Marietta's Famed "Old Vine Red" Back In Stock

Marietta's Famed "Old Vine Red" Back In Stock

While a pallet lasts...Marietta's OVR #45 - $145.00/Case!

This is the perfect, post-holidays "stock the cellar" red. Long-time
aficionado's of this delicious and fruit-packed gurgle-bomb know that
the stuff comes and goes in a heartbeat and its best to grab
as-much-as-you-can, as soon-as-you-can when the word (of availability)
gets out.

For a short period of time, we are able to offer case lots of the wine
Robert Parker has described as; "California's" Answer to a top notch
Chateauneuf du Pape", a "Must Purchase which disappears quickly from
the shelves of retailers" and "If readers have not yet learned the
formula, here it is: Marietta Cellars = high quality, modest prices
and considerable pleasure!" The winery took a modest price increase
for the current lot...yet the wine still represents ridiculous "bang
for the buck" value at $145.00/Box

*The Marietta OVR is a "field blend" of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah,
Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignane harvested from ancient and
semi-ancient vineyards around the Sonoma, Mendocino, and North-coast
regions. Winemakers Chris and Jake Bilbro (Father & Son Tag Team) are
wizards at crafting a consistently delicious, medium-bodied, ICBFR
(Intercontinental Ballistic Fruit Rocket) which lends itself
beautifully to literally ALL types of savory dishes and cheeses. An
intentional pinch of sweetness in the finish makes this quaffer a
delicious "a'la carte" glass of red to enjoy all by its lonesome or
with a wedge of sharp Cheddar in front of a crackling fire on a cold
winter's night.

I distinctly remember the evening that (must have been in the late
'70s) we sampled one of the earliest lots of OVR at a tasting up at
the old Madrona Manor here in Healdsburg. Chris Bilbro was positioned
behind a table pouring lot #1 (or 2?). Although there were a number
of excellent reds on the docket that evening, the taste and texture of
the Marietta was something of an epiphany to our amateur palates. The
consistent flavor profile found in this non-vintage bottling has
evolved in a parallel fashion to our preferences, and I am proud to
say that there have been few if any subsequent releases which have
since failed to grace the sales floor of one or more of our stores.

Chris and Jake say: "Our Old vine red is a proprietary red wine that
is round, smooth, Zin-like and noted for its balance, approachability
and consistency. It is primarily comprised of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah
and Carignane as well as smaller amounts of Cabernet and Syrah.
Various Italian varietals round out the blend...our entire production
of the OVR has been completely allocated since 1978."

"Year after year one of the best wine bargains from California is
Marietta's NV concoction called Old Vine Red. This is one of those
blends made from everything but the kitchen sink, including Carignane,
Zin, Petite, Alicante and numerous mixed black varietals. Satisfying
as well as a vine value; possesses a deep ruby/purple color as well as
a sweet nose of black fruits, underbrush and pepper... (The wine) will
offer tasty drinking over the next year". -RP

A famous Brit wine-writer (I think it was that guy with the exploding
eyebrows) was once asked if he'd ever confused Bordeaux with
Burgundy...he replied, "Not since lunch". (The guy's stock went up a
couple points with me after I read that, but I still think he should
do something about those eyebrows).

Although a Non-Vintage bottling, Lot #44 was crafted using the fruit
from two spectacular recent vintages, giving this bottling superb
body, depth and dimension.

This opaque, purple colored wine offers up huge quantities of sweet
black cherries and cassis intermixed with scents of pepper, truffles
and spices. Full-bodied, with a Kirsch-like flavor, this dense,
chewy, fleshy wine remains an INCREDIBLE VALUE. Slap a pricy Rhone
producer's label on a jar of OVR and sneak it into a San Francisco
tasting of moderate-to-expensive French reds. I'd bet dollars to
doughnuts that more than one fancy-schmancy Sommelier would score it
in the top five.

Get it while it's Hot...Marietta OVR $145.00/Case...More and more
people have "discovered" this wine hence it sells out quicker than
ever these days. Long-time devotees should consider multiple case
purchases. -PR

All of us at Root's Cellar sincerely wish that 2008 brings health,
peace and prosperity to you, your family, and all the inhabitants of
our little planet. (One can always hope)

The Green Lion & Chris Ringland Flee to Napa

The Green Lion & Chris Ringland Flee to Napa

All I can say is "Get it while it's hot" because this one will go VERY
quickly. Why? This is Chris Ringland's first winemaking foray north
of the Equator and is an INSTANT collectable...a Napa Valley Cabernet
and Merlot called "Green Lion" for only $215.00/Case (6 bottles of
each)

Guys, wait till you see the label on this one...Remarkable!!!

South Australia's Wizard Winemaker Chris Ringland flew the big Silver
Bird all the way to North America's Napa Valley to grace us with his
mystical knack of turning wine into Gold. May I present his first two
offerings; 2005 "Green Lion" 100% Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and
Napa Merlot...case of 12 (6 of each) $215.00...Over 10% Discount off
S.R.P.

It's hard to ignore averages like these...regardless of your opinion
of wine critics...

Check out Robert Parker's initial reviews of Chris Ringland's "R"
Winery Reds...it's pretty impressive. One "93", one "95", one "96",
one "98", two "99"s and FOUR "100"S. If you're keeping score, that's
an average of "98" points in TEN vintages. Even more impressive is
the average "93" point rating of the following FIFTY "R" wines which
he reviewed.

The magical Green Lion is Chris's first Napa offering

Chris teamed up with American Dan Philips (a well respected Aussie
wine authority, marketing genius and importer) to form "R Winery".
The company encompasses four familiar (to our readers anyway) labels,
Marquis Philips, 3 Rings, Roogle and Bitch along with 13 others
created especially for R wines. The packaging for these wines is
amazingly creative and you owe it to yourself to read the witty back
labels but more importantly, it's what's IN the bottle that counts and
these wines consistently OVER deliver from the low end to the
stratosphere (his "Longitude" Shiraz retails at $1,000/Btl).

Ringland and his minions kept their eyes peeled on the Napa Valley
from day one...this is not a wine which was "Phoned in" at any point.
(Maybe we should call this "NapOz"?)

2005 ranks as the largest grape harvest in Napa since 1997. Above
average cluster weight at harvest was the primary reason for the large
crop. Late in many north coast vintages, hot weather may quickly
reduce crop size by 20% simply through dehydration. In 2005 however,
moderate cool weather following veraison (the point at which grapes
turn from green to red) kept clusters fully hydrated. One key to
success in larger harvests is to insure the grapevine canopy is in
balance with the crop to insure even ripening. This requires a pricy
and labor-intensive oversight of the vineyards. Where crop levels
were not abused, the '05 reds show the same ripe, expressive fruit as
the famed vintage of 1997. The best wines are delicious from the
outset and will be delightful to drink at several points in the wine's
evolution of roughly 7-8 years before peaking.

"Food & Wine" compares the $19 Green Lion to the $70 Ladera...

The October 2007 issue of "Food & Wine" (the big wine issue...check it
out, it's well worth your time) printed a "Super Star vs. Super Steal"
feature. The copy begins with "The great wines of the world are
expensive and often hard to find, and (they should be) instantly
recognizable in the glass...at the same time, part of what makes a
great wine great is how well it expresses something larger than
itself...that is why it is possible to find-if you look hard,
enough-affordable wines that echo the characteristics of the truly
extraordinary." A terrific $20 Cabernet from an unknown property may
never achieve the complexity, depth and nuance of a top-level Napa
Cabernet but at the same time it can offer a hint, or MORE than a
hint, of what that much more expensive wine from the same general
region is like..."one trick for finding these bargains is to hunt for
famous grapes in unsung bottles." They then go on to compare the
Green Lion Napa Valley to the stunning Ladera Howell Mountain...

"This new Cabernet from Dan Philips (and Chris Ringland) is their
first foray into California-and a remarkable deal. Though not as
complex as the Ladera, It's juicy and bright, with similar black
currant notes" (They include photos' of both the Green Lion and
Ladera...you can't miss that label!)

Both the Cabernet and the Merlot are made from upper Napa Valley
vineyards mostly from the stretch of bale clay loam soils that extend
from Saint Helena to Calistoga. This region's fruit character shows
sweet raspberry and cassis fruit with moderate tannins. Ringland drew
structural elements from mountain sources, primarily Pritchard Hill
and Diamond Mountain. The wines are terrific representations of the
sub appellations of Napa valley and the ripe, harmonious fruit that
characterizes the 2005 vintage. Enjoy them now as they are classic
Napa Valley reds.

I think ya'll know by now that Chris can't make "thin" reds...every
wine he puts his signature on is BIG, complex, richly extracted and
powerful; a bang-for-your-buck beauty.

The Cabernet is full-bodied and sports that identifiable balance
inherent to the '05 vintage in Napa...that is, gorgeous blackberry,
ripe cherry and cassis fruit along with a hint of tar and licorice all
paired with integrated tannins and a rich, textured finish. The
Merlot is (typically of the Ringland style) hardly a wimp; ripe, rich,
deep and complex with black cherry and cocoa flavors followed by a
moderate zest of oak. They match well with red meats, stews,
roasts, full-bodied cheeses and Choucroute.

The FAX...100% Napa fruit from several old-vine properties in the
northern portion of the valley. Both the Cabernet and the Merlot were
aged in a mixture of French and American oak barrels for 16 months.

It would be a shame not to (at least try) describe this label because
it's a doozey. Here I go... A huge Green lion with yellow eyes and
red mouth holding (in his left paw) a golden trophy with a red-winged
warrior inside holding what appears to be a soccer ball. In his right
paw he grips a golden chalice with an Eagle tucked inside its wings
flapping about while it holds in its beak a gold medal. In the lower
left corner there is an owl in a purple dress (or chain mail) holding
a cricket bat and a red fish...in the lower right there is a monk
holding what appears to be a scale; there is an American Eagle in the
center below the Green Lion and a red heart with an eye in the middle
kind of like the one on a dollar bill. Fancy script on top reads
"Green Lion" in yellow, on the bottom "Cabernet Sauvignon" in red with
a tiny 2005 "Napa" in the center. Like I said...it's a doozey.

Due to our long-time support of the R Winery products I was able to
get the price down to $215/Case (average price of $17.92/Bottle).
(The SRPs' on the wines - $22.50 and $18.00)

A Chance To Own A Piece of U.S. Wine History

A Chance To Own a piece of U.S. Wine History

A mixed (6 bottle) case of Winery of the Year "Long Shadows
Distinguished Wineries and Vineyards". $305.00 (Full Case of 12
assorted - $600.00)

Food & Wine Magazine recently announced the winners of their annual
"American Wine Awards" program. 2007 marked the 10th anniversary of
this eagerly awaited judging. Allen Shoup's "Long Shadows
distinguished Wineries and Vineyards" was the deserving recipient of
the "Winery of the Year" category of the contest.

It is flat-out AMAZING that you can still obtain a sampler case of
these wines given their national demand and limited production,
especially when taking into account the unanimous and glowing reviews
which every wine in the portfolio has received in the last year.

The wines of Long Shadows are each individually hand crafted by some
of the wine world's most famed and talented enologists. This group
consists of Randy Dunn (Dunn Vineyards), Philippe Melka (Lail,
Vineyard 29, and 100 Acre), Michel Rolland ("The world's most
influential winemaker/Chateau Fontenil and Bertineau St. Vincent),
John Duval (Penfold's Grange), Armand Diel (Schlossgut Diel in the
Nahe River Valley of Deutschland) and Gilles Nicault (winemaker at
Long Shadows).

To say that Long Shadows hit the ground running with their first
releases would be a ridiculous understatement. Under long-time wine
industry insider Allen Shoup, this group of distinguished winemakers
(armed with some of the finest vineyards on the West coast) produced a
portfolio of Bordeaux, Rhone and Rhine Valley variety wines which
received unprecedented acclaim ("90" or above ratings) from literally
every recognized wine medium. That list includes Robert Parker's
Wine Advocate, the Wine Spectator, Connoisseur's Guide, Stephen
Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, The Quarterly Review of Wine,
Decanter, the San Francisco Chronicle, Wine & Spirits and Seattle
Magazine (just to name a few!)

We offered a mixed box of these wines early last summer (before many
of the reviews and awards had been published) and received a very
positive yet modest response. I felt confident that once the wine
buying public became more aware of the value and quality of "Long
Shadows Wineries" the demand would increase dramatically, therefore I
set aside a selection of each with the intention of re-acquainting our
clientele with them prior to the holidays.

That time has come. A 6-bottle case of the Long Shadows wines
assorted in the following manner - $305.00 (There is a small amount
of inventory remaining on these wines for any re-orders of your
favorites)

These jewels have received SO many rave reviews there just isn't
enough room to provide you with all the accompanying text. I will
include the numerical scores with the descriptions. Complete reviews
of the wines can be obtained by going to the Long Shadows web site.
We'll start with the only white wine in the group, a scrumptious
Germanic-styled Columbia Valley Riesling made by Armin Diel

*1-2005 Long Shadows Poet's Leap Riesling..."91" Parker...The only
white wine in the portfolio is the Poet's Leap made by Armin Diel of
the renowned Schlossgut Diel in the Nahe River Valley of Germany.
This splendid Riesling is light straw-colored with green highlights.
It delivers a complex perfume of slate, mineral, a hint of petrol,
spring flowers, honey and green apple. Made in a Spatlese style, with
just a touch of sweetness, the wine offers moth-filling fruit, crisp
acidity, and a long, pure finish. Drink it over the next several
years with Asian cuisine or as an aperitif. This wine could well
evolve in the manner of its German role model for those willing to set
aside a bottle".

*2-2004 Long Shadows Chester Kidder Red Wine..."91" Parker..."A blend
of 6 varieties, Cabernet, Syrah, Merlot, Cab Franc, Malbec and Petit
Verdot. The wine is made by Gilles Nicault who is also the winemaker
in residence at Long Shadows. The wine was aged for 27 months in 95%
new French oak. Opaque purple-colored, the wine exhibits a fragrant
perfume of pain grille (toast!), pencil lead, black currant and
blackberry liqueur. This is followed by a layered, spicy wine with
gobs of complex blue and black fruit flavors, soft tannins and plenty
of depth in its lush personality. The well-concealed structure should
allow for 3-5 years of further development and the wine should drink
well through 2030.

*1-2004 Long Shadows "Feather" Cabernet Sauvignon..."92" Wine
Spectator, "91" Wine Enthusiast, "91" Stephen Tanzer, "94"/RC and "91"
Parker..."The Feather Cabernet is made by Randy Dunn of Napa Valley
fame. It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon selected from five vineyard
sources and aged for 23 months in French oak. This opaque purple
wine delivers classic Cabernet aromas of toast, lead pencil, black
currant and blackberry. It has excellent flavors and balance... it is
an outstanding effort.

*1-2004 Sequel..."92" Wine Spectator, "92" Wine Enthusiast, "5 Star
Rating" Decanter, "93"/RC, "93" Connoisseur's Guide and "93"
Parker..."The Sequel is made by John Duval, for 15 years the winemaker
of Penfold's Grange, Australia's most famous red Shiraz. The fruit
was sourced from five vineyards encompassing several AVAs' and
includes 3% Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend. Ninety percent of
the wine was aged for 18 months in small French oak barrels.
Purple-black in color, this superb Syrah offers grilled meat, bacon
fat, game and wild blueberry aromas and flavors. On the palate the
wine is spicy, layered and plush with soft tannins and enough acidity
to hold things together. This hedonistic effort can be enjoyed now
but will easily last for 20 years or more".

*"93" Connoisseur's Guide...Polish and precision are the hallmarks of
this extremely engaging effort, and, in both nose and mouth, its
slightly juicy, youthfully bright, blackberryish fruit sets the pace
and is matched step for step by hints of rich earth and spice...it is
long and complete from front to back and sports a spice of supportive
tannins that will make it a stunning mate to beef roasts."

*1-Pirouette "90" Wine Spectator, "93" Wine & Spirits, "90" Wine
Enthusiast, "94"/RC and "93" Parker..."The last of the blends is the
Pirouette. The featured winemakers are Augustin Huneeus Sr. and
Philippe Melka. The wine is composed of 49% Cabernet, 27% Merlot, 13%
Petit Verdot and 11% Syrah. The fruit was selected from vineyards
encompassing five different AVAs' with yields in the range of 1-2
tons/acre. The wine was aged for 21 months in French oak of which 75%
was new. The expressive nose offers up toast, scorched earth,
blueberry and blackberry liqueur. This is followed by a thick wine
with silky tannins, superb depth and richness and layers of flavor.
It merits several years cellaring and should drink well through 2037.
In the context of what $55 will get you from Napa Valley or Bordeaux,
THIS IS A TERRIFIC VALUE.

*"91" Connoisseur's Guide...A wine of many parts and many facets, its
aromas start with ripe black cherries and hints of wild berries and
proceed to caramel, currants and toast combined in the most mannerly
and never flamboyant way. The wine's early suppleness on the palate
will remind of Merlot, but its depth and range speak to cabernet first
and then to the spice of Syrah. It is appropriately tannic for a
young wine, yet here again it is solid and polished in a style that
might seem to invite itself to the table today. Still, it will be
better in a decade, and it deserves the chance to grow into its full
majesty".

I think it would be a shame not to mention the incredibly beautiful
and unique way in which the Long Shadows wines are shipped and
presented. Each 6-bottle compartment-case is an individual and vivid
work of art which folds into itself creating a cube which is printed
with the vibrant colors of the enclosed bottles. Each wine name is
printed on the vessel in gold leaf or rich colorful pigments and all
are different, reflecting the type of wine within.

We can't (by law) ship the wines to you in these boxes, but I'll be
glad to UPS one to you should you like to use it to store the wines or
to enhance the presentation as a gift. Please ask when responding to
this offer.

What a GREAT Christmas gift this case would make for any wine lover,
veteran or novice. $305.00 after discounts