:"97"/Parker "94"/Tanzer "90" WS...SERIOUS #'S

"97"/Parker "94"/Tanzer "90"/WS...SERIOUS #S'!

Forty-Seven & Change for a "97" Pt Parkerized killer RED

The 2005 El Nido "Clio" has arrived. This, my friends is a fabulous
Red. Literally every wine publication on earth does double back-flips
over the stuff, rarely scoring it less than "91" and generally in the
mid to high "90"s'.

Given the press and attention, it's hard to believe that it still
sells for $285.00/Case of 6 or $145.00/Case of 3.

The El Nido "Clio" is a small-production fusion of Cabernet and
Monastrell which sells for (SRP) $48.00. Robert Parker scores the
wine an average of "95.3" Points. Stephen Tanzer awards the 2005
"94", the Wine Spectator "90", the Cellar Tracker Community Tasting
(57 independent reviews) gives the Clio a low of "89", a high of
"97"...with an average of "93.2".

I am often criticized by members of the wine-production end of the
business for using numerical scores in the "E-Alert". This is both
frustrating and flattering as most of their comments are the result of
a belief that my clientele will (after nearly 30 years) be willing to
make their wine-buying decisions based on MY recommendations and
descriptions, ignoring the nationally recognized publications,
especially those which solicit advertising.
I appreciate the implied confidence in my palate which these
well-meaning individuals express, and in a perfect world I WOULD offer
only those wines which I personally believe merit your consideration
regardless of any published ratings. In my defense, regular readers of
this electro-rag are aware that a decent percentage of the wines
featured here are in fact, personally rated and presented sans
additional hype or the opinions of the "professionals".

Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world, and while I would NEVER
intentionally offer you a wine which I felt did not deserve a place on
your table, it is a fact that a "90" or above score in any of the
respected wine and foodie publications will A) likely to be good or
very good in quality, B) receive a positive response to the alert in
terms of sales which C) puts money in the bank at the end of the day
allowing me to continue doing whatever the hell it is that I do. (And
money is the Root's Cellar of all evil)

Therefore...when a tightly allocated wine nails Unanimous "90-97"
point ratings, sells for a disproportionately lower price than others
of similar nature and is actually AVAILABLE to us (hence, you) on a
limited basis, the only question is "how many cases have been slated
for our account?"

$47.00 or $190.00, $47.00 or $190.00, $47.00 or $190.00?!

Chris Ringland is the consulting winemaker at El Nido (you know, the
guy who gets consistent "100" Point ratings from Parker for his
"Ringland" Shiraz). Chris makes both the "Clio" blend of Cabernet and
Monastrell ("97" Points, $47.00) and the Bodegas El Nido "El Nido"
blend of Cabernet/Monastrell ("99" Points $190.00) at El Nido.

Yes, I know it's a little confusing; simply put, there are two wines,
the "El Nido" and the "Clio"...the name of the winery is "Bodegas El
Nido".

Both of these wines are massive in body, weight and overall dimension;
they smell like a wild blackberry patch in late summer. Each wine
exhibits a satiny texture, rich flavors of plum, blackberry, sweet
spice, vanilla, cream, cola and black cherry. They both sport ripe
yet integrated tannins.

The Clio and El Nido are two of the finest wines made in Spain, a
country whose Enological and Viticultural capabilities have
leap-frogged over many other Central European wine-growing regions in
just the last decade.

"97" Parker..."The consulting winemaker at El Nido is Chris Ringland
of Barossa Valley fame. The 2004 Clio is 30% Cabernet and 70%
Monastrell (from 63 year-old vines) which received malolactic
fermentation in new oak followed by 26 months of aging in new French
and American barriques. A glass-coating opaque purple, it exhibits a
sensational nose of earth, mushroom, leather, blueberry and blackberry
jam. On the palate the wine is supple-textured, complex with vibrant
flavors of spicy blue and black fruits and a big-time WOW factor.
This is a totally HEDONISTIC effort with exceptional length and
balance. It is remarkably light on its feet for such a powerful
wine".

*"93-Plus" Tanzer...The 2005 Bodegas El Nido "Clio" is "Inky purple;
Vibrant red and dark berries in the nose with sexy vanillin oak, Asian
spices, fresh flowers and bright minerality. A silky graceful
mid-palate displaying wild raspberry and blackberry flavors and a slow
burning tannic grip; more tangy than the 2004 and AT LEAST as elegant;
finishes with outstanding clarity and persistence."

"90" Wine Spectator..."Oak dominates the 2005 El Nido Clio, but it's
delicious oak, with cola, toasty vanilla and smoke flavors. There's
also plenty of fruit, tart cherry and raspberry, with ripe tannins and
lip-smacking acidity. A modern style; expressive and lively;
Monastrell and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2012."

*There are just too many reviews to print from the Cellar Tracker.
(Yahoogle "Cellar tracker") suffice to say that they are ALL extremely
favorable; with an average score of "93.2"...quite a recognition
considering the sheer number of extremely enthusiastic wine geeks who
respond and comment on that site.

Full Case (6) of Bodegas El Nido "Clio" - $285.00
Half Case (3) $145.00

IMPORTANT ADDITION: THE BODEGAS MUGA "RIOJA TORRE MUGA" IS #11 ON THE
WINE SPECTATOR'S "TOP 100 WINES OF 2007" LIST WITH A SCORE OF "95".
WE RECEIVED (ALONG WITH THE ORDER OF CLIO) ONE (1) SIX PACK OF THE
WINE FOR OUR SHOP. THE TORRE MUGA SELLS FOR $88.00/BOTTLE. IT IS
OPEN ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS.

*"2004 Bodegas Muga "Torre Muga"..."95"..."Plush and harmonious, this
red is alluring yet subtle with intense flavors backed by an
impressive structure. Look for black currant, cocoa, cigar box and
mineral notes now and expect further complexity as this evolves.
Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Graciano. Drink now through 2020".

'06 Marquis-Philips "9"..."95" Parker

'06 Marquis-Philips "9"..."95" Parker!

Your allocation of the 2006 "R" Winery's (Marquis Philips) "9" "95"
Point (Parker) along with the "92" point Shiraz and the "91" point
"Sarah's Blend" for $370.00. On the Ol' Parkerization scale (that I
just made up), that comes out to an average of $3.87/point making this
one of the highest rated/least expensive boxes of the NEW YEAR (should
you be counting).

Why is it that number "9" (nine) seems to play such a prominent role
in the periphery of societal consciousness? Starting with the average
human gestation period to John Lennon's "#9 Dream" to LaVey's "Number
of Satan"...throw in the Motzkin, Dante's "9 Circles of Hell", the
number of planets in our solar system (until Pluto got uppity), add
the judges of the Supreme Court and Wally Cleaver's locker number or
the numerical baseball position (right field, where I always ended up)
and you'll see that the ennead (9 of anything) is always hanging
around like melody in your head that you can never really purge.

And then there's the Marquis Philips "9"...a wine which would be
immediately banished to Dante's vision should it be true that "the
meek shall inherit the earth". This is not a red for the feint of
heart or the weak of will. Alongside this mother, wines of similar
nature would leap out the nearest window knowing they'd be too weak to
defend themselves.

Case in point...

Last year a friend of mine asked me to assemble a case of "really good
reds" (his cost request was very generous) for a dinner he was hosting
with the power elite of San Francisco (this guy runs with the big
dogs). I had no problem filling the box with a few high-dollar Napa
Cabs, Sonoma Coast Pinots and central state Syrahs. On a hunch, I
included our last two bottles of the 2005 "9" (the least expensive jar
in the selection). A week or two after the event he called to say
that all the wines were extremely well received...but, "that
"9"..."Wow! What an impression that made! Do you have any more?"
That's the kind of response this stuff attracts whenever its poured.

*Here is Bob Parker's review; "95 Points"..."(The 2006) "R" Marquis
Philips "9" has been barrel fermented in new French and American oak
barriques and hogsheads where it has been aging for 14 months. It
delivers an alluring bouquet of pain grille, smoke, mocha, espresso
and blue fruits. This is followed by a full-bodied,
personality-filled Shiraz with blueberry, blackberry liqueur, licorice
and a hint of chocolate emerging on the palate. Opulent, sweet and
lengthy, it will evolve for several years but can be enjoyed now and
over the next 12-15 years. "R Wines" is a new company founded by
importer Dan Philips along with co-owner, renowned winemaker Chris
Ringland. The Marquis Philips wines have established a six year track
record for delivering a big bang for the buck and what is in the
bottle consistently over delivers from low-end to high-end. Starting
with the 2006 vintage all the fruit is sourced from McLaren Vale."

The "9" is (and always has been) very highly allocated. It is with
zero dilution in the quality of this offer that we have teamed up the
wine with three bottles each of the 2006 "R" M-P Shiraz and "Sarah's
Blend".

First, the (Beige Cap) Shiraz...

*"92" Points..."The 2006 "R" MP Shiraz was barrel-fermented in aged
and predominantly American oak for 12 months. It offers up fragrant
aromas of cedar, smoke, tar, blueberry and blackberry liqueur. Full
bodied, opulent and structured, this intense, well balanced wine will
evolve for 2-3 years and drink well through 2016. IT IS AN EXCELLENT
VALUE". Beware! At one minute before midnight on December 31st, 2015
should you have any of this yummy wine left in your cellar it will
immediately turn into the Giant Rat of Sumatra. Don't tell me you
haven't been warned.

*Finally the (Pale Green Cap) "Sarah's Blend"...

"91" Points..."The 2006 Sarah's is composed of 60% Syrah, 28% Cabernet
and the balance being Merlot and Cabernet Franc. It was also barrel
fermented and aged in seasoned French oak for 12 months. Deep
crimson-colored, it yields a complex aromatic array of cedar, spice
box, clove, pepper, cassis and blueberry. Full bodied, fruit-driven
and intensely flavored, this layered blend has a 45 second
finish...and delivers Big Bang for the Buck. Drink it over the next 8
years". (On December 31st of 2015 this wine becomes Donald Trump, a
monster of equal dimension.)

Attempted explanation of the whole Marquis Philips "R" Debacle

I have never met Dan Philips or Chris Ringland. Rebecca (along with a
group of American wine professionals) toured Australia last year with
Dan (and Chris to a lesser degree) as her host and guide. She has
nothing but positive things to say about the two men. Sparky and
Sarah Marquis who (along with Dan) founded "Marquis-Philips" wines
have become friends of ours via phone and E-mail conversations over
the years and are now receiving international praise for their
MollyDooker wines...they are delightful people and incredibly talented
winemakers as is Chris Ringland. Apparently, Philips and the Marquis'
had a falling out in 05-06 which explains why Ringland now makes the
M-P wines. We've been told that the continued existence of that label
was one of the primary issues surrounding the split. This situation
leaves us feeling like the third party in a divorce as we have no
reason to harbor ill feelings for Dan, Chris, Sparky or Sarah. If
that didn't confuse you nothing will.

*I think it's fair to say that not only are these wines incredibly
well made, offer far more dimension, texture, pleasure and power than
most other similarly priced reds, it is also true that the "9"
consistently receives scores equal to many of Australia's legendary
Shiraz-based wines (such as Penfold's Grange etc...)

Box of "R" M-P Reds including 6 whole bottles of the Mystical, Magical
"9".... $370.00

______________________________________________________________________

What This Country Needs is a $75 Cab for $25!

What this Country needs is a $75 Cab for $25!

The Remarkable 2005 Obsidian Ridge High Elevation Cabernet Sauvignon -
$297/Case...Let's Head for the (RED) Hills!

It's hardly a secret that given the complexion of the economy, we're
all looking for ways to maintain our lifestyles while simultaneously
cutting our expenses...a balancing act not easily performed. But
guess what?! I DID find a remarkable bottle of Cabernet that looks
and tastes like seventy-five bucks yet can be yours for only
$297.00/Case of 12. All I ask is this: JUST TASTE IT! I'd bet $ I
don't have that this is one of the best "Sub-$25" Cabernet to have
ever graced your pearly whites. As a participant in an annual wine
awards judging I'm gonna be a strong proponent for inclusion of the
Obsidian Ridge in the "Value Cabernet" Category for year 2008.

The wine business is a very cyclical. For years, Zinfandel was the
top act...hell, we were known as "The Zinfandel Shrine of America" (a
customer in D.C. came up with that, not me) then, for a time we simply
couldn't get enough Merlot to satisfy demand...when the Merlot train
derailed, Syrah became the hot item. Unfortunately, Syrah hit a brick
wall at about 90 MPH in the spring of 2007 and continues to languish
(???). Pinot Noir on the other hand, took off like Han Solo's
Millennium Falcon at the beginning of this decade and hit Hyper-drive
after "Sideways". Although slowing down, Starship Pinot continues to
fly. Cabernet on the other hand has always held a steady percentage
of our sales and has seen a resurgence of interest in the last year.
Recently, I put out a challenge (to the wholesale trade) to come up
with the greatest bang-for-the-buck California Cabernet on the
wholesale market.

On the surface, the conditions didn't seem all that difficult. The
wine must be: from a respected California AVA, contain a majority
percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, spend time in quality oak, be
approachable AND age-able, possess quintessential varietal flavors and
structure and present itself in an impressive package...i.e. it has to
"stand out"...what's the big Whoop?

Apparently, I was wrong. This was quite a large whoop after all. The
candidates began "pouring in" (intended). After tasting a number of
mediocre, overly tannic or (worse) thin and weedy candidates, the
winner became obvious...heck, nothing else came close!

Why Obsidian Ridge? Why "High Elevation"?

"Red Hills" is a new AVA (American Viticultural Appellation) located
15 miles NW of the Napa Valley at the confluence of Sonoma, Mendocino
and Lake Counties. The area is roughly 12 miles NW of Howell
Mountain, Spring Mountain and Mount Veeder (as the Gooney flaps).
Cabernet vines planted in the shallow, mineral laden soils of this
high elevation (roughly 2,700 feet), obsidian and gravel-strewn red
dirt produce intensely flavored, tiny, thick-skinned berries which
pack powerful flavors of blackberries, super-ripe Bing cherries and
exotic spices. The wines made from these grapes are muscular, deep,
complex and age-able. In the hands of talented, journeymen winemakers
Michael Terrien (Acacia and Hanzell) and Alex Beloz (MacRostie) the
O.R. Cabernets from these lofty acres possess dark fruit flavors and
tamed tannins which exhibit beautifully when teamed with quality oak
barrels.

The Cabernet is aged exclusively in superb Hungarian Oak

Obsidian Ridge is owned by the Molnar family who own and manage a
thriving Barrel production company in Patriarch Nicholas Molnar's
childhood home of Budapest, Hungary. (Nicholas escaped in 1956 one
step ahead of the Communists) Today, Peter Molnar manages the
cooperage and vineyards while Arpad Molnar keeps track of the day to
day here in California. Hungarian oak, (while being extremely similar
to top-quality French examples) imparts a unique, sweet spice element
all its own. There is a distinct sense of cinnamon, nutmeg and a hint
of sweet fennel in the barrels which, once experienced can be detected
by even the least sensitive palate.

There's a certain "tossing of the dice" in planting at these high
elevations. It's harder to get the fruit ripe (it gets damn cold up
there at night!) and water is always a problem with the shallow soils.
The fact that the property is literally covered with shiny obsidian
(lava which has cooled quickly from exposure to water at some point in
the distant past) reflecting sunlight and enhancing heat retention
which radiates into the vines adds to the equation. In addition, the
rocky soils mean additional struggling for the vines as well as rapid
drainage; the better the drainage and the less vigor the better the
wine. In a perfect world, all vines would be stressed to a certain
pre-determined calibration depending on the variety. The Romans had a
saying, "Vitis amat colles"... roughly translated "The vines love the
hills" (or "the platypus barks at midnight"...one of the two).

The Molnar's are supplying me with enough Obsidian (apparently they
have a lot of it lying around) to include a chunk within each case.
You can pour yourself a glass of this delectable Cabernet while
pondering the very existence of this remarkable material right there
in your hand!

All of these factors really do come into play in the production of
Obsidian Ridge High Elevation Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a Butt
Kicker red loaded with kegs of fruit which suggests early drinking yet
the wine possesses the tannins, muscle and depth to age up to TEN
YEARS! Simply put, You've GOT to taste this wine.

The Obsidian Ridge looks like your average $100.00 Napa
Cabernet...packaged in the wide, deeply punted, low shoulder Bordeaux
style bottle common to many super-premium cult wines that fetch silly
prices yet taste remarkably similar.

There isn't much O-R Cabernet produced hence it does not get a lot of
attention from the wine press. Once the word gets out regarding this
new AVA (and the fact that Beckstoffer among other high-profile
growers are buying up acreage like mad) and the quality of the wines
produced from its mountain vineyards, the prices will certainly
escalate. For the time being, this one's a rare bargain.

*The Connoisseur's Guide chimes in with..."Revved up in ripeness to be
sure, a surprisingly well mannered wine loaded with fine currant fruit
with all its spaces filled with very nice oak flavors. Its
appropriate tannins lend structure and spine without becoming abrasive
and it will provide equal if different pleasures both in the short
term as well as up to one-half a dozen years."

*"92-93"/RC...What more can I say? Tasted "blind" I could have easily
been convinced that this Cab sold for $50 or more. A competitor in
the Bay Area was blown away by the quality of the wine and, after
hearing the wholesale cost expected it to ship in units of 6. The guy
was flabbergasted when told that the price was for a full case of 12.
This wine is getting the same kind of response wherever it's poured.

*Gold Medal, San Francisco National Wine Competition

*2005 Obsidian Ridge "High Elevation" Cabernet Sauvignon $297/Case

Neyers Chardonnays Rival California's Finest

Neyers Chardonnays Rival California's Finest

A mixed box of the deliciously succulent 2006 Neyers Chardonnays which
(yesterday) received the blessings of The "Emperor of wine" his bad
self Robert Parker with an average score of 91.5 points - $425.00
After Discounts

Case includes the 4-Napa Valley, 4-Carneros, and 2-Thieriot
And 2-El Novillero. With an average price of $35.42/Bottle, these are
some of the highest rated/least expensive SUPER PREMIUM Chardonnays on
today's market.

"This (the 2006 Chardonnays) was the strongest line-up of wines Neyers
has yet produced" -Robert Parker

"Neyers Vineyards" is owned by Bruce and Barbara Neyers and their
winemaking partner, Ehren Jordan (winemaker at Turley as well as his
own "Failla" brand) thus answering the inevitable question as to what
Chardonnay would taste like if produced under the legendary Turley
label (Cult Zinfandels famous for their massively extracted, character
laden and hugely dimensional personalities). Ehren earned his stripes
working in the vineyards and wineries of some of France's greatest
regions. Bruce has spent decades working with legendary importer
Kermit Lynch as his national sales rep...together they make quite a
pair of Cal-Franco super-heroes.

Considering the inefficient and costly (yet undeniably gratifying)
techniques which Bruce and Ehren employ in producing these wines, I
believe their average bottle cost is severely under priced.
Submitted, for your perusal...

1) The Barrels which Ehren employs to produce these luscious wines are
made in France to his specifications from wood he and Bruce purchase
at auction. These vessels are air-dried for three years (one year
longer hence more costly than "normal"). All of the fruit is
hand-picked into half-ton bins and then laboriously hand sorted at the
winery. Any grapes which require more than a 30 minute commute from
their day-jobs in the vineyard to the facility are transported in
refrigerated trucks before punching the clock at Neyers for their
ultimate sacrifice, yet even then they are humanely treated...for
example;

2) The Neyers Chardonnay grapes are never crushed...instead, they are
slowly and gently whole-cluster pressed. The resulting juice is
racked directly into barrel and then fermented with indigenous wild
yeasts. This process is time consuming and expensive, but it produces
a level of richness and complexity not found in Chardonnay produced
otherwise.

I ask the Jury to consider the following;

3) Think of California's most sought after and lauded
multiple-vineyard Chardonnay producers...names like Kistler, Ramey,
Paul Hobbs and Patz & Hall immediately come to mind. (Throw out Helen
Turley's Marcassin wines because her scores AND prices are in the
stratosphere) I did a quick, 3 vintage survey comparing ratings (from
Parker, the WS, Connoisseur's Guide and CA Grapevine) versus pricing
for the above wines. The average numerical score awarded? 93.15; the
average bottle price? $59.38 my closing argument: The Average
numerical score given these four Neyers Chardonnays? 91.5; the average
bottle price? $35.41...Lettuce and Geraniums, I rest my case.

There is no (zero, nada, nyet) reason NOT to expect the Neyers
Chardonnays to rise into the rarified and exclusive air which is
otherwise reserved for California's most restricted and cherished
producers SUCH AS Kistler, Hobbs and Ramey. Your purchase of the
collection described below will insure your continued access to these
wines.

*4-2006 Neyers Carneros Chardonnay "90" Parker..."The '06 Carneros has
a nice, smoky nose of hazelnuts, honeyed citrus and a touch of
tropical fruits in a medium to full-bodied wine with great fruit
purity, richness and zesty underlying acidity...Neyers has an
impressive portfolio of wines, some of which come from his own estate
vineyards tucked away in the Conn Valley. His winemaker is none other
than Turley Cellars' highly respected Ehren Jordan. I thought this
was the strongest line-up of wines Neyers has yet produced...so it
seems he's on a roll...these are all pure, clean examples of
Chardonnay".

The fruit for the 2006 Neyers Chardonnays was harvested over the last
week of September through the third week of October. Neither fining
agents nor yeast foods or other additives were used throughout the
process. The length of the 2006 season was exaggerated (almost a
month longer than 2005). This increases the richness and flavor of
the wines and insures that the grapes fully ripen. The downside is
the ever-present risk of botrytis, a mildew that can result in
off-flavors if the grapes are not carefully sorted both in the
vineyard and at the winery...an expensive but necessary undertaking.
History has taught Bruce and Ehren that they make their best wines in
years like 2006, and this is ONE HUGE SUCCESS.

*2-2006 Neyers Thieriot Chardonnay "93" Parker..."Hints of lime oil,
white currant, peach and honeysuckle, all buttressed by terrific
acidity comprise the full bodied '06 Thieriot Vineyard. A cool
climate wine with some stunning acidity and nicely integrated wood,
this is a beauty that should drink nicely for another 3-4 years."

*"The Thieriot sports a rich, buttery style. Shows ripe, deep
tropical fruit framed by smoky, cedary oak, finishing with a long
persistent aftertaste". - Wine Spectator

* 4-2006 Neyers "Napa Valley Chardonnay"..."The '06 Napa reveals the
most tropical fruits, plenty of orange and nectarine notes, medium to
full-body and loads of pure fruit in a sexy, sensual style to drink
over the next 1-2 years"

*2-2006 Neyers El Novillero Chardonnay..."92" Parker..."Leesy
complexity is noticeable in the '06 El Novillero. This wine exhibits
good acidity and much more minerality, with hints or pineapple,
buttered citrus, brioche and waxy notes. The wine is a superb
Chardonnay, pure, medium to full-bodied, and I suspect capable of
lasting 3-4 years."

If you purchase only one producer's collection of 2006
single-vineyard/appellation Chardonnays, this box would HAVE to be on
your list. Considering price, quality, winemaking, winemaker,
age-ability and lineage ...$425.00 is a solid bargain.

"190 Points" (Parker) Cabernet for $375/CS

"*190 Points" (Parker) Cabernet for $375/Cs

A (6 btl) Case (3 bottles of each) of "95" Point *(2X95=190)
Anderson's Conn Valley Proprietary "Eloge" and "Right Bank" Cabernets
from the superb 2004 & 2005 Vintages. Robert Parker calls these wines
"Hedonistic Turn Ons'"

$375.00...Save over $40.00 off wineries Suggested Retail Prices.

Fear and Loathing from High-Stress Wine Sales

Robert Parker pulled his now famous end-around sneak play earlier this
week by issuing the annual "Northern California" issue of the Wine
Advocate (one gazillion pages) between Christmas Day and New Years
Eve. Trusting that this brief period between two of the biggest
holidays of the year will offer a respite from the constant deluge of
information (and the related need to pursue and acquire the highly
rated wines before inventory dries up), many retailers were caught off
guard (DOH!) in their ill-advised belief that they deserve to indulge
in a couple more spiked eggnogs while playing with their kids
Christmas toys before returning to the dreaded reality of retail sales
come January 2nd. Ain't gonna happen, Bub...time is of the
essence...the early Goose gets the Juice!

Which leads me to this E-alert. While there were a number of very
expensive Napa Cabernets which received scores over "90" points (the
sweet spot when it comes to the public's perception of quality) I, in
my usual frugal fashion searched for the ever-popular "highest
score/least expensive" ratio items (and the category which I will be
offering you guys for the next few months as many of the rated wines
have not yet been released).

Two "95" point wines (Both Napa Cabernet-based Bordeaux/Meritage
style) reds jumped off the page, Anderson's Conn Valley "Eloge" and
"Right Bank", both vintage 2006. I punched the buttons and made the
call to their supplier. His response..."The '06s' haven't even been
released and we suspect that now that they've been Parkerized their
prices are going to be adjusted accordingly...but wait, I still have a
small inventory of the '04 Eloge and '05 Right Bank and they BOTH
scored "95" in last year's Northern California edition ...you should
jump on em' before my boss puts them on restriction and raises the
price!

And that, mi amigos, is what I did.

Hence your opportunity to buy a mixed, 6 bottle case of these
delicious wines for only $375.00; compare to similar, famous, top
rated Napa Cabernets from these two excellent vintages and it becomes
immediately clear what an excellent deal this is...

2008 marks Anderson's 25th Anniversary in the Napa Valley

In 1983 the Anderson Family (after a lengthy process of negotiation)
founded Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards at the confluence of Conn
Creek and the foothills of Howell Mountain in the Napa Valley. U.C.
Davis graduate Mac Sawyer (the second American to participate in
"ENSAM" (France's viticulture and enology graduate program) was
installed as winemaker in 2000 after gigs at Groth and Clos Pegase.
From the very first vintage (I remember Gus Anderson came into our
shop to introduce himself and personally request that we consider
taking on the wines...somewhat rare for Napa Valley winery owners) the
Anderson Cabs have impressed me by their incredibly rich, fruit
forward style...more black cherry and cassis than blackberry and
tar...more milk chocolate than dark chocolate...more fun loving and
giving than many of their serious Napa neighbors yet still possessing
plenty of depth, dimension and staying power.

3-2004 "Eloge"...A Bordeaux styled blend of 100% Napa Valley fruit
composed of 65% Cabernet, 25% Cab Franc, 5% Merlot and 5% Petit
Verdot. Harvested September 22nd - October 1st, 2004. The fruit came
in at 26.2 Brix (near perfect ripening #s). The '04 spent 22 months
in 90% new French Oak barrels.

You may remember that 2004 was one of the quickest and earliest
vintages in recorded Napa history. Although yields were down due to
mild summer temperatures that year, an intense heat spike in August
caused the fruit to ripen rapidly with intense colors and flavors.

Sawyer describes the '04 Eloge as "Nose of mocha, blackberries, Bing
cherries some black pepper and cassis; the wine is full-bodied and
glycerol with a rich, full mid palate followed by layers of dark
cherry, cassis, vanilla, blueberry jam and a perfect balance of fruit,
oak and acid. The finish is opulent, intense and nearly time-able.

"95" Parker..."The 2004 Eloge is a beauty. Notes of cedar, spice box,
black currant, leather, truffle and earth jump from the glass of this
elegant yet authoritatively flavored wine that shows terrific fruit
intensity, full body and silky tannins. This is a complex, beautiful
wine that should drink splendidly for 15 years or more".

*3-2005 "Right Bank"...Conn Valley's version of a classic, right bank
Bordeaux blended with 100% Napa Valley grapes composed of 60% Merlot
and 40% Cab Franc, the wine was harvested slightly earlier than the
Eloge and spent nearly 2 years in predominantly new French Oak. The
Right Bank is a full bodied wine which mirrors its French counterpart
possessing opulent ripe blackberries, cedar and licorice flavors
followed by a weighty mouth feel and a long finish; the wine should
peak in 6-11 years.

Parker equates the Right Bank to Cheval Blanc!

Remember the scene in "Sideways" when, after (scumbag) Jack's wedding,
Miles steals off to a fast-food place to suck down his treasured
bottle of Cheval Blanc (White Hoarse) with a Burger? And earlier he
threatens to walk out if anyone orders f---ing Merlot at the Buellton
restaurant? And, of course everyone knows by now that Cheval Blanc is
(often) composed of a majority Merlot...Your bottle of Right Bank is a
CA-Parallel of that famous label. Parker says it's a Hedonistic Turn
on...

*"95"..."Their Napa Valley Cheval Blanc look-alike is called Right
Bank, usually a blend of 2/3 Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc,
although it can change somewhat depending on the vintage. This is a
thrilling wine that comes as close as just about any wine in Napa of
mimicking a great Right Bank Bordeaux. The 2005 is sensational as
well. Exhibiting a deep ruby/purple color and notes of blueberry,
blackberry, smoked game, cedar, licorice and some camphor and leather,
the wine is complex, fleshy, full-bodied and a total hedonistic turn
on. Drink it over the next 15 years or more."

"Well, There it is then"... (Emperor Joseph II in "Amadeus")...A mixed
6-Bottle case of two of the highest rated/least expensive
Super-Premium Napa Valley Cabernets for the relatively modest price of
$375.00.

Silver Oak Napa/America's Cabernet Sauvignon

Silver Oak Napa/America's Cabernet Sauvignon

A 6-Bottle case of 2003 Silver Oak "Napa" Cabernet $590.00

The 2003 Silver Oak "Napa Valley" Cabernet will be released the first
week of February. On that frosty morning, scores of S-O fans will
line up at the gates of both the Napa and Sonoma facilities for their
opportunity to purchase their restricted allocation of six bottles of
this extremely collectable wine. (See photos of previous release days
at www.silveroak.com; I must admit that the participant's DO seem a
bit giddy as they huddle together to keep warm)

You on the other hand, being a comfort-conscious and erudite
individual, can accomplish the same thing simply by responding to this
E-alert!

One of America's most collectable Cabernets...

2003 marks the 32nd vintage of Silver Oak Cabernet (the 1972 Alexander
Valley was released in August of 1976 and made at Christian Brothers).
I have been both fortunate and humbled (within 4 locations) to have
been a reseller of the wines since the 1980 vintage, I believe this
allows me to attest that S-O is one of California's most consistent
producer of world-class Cabernet, in league with Beaulieu Georges de
Latour, Caymus, Beringer Reserve, Mondavi Reserve, Joe Phelps and
Stag's Leap. As a matter of fact, the Wine Spectator ranks Silver Oak
as #32 of the "Top 50 Napa Cabernets".

Oh Brother! (Where art thou?)

Silver Oak was established in 1972 by (then) Christian Brother Justin
Meyer (the order's winemaker at that time) and Ray Duncan (interesting
side note, actor Peter Boyle was also a Christian Brother during a
portion of Justin's 15 year service to his calling. Meyer agreed to
co-found S-O providing he be allowed to create a facility which would
elevate the quality of California winemaking to unprecedented levels.
Sadly, Justin passed away in August of 2002 while vacationing with his
wife near Lake Tahoe. Today, Silver Oak maintains Justin's vision and
dedication in producing delicious approachable AND age-able wines
which epitomize rich, supple fruit, fine balance and silky tannins
framed by signature coconut-infused oak.

Robert Parker rates Year 2003 "92" or "The Finest"...

*2003 was a challenging yet ultimately rewarding vintage for
California Cabernet producers who exercised patience and waited out a
September week of consecutive 100-plus degree temperatures. A second,
brief heat wave came in late September followed by a bolt of heat in
October. This schizophrenic behavior in the vineyards kept successful
Napa grape farmers on alert in their quest to achieve consistent
ripeness levels prior to harvest. Alison Doran (winemaker at John
Anthony Vineyards) noted that there were "lots of opportunities for
high-risk winemaking". (I snaked that quote from Jim Laube's 11/15/06
article on the 2003 vintage in the WS)

*Robert Parker rated the 2003 Silver Oak "Napa" on two occasions
(February and December of 2005, Advocates' #157 and #162), awarding
the wine "89-93" Points (or an average of "91"). I put both reviews
in the old "Vino-Prose Blendomatic" and turned the knob to "whirl".
Here is the homogenized result of my effort:

*2003 Silver Oak "Napa" Cabernet..."89, 90-93"..."The Napa Cabernet is
more limited in availability than the Alexander Valley. Production is
the largest yet for this wine which is a blend of 78% Cabernet
Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot which
possesses a sweet, jammy bouquet of black currants intermixed with
barbecue smoke, tobacco, espresso and herbs. It offers a sexy, fleshy
entry (and is) full-bodied, chewy and muscular with an inky dark
ruby/plum color and hints of wood smoke, tobacco, cinnamon, espresso
roast and herbs; this chewy, lavishly oaked wine should drink well for
10-12 years. (Release date, 2/2008)

Battle Stations! We are about to be Attacked (by wine)

*Silver Oak's Winemaker Daniel Baron describes his 2003 Napa in the
following paragraph: The wine displays a dark garnet color with a
deep purple edge and has aromas of blackberry jam, dark chocolate,
rose petal, black pepper and cedar. On the palate it offers a rich
attack of brown sugar and nutmeg, proceeding seamlessly to a long
finish of fruit and ripe tannins. Properly cellared, this wine should
give drinking pleasure until 2027.

We'll drive up to Silver Oak in a week or two (when they open the
doors to the trade during an evening tasting) and taste the 2003.
I'll be glad to provide my tasting notes afterwards.

*6-Bottle Case of 2003 Silver Oak "Napa" (the one with the painted
label) $590.00 Half case (3) $295.00

All Silver Oak ships after the first week in February.

Cartlidge & Browne *Drive Strong To the Hoop!

Cartlidge & Browne *Drive Strong to the Hoop!

A Full (12) case of the new Cartlidge & Browne Pinot Noir and
Single-Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc...$165.00

These wines are FLYING out of the suppliers warehouse and will likely
be completely sold out by March 1st primarily because Robert Parker
(Issue #174, January, 2008) says "Cartlidge and Browne's 2006 Pinot
Noir is better than many that sell for FIVE TIMES its price" and "The
2006 Dancing Crow Sauvignon is loaded with melon fruit, freshness and
Sauvignon character...both are EXCELLENT VALUES".

The C&B packaging (bottle/label/capsule) has been seriously upgraded
and now matches the table presentation of wines many times their
frugal tare...Their new slogan? "Put your nose in our business"!

The new "Dancing Crow" single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc and California
Pinot Noir from Cartlidge and Browne have recently been released.
Winemaker (for 25 years) Paul Moser has consistently crafted
varietelly correct, super-clean and delicious products at unbelievably
reasonable prices. Today, with their new 100,000 square-foot,
state-of-the-art facility in Napa, Paul has been able to take the C&B
varietals to a level of quality which borders that of their pricy Napa
neighbors. Moser earned his stripes working with some of the finest
vineyards in the Loire Valley. Quoting Robert Parker: "the question
is why so many producers ignore what C&B does better than just about
anybody else in the state...produce fruit forward, pure, varietelly
correct, delicious wines".

Faithful to their loyal customer base, Tony Cartlidge and Glenn Browne
continue to adhere to their famously "tweaked" quality/value ratio
which is the cornerstone of the C&B philosophy.

*6-2006 Cartlidge & Browne Pinot Noir was produced from grapes grown
in four counties: Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Solano. This careful
blend and excellent quality of the 2006 vintage provides the wine with
classic Pinot Noir character. The Napa component (from the southeast
portion of the valley) contributes spectacular power, depth and rich
stone fruit flavors; the Sonoma (from the Carneros) benefited from a
warm late season which produced a deep-colored, complex, mulberry-like
fraction adding some elegant tone and spice-cake notes while the
Mendocino (Redwood Valley) created a cherries-to-plums fruit character
and a plush texture; the Solano addition gave its usual up-front fruit
with ripeness that broadens the palate impression and gives the wine a
pleasing and generous lift on which to build the entire blend.

"Better than many (Pinot Noirs) that sell for five times the
price"...Parker

*Parker again..."It is surprising that such a good yet fairly priced
Pinot can be made in the New World, where consumers tend to lose any
common sense and purchase mediocre but extravagantly priced Pinots
thanks to "Sideways". (As Tom Waits would say, "this guys been
readin' my mail") C&B's 2006 Pinot is better than many that sell for
FIVE TIMES THE price. Its medium ruby color is followed by a soft
perfume of sweet cherry fruit and a touch of cinnamon. With good
size, medium body, excellent purity and a generous, savory texture.
It can be enjoyed over the next 1-2 years and is an excellent value.
Cartlidge & Browne continues to provide rewarding and surprisingly
tasty drinking".

"89-91"/RC..."I tasted a "just opened" jar of this wine with the C&B
Rep yesterday afternoon and we both (at first) questioned what Parker
had been smoking when he wrote the above review. A very nice, well
made red wine with lovely fruit flavors and a fairly rich texture but
equal to $65-$75 Pinots? Guess What: After sitting in the glass for
20-30 minutes this wine went through a metamorphosis from being a
tight, varietelly ambiguous little red wine into being unquestionably
Pinot Noir in character with adequate weight, a silky texture, soft
tannins and rich flavors of baked cherries, summer blackberry, tea,
anise, mulling spice and a hint of dusty cocoa in the finish. It
seems that only Pinot Noir will so radically change in a relatively
brief exposure to oxygen...it is magic wine. Years ago I was blessed
with the opportunity to taste Domaine de La Romanee-Conti from a great
vintage. The wine started out as a Rose' and ended up being this
rich, full-bodied, gorgeously textured, liquid sex bomb. Magic

*2006 Cartlidge & Browne "Dancing Crow" Sauvignon Blanc...This
Organically farmed, 28 acre property is located just north of
Kelseyville near California's Clear Lake (the largest Loch in the
state as Tahoe's partially in Nevada...I'm thinking there might be
Monsters in Loch Clear but that's for another movie). This vineyards
rich clay soil and lake-moderated climate express themselves in a wine
with aromas and flavors of melon, guava and stone fruit. The lush
texture is a product of ideal ripening and extended lees contact. The
grapes were picked in a staggered fashion in order to achieve an ideal
balance of acidity and sugars. They were fermented cold to dryness in
22 days. To preserve this beautiful 100% Sauvignon flavors the wine
never went into oak.

Now THIS is what I call a Ringing Endorsement!

*The Washington Post chimes in: "Although we agree with Stevenson
that "wine is bottled poetry" (and Jell-O is excited Kool-Aid), on a
typical weeknight most of us are not expecting a revelation...hence we
were happy to discover (and recommend) the gently spiced, plum and
cherry noted 2006 Cartlidge & Browne Pinot Noir. Match it with
mushroom lasagna, salmon, tuna, lamb" or baked aardvark.

None other than the world-famous Orange County Register (where
apparently all the women are fair, blonde, full figured and a bit
ditzy if you were to believe that T.V. show I catch Linda watching now
and then) said of this wine "Coming from a single, organically farmed
vineyard in Lake County, the wine immediately struck me (bam!) As the
best Sauvignon I've tasted n some time and a worthy rival for my
favorite Casa Lapostelle...the quality is compounded by the
ridiculously low price."

"89 Points" -Robert Parker..."The brilliant Dancing Crow Sauvignon
Blanc is a medium-bodied white loaded with melon fruit notes, crisp
acidity, freshness and a true SB character. Believe me, there are not
many that offer high quality at such low prices. Drink it over the
next year".

"88-90"/RC..."Beautiful new, tall, deep-punt bottle and upgraded label
treatment, the wine is light straw/yellow in color, nose of lemon
mousse, spring flowers and sweet summer melon; flavors mirror the nose
adding a fairly weighty texture, bright citrus notes and a touch of RS
in the finish. Delicious wine, one of the finest SB values on the
market; rivals many South American and NZ wines in quality and
(gladly) matches or beats their price."

Cartlidge and Browne wines have always been terrific values. Few will
disagree that these new releases represent a dramatic leap in what was
already a quality line of reasonably priced varietal wines. $165.00
Sampler case of 6 each (or 12 of either wine; same price)

*Line lifted from Seinfeld episode "Serenity Now" when Elaine says to
the Rabbi: "Well, something's going on because every able-bodied
Israelite in the County is driving strong to the hoop!" Still one of
my favorite all time lines from the show...and there were thousands of
great lines.