Looking forward the the 20th edition.
My highlight wine of the day was the L’Envolee Chenin Blanc. I’m not even a CB dude at all but this really caught my attention. It carried none of the fatness you would expect from a Napa white. Perfect structure. Nice mellow CB character without strong ripeness. I would urge any devotees of classic French CB to check this wine out. I’m drinking the remnants of one of the bottles at home with the same impressions.
Other wines I remember liking from the above list. I didn’t try everything but these definitely have a positive impression in my memory from what I did try.
All the Delmores.
Matthiasson Cab
Cabot Syrah
2016 Cabot BdB
Tercero Outlier
Tercero Grenache
Stars and Dust OV Bien Nacido Chard
2 Likes
@ToddFrench I really appreciate your FIL stepping up like that and taking down a chunk of the silent auction. That was strong. I had a good talk with him too during the event. Thank him for me when you see him next and tell him we appreciate what he did for the event yesterday, for Laura’s House.
2 Likes
Thank you for posting these notes, and giving these wineries a shout out like this, too. This really helps bring attention to the wines, and to direct people to them.
Today, I got a screen grab texted to me. Lisa Liberati was here yesterday, she makes the wines for Sweetzer Cellars in Santa Rita Hills. Someone yesterday tasted her stuff, dug it so much, that he went and did an order with her today. That feels really good to me to see that stuff.
4 Likes
My wife was really stoked about the Spur Road white Pinot noir so I ordered some from my phone at the event.
2 Likes