Dear Beloved Groezinger Customer,
For some of us, it’s nice to have 2011 in the rear view mirror. Like Lindsay Lohan…hopefully the days in jail are over, and kudos to that brilliant airbrush artist. Have you seen the before and after shots? Wow. I predict a big 2012 come back for her… come back to jail, that is. Kim Jong Il, no coming back from death. At least he won’t be so ronery and all arone anymore. And how about the Cubs? Don’t hold your breath, although I’d love to see them win the Pennant. Charlie Sheen sure deserves a comeback. Come back to rehab. Maybe they could put him in a new sitcom called Three and a Half Grams. And who needs a comeback more than anyone? Groezingers does. And with cool weather across the country and end of year bonuses in your pockets, now is the perfect time for you to make a difference. We usually send out two semi-desperte letters a year. One in January since our business comes to a screeching halt around December 15, and one in May after tax season. It’s a curse for most businesses that ship wine and while we are accustomed to the pattern, it’s not nearly as much fun as an enema. So this month, remember who loves you and needs you (other than your family). A world without Groezingers would be a sad place. And for those who live in the sweet South, this is the perfect time of year to be shipping your wine while the weather is nice and cool. Our January wine sale is on the last page, so check it for some incredible deals on a few items. This month’s features are delicious and I’ll apologize in advance for screaming at you for not buying any Paras Cabernet last year. What were you thinking? And no Riesling? Really?
UPS is available to most states, but we can send it anywhere with the help of the mob. $25 ships a case of wine in the state of California, $40-$50 ships a case almost anywhere else, $60 ships a box to difficult states, and $110 will ship three cases almost anywhere in the continental U.S. If this is all too confusing call 800-356-3970 and we’ll give you an exact quote for shipping wine to your zip code.
IF YER LOOKIN’ FER A WINE NOT LISTED, GIVE US A BUZZ AND WE’LL DO OUR BEST TO GET IT.
1.) 2009 DIAMOND CREEK, Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Rock Terrace, Diamond Mountain, Napa Valley–$155.00
2.) 2009 DIAMOND CREEK, Cabernet Sauvignon, Volcanic Hill, Diamond Mountain, Napa Valley–$155.00
3.) 2009 DIAMOND CREEK, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gravelly Meadow, Diamond Mountain, Napa Valley–$155.00
4.) 2009 ROBERT FOLEY VINEYARDS, Merlot, Napa Valley–$50.00
5.) 2008 LAGIER MEREDITH, Estate Syrah, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley–$43.00 (95 points, Wine Advocate)
6.) 2009 COHO, Headwaters, Napa Valley–$38.50 (66%CS, 32%ML, 2%PV)
7.) 2009 COHO, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir–$38.00
8.) 2008 JACK QUINN, Cabernet Sauvignon, Agave Rose Vineyard, Rutherford, Napa Valley–$70.00
9.) 2008 BLANKIET, Napa Valley–$185.00 (82% Cab Sauv, 16% Malbec, 1%Petite Verdot, 1%Cab Franc)
10.) 2009 TITUS, Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley–$34.00
11.) 2008 CADE, Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley–$65.00
12.) 2008 BLACK SEARS, Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley–$72.00 I never expected this wine to still be available. If you love Howell Mtn. Cabernet, you are just being silly and/or stubborn not to get some of this.
13.) 2009 BLACK SEARS, Zinfandel, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley–$40.50 Winemaker, Thomas Brown, says this Zin is like the 2008 times two. It’s a big, earthy, meaty, spicy, and distinctively Howell Mountain from a great vintage.
14.) 2007 PETER FRANUS, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley–$36.00 A few years ago we featured the 2002 vintage of this wine to be overwhelmed with the positive feedback and repeat orders. This wine is very similar to the 2002, will age great, and deserves a taste before you skip over it. We recently drank a 2001 Franus Cab and it was magnificent.
15.) 2010 OWEN ROE, Pinot Noir, “The Kilmore”, Yamhill/Carlton, Oregon–$38.00
This wine was in our December letter, but apparently I lost y’all in translation. Let’s keep it simple…. Incredibly delicious. Thick texture. Beautiful color. Awesome producer. Limited quantity. Immediately drinkable. Cellarable. Cool label. Great price. If you would like more details, please call. Or if you want to order some wine, call now. Operators are standing by.
****We are happy to send 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 packs of wine if you want to try a bottle or two before you commit to a full case. Whatever we can do to help make buying wine fun and easy, let us know. We’ll tell you a joke or email you some weird stuff if that inspires you to get a few bottles.
2007 DOMAINE EDEN, Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains–$32.00
This wine was in last month’s letter with a very light response. I guess I failed to mention that the grapes in this wine are from Mount Eden Estate and Ridge’s famed Monte Bello Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This is Mount Eden’s second label and is quite similar to their estate Cabernet in many ways. If you like Mount Eden’s pureness, elegance, and classic styling, you can save some dough here and get some high grade mountain Cabernet from a real nice vintage.
2007 PARAS VINEYARDS, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley–$42.00
This wine is the reason why you read this letter and pay the $25 yearly subscription fee. This full bodied and cellar-worthy Mount Veeder Cabernet used to be $75. A deal like this hasn’t come along since the 2005 Charbay Cabernet Sauvignon, and this is by far the best Cabernet in the store for under $45. Now, reasons why you didn’t buy this wine in December; a) You quit drinking for the holidays. b) The economy isn’t as good as the news says it is. c) You’re not into Cabernet anymore. Your new thing is Tokaji. d) You really hate a great deal and enjoy paying full price. e) You are suspicious of a wine called Paras that’s not French. f) You realized Yellowtail is almost drinkable if you plug your nose while you slam it. These are all far fetched reasons not to but this wine, just like the reason why you didn’t get this last month. So….if you think you don’t want this wine, call and tell us your reason. We will give three bottles of this wine to the person with the best reason for not wanting it and will publish that reason in our February 2011 letter, so let’s hear your best bullshit. It’s big, dark, and full bodied with HUGE MOUNTAIN structure. Flavors of black tobacco, blackberry, black cherry concentrate, blueberry, toasted oak, and scorched earth will make you curse in satisfaction and hope you have some more. This Mount Veeder Cabernet will age for at least another ten years while remaining quite drinkable today if you don’t have the patience.
2007 MONTAGNA, Tre Vignetti, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (Pritchard Hill)–$45.00
Here’s one more great wine most of you didn’t pick up on last month. From the family that ignited the whole Pritchard Hill craze, comes this kick ass new brand with old school flair. Owner, Bob Long, is also partners in the well known David Arthur Winery, also on Pritchard Hill. When I tasted this wine, I thought, “Great, another $100 Cab from one of Napa’s old school legends.” Then, I was informed that it retails for fifty bucks, so I thought, “That’s a screaming good deal on one of the finest new productions from Napa.” I also figured that if fifty bucks is a great price, then forty five would be even better. Other wines from the Pritchard Hill neighborhood start at a hundred bucks and go up to $450 pretty fast. This beautiful mountain Cabernet has bold new-world flavors complimented by old world structure and what is known as unmessedwithness. Winemaker, Nile Zacherle (David Arthur Vineyards), lets the three vineyard bocks (Tre Vignetti) do the flavor blending on their own. Firm mountain tannin is hidden by heavy layers of dark, ripe fruit, and a polishing of sweet oak. Flavors of black plum, cherry compote, briar, earthy loam, candied cassis, and mocha will explain to you why this wine is such a good deal. Customers that taste this wine in the store buy it without thinking twice. Convincing you through the U.S. Mail or the interwebs isn’t as easy. Now, don’t be a skeptical doubter, just remember we taste a lot of wines to find the best.
2008 DAVID FULTON, Estate Petite Sirah, Old Vines, St. Helana, Napa Valley–$40.00 (300 cases)
Do you know what heritage tastes like? It tastes like David Fulton Petite Sirah. This vineyard has been continuously farmed by the same family since the mid 1800’s. It’s the longest continuously owned and farmed vineyard in California. Currently, the vines are seventy five years old, dry farmed, and organically grown. The color is as dark as the clear night sky, the flavors are saturating and satiating, and the 2008 is one of their best wines so far. That says a lot since they’ve been making wine for about 150 years now. Because of a very dry and frosty spring, the 2008 crop set was much lower than usual resulting in a tiny 300 case production. This smaller harvest was more intense and concentrated than most vintages from David Fulton making the 2008 a must have for those of you who have enjoyed the Fulton wines in the past. Dark aromas of poached black and red fruits are fluffed with a coddling of French oak. The flavors are deep, long, and broad. Black cherry, black raspberry, currant, spice, earth, and toasted oak will take you back to a time before Wine Spectators, Advocates, points, and ass kissing for sales.
If you even remotely like Petite Sirah and don’t pick up some ’08 David Fulton, you will have missed something quite special.
2008 PIERSON MEYER, Cabernet Sauvignon, Versant Vineyard, Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley–$77.00 (300 cases)
The Versant Vineyard is one of Pritchard Hill’s finest and was recently sold to the Mondavi family to go into their next attempt at something drastically overpriced; Continuum. 2009 was the last year the Pierson Meyer team received Versant fruit, so this is a good opportunity to save yourself seventy bucks and get some of this before it’s gone or before it morphs into a $150 bottle of Newpus Two. This is Robbie Meyer’s favorite of all the P.M. Cabernets. It’s more refined than the 2006 and not as ripe as the 2007. It’s polished, concentrated, weighty, balanced, and has a bright future in the cellar. On the palate you’ll get blackberry, currant, anise, vanilla, and chocolate. This is one of Napa’s great Cabernets that doesn’t make it to the pages of the Spectator or Advocate. Be original, drink cool wine, support the little guy, and drink Pierson Meyer.
2009 STELLAREESE, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley–$32.50 (300 cases)
This wine just came through the front door and kicked our asses. Much more New World/Californian in style than the Domaine Eden, it has bold, ripe flavors that spill from the glass and coat your palate. Hailing from a vineyard just north of Calistoga near the legendary Duffy’s rehab, this wine is so good it will bring a quick end to anyone’s sobriety. Dark, ripe, black, and purple fruit gushes from every sip. It is a crowd pleaser of a Cabernet and will most definitely appeal to everyone who doesn’t hate wine. It should be easy for you to figure out….. it has “Stellar” in the name. Duh!!?!
2009 STORYBOOK MOUNTAIN, Zinfandel, Eastern Exposures, Napa Estate–$41.00
2008 STORYBOOK MOUNTAIN, Estate Reserve Zinfandel, Napa Valley–$50.00
Maybe you’ve noticed the Storybook Mountain wines are in this newsletter quite a bit. Compare that to the frequent mention of God in the bible. The Bible is about God, this is about great wine. Of course we’re gonna mention it a lot! We’ll also mention how easy it is to wind up sober, thirsty, and wishing you had Storybook Mountain Zins in your life. Seriously though, all it takes to be partying down with angels and cherubs is a small contribution to the Bleeding Heart Church of Groezingers in Yountville, CA. Another reason why Storybook graces these pages so often is that there really aren’t better Zins than these. Sure you could find Zins that are different or from somewhere else, but will they actually be better? Probably not. The 2009 Eastern Exposures Zinfandel is winemaking perfection combined with unsurpassable fruit. It has brilliant high notes with ripe berry, subtly firm tannin, and corralling acidity. The persistent flavors of blackberry, sweet oak, raspberry, briar, and espresso are stretched to extremes and evolve into a big finish. The 2008 Estate Reserve Zinfandel is so good, its absence could actually lower the value of your other wines. Keep your property value up with a rack of Storybook Reserve. Overtones of mountain-grown raspberry, cherry, and blackberry might just encourage you to cook with your other Zins. Along with the very full bodied characteristics, this Zin comes with a soft and sensual side too. The combination of big & bad with soft & mellow will get you in touch with your innermost feelings for the varietal no matter what team you play for.
2008 SCHOOLHOUSE, Estate Pinot Noir, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley–$85.00
This gets released on Valentine’s Day, and if you want some, you should call soon to reserve yours. 2008 was a frost vintage so allocations will be smaller than usual. On years with lighter yields the flavors usually are concentrated and amplified, so look for this to be a very memorable wine from Schoolhouse. This is their 51st vintage of producing Pinot Noir.
2008 SCHOOLHOUSE, Mescolonza, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley–$40.00
Maybe things are getting a little predictable downstairs in that special place you only let your closest friends go. Does it seem like every time you open it up the same old juice comes out? Are you forty-something and looking to try something new? Something you’ve never done before? Let the Mescolonza help you mix things up a little bit. Peel off that tight red foil, carefully stick your instrument in and pull gently as you steadily rotate. Okay, now you’re ready to put it in your mouth. Or share it with your friends if you want to. This is a kinky blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and old Rhone varietals like Carignane, Alicante Bouchet, and Grand Noir. Like a Zinfandel with a schizophrenic personality, this wine will pair with anything off the grill, it’ll age great for the next 5-7 years, and will make you feel sexy for trying something new.
2007 HUGE BEAR, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley–$50.00 (100 cases)
Alright, check this out. This wine is actually declassified Knights Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a one time production made with fruit from the famous and very expensive Dr. Crane and To-Kalon vineyards. Most wines from these vineyards start at $110 and go up from there. This is a kick ass, one time deal that’ll be gone in a New York minute. If you have actually read this far and don’t buy this wine, then I would like to mention what a great fire starter the paper version of this letter is. I will barely touch on what a fantastic vintage 2007 was since the press has already done a fine job. And with the 2010’s and 2011’s on the way, this is a great opportunity to stock up on some high grade wine before we weather the storm. Black cherry, bing cherry, currant, spice, and black tobacco will get your rocks off like the expensive stuff for a fraction of the price. It’s like paying for Swisher Sweets and smoking Cohibas. It’s like paying for bathtub crank and doing blue Peruvian. It’s like buying a Big Mac and waking up at the French Laundry with your face in a bowl of oysters and caviar.
2009 PHILIP TOGNI, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley–$86.00
Here is the new 95+ rated estate Cab from the most legendary producer in Napa. The reason we feature this wine every year is that there isn’t a better producer with a more consistent track record of making age worthy and world class wines. This ’09 is accessible now and will probably age for another 20 years in a good cellar. Antonio Galloni from the Wine Advocate called these wines, stunning, breathtaking, and seductive. A lot of people call us looking for age-worthy wines from a certain year to celebrate a marriage or a birth of a child. This is the wine to do it with, so I hope you did something in 2009 that you want to continue celebrating. Even if you had a shitty 2009, you should get some of this to make it better. The tightly knit flavors of super dark red fruit, eucalyptus, briar, and herb will make you feel at least two and a half years younger while letting you know you are wise beyond your years. Forget the hype and fluff of Napa’s “cults” and get some of the original gangsta.
2010 CALERA, Chardonnay, Mount Harlan–$31.00
The last few vintages of Calera’s Mt. Harlan Chard have been stunning to say the least. Chalky minerality has always been a key component in the flavor profile of this Chardonnay, and this vintage is no exception. Tropical fruit is on the forefront here with nuances of quince and pear. These vineyards were planted tin the early eighties and at roughly 25 years of age, they are producing some of the best fruit in the country. This is a wine that takes you far away from the mainstream style of domestic Chardonnay production while maintaining super high quality and purity.
2009 WHITE ROCK VINEYARDS, Chardonnay, Napa Valley–$27.00
Announcing the new release of Groezinger’s best selling Chardonnay. This beautiful Chard is entirely estate grown, organically farmed, barrel fermented in mostly neutral oak, undergoes only partial malolactic fermentation, and will cellar for a good 6 to 10 years. The vineyard is at the base of Atlas Peak, just outside of Stag’s Leap District and Oak Knoll. This is a superior site for growing grapes, influenced by the cool San Pablo Bay while still getting lots of sunlight and heat.
GROEZINGER’S 2010 JANUARY WINE SALE
We only have a few bottles of each of these wines so don’t expect much quantity on any of these items at these prices. This is intended to make some room for this year’s new items, not to detour you from this month’s featured wines. Sadly, this month’s featured wines will never make it to the sale page. A few do have massive reductions from their original price.
1. 2008 SNOWDEN, Cabernet Sauvignon, “The Ranch”, Napa Valley–$44.00 sale price $35.00
2. 2006 SMITH WOOTON, Cabernet Franc, Gallagher’s Vineyard, Napa Valley–$35.00 sale price $20.00
3. 2006 SURH LUCHTEL, Cabernet Sauvignon, Stagecoach Vineyard, Napa Valley–$50.00 sale price $30.00
4. 2008 HEDGES FAMILY ESTATE, Red Mountain, Washington–$28.00 sale price $20.00
5. 2007 VIRAGE, Napa Valley (CF, ML)–$48.00 sale price $30.00
6. 2006 PARADIGM, Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Napa Valley–$65.00 sale price $50.00
7. 2005 MAYACAMAS, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley–$65.00 sale price $52.00
8. 2008 KOBALT, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley–$90.00 sale price $75.00
9. 2007 PAGE, “The Stash”, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley–$100.00 sale price $60.00
10. 2008 RAMEY, Claret, Napa Valley–$39.00 sale price $30.00
11. 2009 ROUND POND, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley–$30.00 sale price $21.00
12. 2007 LONG MEADOW RANCH, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (Rutherford)–$50.00 sale price $38.00
13. 2008 SURROUND, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County–$30.00 sale price $22.00
14. 2006 GRGICH HILLS, Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley–$60.00 sale price $45.00
15. 2008 DESANTE, Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Napa Valley–$60.00 sale price $45.00
16. 2006 KNIGHTS BRIDGE, Cabernet Sauvignon, Knights Valley–$90.00 sale price $70.00
17. 2007 VIN ROC, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (Atlas Peak)–$90.00 sale price $70.00
18. 2008 VINEYARD SEVEN & EIGHT, Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain District–$80.00 sale price $60.00
19. 2006 VERISMO, Malbec, Napa Valley–$50.00 sale price $20.00
20. 2005 HOPPER CREEK, Estate Merlot, Yountville, Napa Valley–$30.00 sale price $15.00
21. 2005 TEDESCHI, Merlot, Napa Valley–$25.00 sale price $13.00
22. 2008 RIDGE, “Geyserville”–$35.00 sale price $29.00
23. 2007 HEIBEL RANCH VINEYARDS, “Loppa’s”, Napa Valley–$32.00 sale price $24.00
24. 2005 CORTE RIVA, Petite Sirah, Lake & Napa County–$50.00 sale price $20.00
25. 2006 SHOWKET, Asante Sana, Napa Valley–$50.00 sale price $30.00
26. 2009 SANS LIEGE, “The Offering”, Paso Robles, G.S.M.V.–$28.00 sale price $22.00
27. 2010 BEDROCK WINE CO., “The Bedrock Heirloom”, Sonoma Valley–$35.00 sale price $26.00
28. 2010 GROUNDWORK, Grenache Rose, Santa Barbara County–$13.00 sale price $8.00
29. 2010 BIG BASIN VINEYARDS, GSM Rose, California–$18.00 sale price $13.00
30. 2010 EMERY ESTATE, Viognier, Sierra Foothills–$21.00 sale price $16.00
31. 2009 SIX SIGMA, Pinot Noir, Christian’s Vineyard, Lake County–$29.00 sale price $22.00
32. 2007 SIX SIGMA, Tempranillo, Lake County–$42.00 sale price $30.00
33. 2008 ADASTRA, Pinot Noir, Carneros–$40.00 sale price $32.00
34. 2009 EXPRESSION 44°, Pinot Noir, Oregon, Eola Amity Hills–$30.00 sale price $22.00
35. BRICELAND, Rose of Pinot Noir, Humboldt County–$17.00 sale price $11.00
36. 2009 JACQUELYNN, Cuvee Blanc, Sonoma County–$45.00 sale price $35.00
37. 2010 PEY-MARIN, Riesling, The Shell Mound, Marin County–$26.00 sale price $21.00
Dear Beloved Groezinger Customer,
For some of us, it’s nice to have 2011 in the rear view mirror. Like Lindsay Lohan…hopefully the days in jail are over, and kudos to that brilliant airbrush artist. Have you seen the before and after shots? Wow. I predict a big 2012 come back for her… come back to jail, that is. Kim Jong Il, no coming back from death. At least he won’t be so ronery and all arone anymore. And how about the Cubs? Don’t hold your breath, although I’d love to see them win the Pennant. Charlie Sheen sure deserves a comeback. Come back to rehab. Maybe they could put him in a new sitcom called Three and a Half Grams. And who needs a comeback more than anyone? Groezingers does. And with cool weather across the country and end of year bonuses in your pockets, now is the perfect time for you to make a difference. We usually send out two semi-desperte letters a year. One in January since our business comes to a screeching halt around December 15, and one in May after tax season. It’s a curse for most businesses that ship wine and while we are accustomed to the pattern, it’s not nearly as much fun as an enema. So this month, remember who loves you and needs you (other than your family). A world without Groezingers would be a sad place. And for those who live in the sweet South, this is the perfect time of year to be shipping your wine while the weather is nice and cool. Our January wine sale is on the last page, so check it for some incredible deals on a few items. This month’s features are delicious and I’ll apologize in advance for screaming at you for not buying any Paras Cabernet last year. What were you thinking? And no Riesling? Really?
UPS is available to most states, but we can send it anywhere with the help of the mob. $25 ships a case of wine in the state of California, $40-$50 ships a case almost anywhere else, $60 ships a box to difficult states, and $110 will ship three cases almost anywhere in the continental U.S. If this is all too confusing call 800-356-3970 and we’ll give you an exact quote for shipping wine to your zip code.
IF YER LOOKIN’ FER A WINE NOT LISTED, GIVE US A BUZZ AND WE’LL DO OUR BEST TO GET IT.
1.) 2009 DIAMOND CREEK, Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Rock Terrace, Diamond Mountain, Napa Valley–$155.00
2.) 2009 DIAMOND CREEK, Cabernet Sauvignon, Volcanic Hill, Diamond Mountain, Napa Valley–$155.00
3.) 2009 DIAMOND CREEK, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gravelly Meadow, Diamond Mountain, Napa Valley–$155.00
4.) 2009 ROBERT FOLEY VINEYARDS, Merlot, Napa Valley–$50.00
5.) 2008 LAGIER MEREDITH, Estate Syrah, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley–$43.00 (95 points, Wine Advocate)
6.) 2009 COHO, Headwaters, Napa Valley–$38.50 (66%CS, 32%ML, 2%PV)
7.) 2009 COHO, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir–$38.00
8.) 2008 JACK QUINN, Cabernet Sauvignon, Agave Rose Vineyard, Rutherford, Napa Valley–$70.00
9.) 2008 BLANKIET, Napa Valley–$185.00 (82% Cab Sauv, 16% Malbec, 1%Petite Verdot, 1%Cab Franc)
10.) 2009 TITUS, Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley–$34.00
11.) 2008 CADE, Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley–$65.00
12.) 2008 BLACK SEARS, Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley–$72.00 I never expected this wine to still be available. If you love Howell Mtn. Cabernet, you are just being silly and/or stubborn not to get some of this.
13.) 2009 BLACK SEARS, Zinfandel, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley–$40.50 Winemaker, Thomas Brown, says this Zin is like the 2008 times two. It’s a big, earthy, meaty, spicy, and distinctively Howell Mountain from a great vintage.
14.) 2007 PETER FRANUS, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley–$36.00 A few years ago we featured the 2002 vintage of this wine to be overwhelmed with the positive feedback and repeat orders. This wine is very similar to the 2002, will age great, and deserves a taste before you skip over it. We recently drank a 2001 Franus Cab and it was magnificent.
15.) 2010 OWEN ROE, Pinot Noir, “The Kilmore”, Yamhill/Carlton, Oregon–$38.00
This wine was in our December letter, but apparently I lost y’all in translation. Let’s keep it simple…. Incredibly delicious. Thick texture. Beautiful color. Awesome producer. Limited quantity. Immediately drinkable. Cellarable. Cool label. Great price. If you would like more details, please call. Or if you want to order some wine, call now. Operators are standing by.
****We are happy to send 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 packs of wine if you want to try a bottle or two before you commit to a full case. Whatever we can do to help make buying wine fun and easy, let us know. We’ll tell you a joke or email you some weird stuff if that inspires you to get a few bottles.
2007 DOMAINE EDEN, Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains–$32.00
This wine was in last month’s letter with a very light response. I guess I failed to mention that the grapes in this wine are from Mount Eden Estate and Ridge’s famed Monte Bello Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This is Mount Eden’s second label and is quite similar to their estate Cabernet in many ways. If you like Mount Eden’s pureness, elegance, and classic styling, you can save some dough here and get some high grade mountain Cabernet from a real nice vintage.
2007 PARAS VINEYARDS, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley–$42.00
This wine is the reason why you read this letter and pay the $25 yearly subscription fee. This full bodied and cellar-worthy Mount Veeder Cabernet used to be $75. A deal like this hasn’t come along since the 2005 Charbay Cabernet Sauvignon, and this is by far the best Cabernet in the store for under $45. Now, reasons why you didn’t buy this wine in December; a) You quit drinking for the holidays. b) The economy isn’t as good as the news says it is. c) You’re not into Cabernet anymore. Your new thing is Tokaji. d) You really hate a great deal and enjoy paying full price. e) You are suspicious of a wine called Paras that’s not French. f) You realized Yellowtail is almost drinkable if you plug your nose while you slam it. These are all far fetched reasons not to but this wine, just like the reason why you didn’t get this last month. So….if you think you don’t want this wine, call and tell us your reason. We will give three bottles of this wine to the person with the best reason for not wanting it and will publish that reason in our February 2011 letter, so let’s hear your best bullshit. It’s big, dark, and full bodied with HUGE MOUNTAIN structure. Flavors of black tobacco, blackberry, black cherry concentrate, blueberry, toasted oak, and scorched earth will make you curse in satisfaction and hope you have some more. This Mount Veeder Cabernet will age for at least another ten years while remaining quite drinkable today if you don’t have the patience.
2007 MONTAGNA, Tre Vignetti, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (Pritchard Hill)–$45.00
Here’s one more great wine most of you didn’t pick up on last month. From the family that ignited the whole Pritchard Hill craze, comes this kick ass new brand with old school flair. Owner, Bob Long, is also partners in the well known David Arthur Winery, also on Pritchard Hill. When I tasted this wine, I thought, “Great, another $100 Cab from one of Napa’s old school legends.” Then, I was informed that it retails for fifty bucks, so I thought, “That’s a screaming good deal on one of the finest new productions from Napa.” I also figured that if fifty bucks is a great price, then forty five would be even better. Other wines from the Pritchard Hill neighborhood start at a hundred bucks and go up to $450 pretty fast. This beautiful mountain Cabernet has bold new-world flavors complimented by old world structure and what is known as unmessedwithness. Winemaker, Nile Zacherle (David Arthur Vineyards), lets the three vineyard bocks (Tre Vignetti) do the flavor blending on their own. Firm mountain tannin is hidden by heavy layers of dark, ripe fruit, and a polishing of sweet oak. Flavors of black plum, cherry compote, briar, earthy loam, candied cassis, and mocha will explain to you why this wine is such a good deal. Customers that taste this wine in the store buy it without thinking twice. Convincing you through the U.S. Mail or the interwebs isn’t as easy. Now, don’t be a skeptical doubter, just remember we taste a lot of wines to find the best.
2008 DAVID FULTON, Estate Petite Sirah, Old Vines, St. Helana, Napa Valley–$40.00 (300 cases)
Do you know what heritage tastes like? It tastes like David Fulton Petite Sirah. This vineyard has been continuously farmed by the same family since the mid 1800’s. It’s the longest continuously owned and farmed vineyard in California. Currently, the vines are seventy five years old, dry farmed, and organically grown. The color is as dark as the clear night sky, the flavors are saturating and satiating, and the 2008 is one of their best wines so far. That says a lot since they’ve been making wine for about 150 years now. Because of a very dry and frosty spring, the 2008 crop set was much lower than usual resulting in a tiny 300 case production. This smaller harvest was more intense and concentrated than most vintages from David Fulton making the 2008 a must have for those of you who have enjoyed the Fulton wines in the past. Dark aromas of poached black and red fruits are fluffed with a coddling of French oak. The flavors are deep, long, and broad. Black cherry, black raspberry, currant, spice, earth, and toasted oak will take you back to a time before Wine Spectators, Advocates, points, and ass kissing for sales.
If you even remotely like Petite Sirah and don’t pick up some ’08 David Fulton, you will have missed something quite special.
2008 PIERSON MEYER, Cabernet Sauvignon, Versant Vineyard, Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley–$77.00 (300 cases)
The Versant Vineyard is one of Pritchard Hill’s finest and was recently sold to the Mondavi family to go into their next attempt at something drastically overpriced; Continuum. 2009 was the last year the Pierson Meyer team received Versant fruit, so this is a good opportunity to save yourself seventy bucks and get some of this before it’s gone or before it morphs into a $150 bottle of Newpus Two. This is Robbie Meyer’s favorite of all the P.M. Cabernets. It’s more refined than the 2006 and not as ripe as the 2007. It’s polished, concentrated, weighty, balanced, and has a bright future in the cellar. On the palate you’ll get blackberry, currant, anise, vanilla, and chocolate. This is one of Napa’s great Cabernets that doesn’t make it to the pages of the Spectator or Advocate. Be original, drink cool wine, support the little guy, and drink Pierson Meyer.
2009 STELLAREESE, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley–$32.50 (300 cases)
This wine just came through the front door and kicked our asses. Much more New World/Californian in style than the Domaine Eden, it has bold, ripe flavors that spill from the glass and coat your palate. Hailing from a vineyard just north of Calistoga near the legendary Duffy’s rehab, this wine is so good it will bring a quick end to anyone’s sobriety. Dark, ripe, black, and purple fruit gushes from every sip. It is a crowd pleaser of a Cabernet and will most definitely appeal to everyone who doesn’t hate wine. It should be easy for you to figure out….. it has “Stellar” in the name. Duh!!?!
2009 STORYBOOK MOUNTAIN, Zinfandel, Eastern Exposures, Napa Estate–$41.00
2008 STORYBOOK MOUNTAIN, Estate Reserve Zinfandel, Napa Valley–$50.00
Maybe you’ve noticed the Storybook Mountain wines are in this newsletter quite a bit. Compare that to the frequent mention of God in the bible. The Bible is about God, this is about great wine. Of course we’re gonna mention it a lot! We’ll also mention how easy it is to wind up sober, thirsty, and wishing you had Storybook Mountain Zins in your life. Seriously though, all it takes to be partying down with angels and cherubs is a small contribution to the Bleeding Heart Church of Groezingers in Yountville, CA. Another reason why Storybook graces these pages so often is that there really aren’t better Zins than these. Sure you could find Zins that are different or from somewhere else, but will they actually be better? Probably not. The 2009 Eastern Exposures Zinfandel is winemaking perfection combined with unsurpassable fruit. It has brilliant high notes with ripe berry, subtly firm tannin, and corralling acidity. The persistent flavors of blackberry, sweet oak, raspberry, briar, and espresso are stretched to extremes and evolve into a big finish. The 2008 Estate Reserve Zinfandel is so good, its absence could actually lower the value of your other wines. Keep your property value up with a rack of Storybook Reserve. Overtones of mountain-grown raspberry, cherry, and blackberry might just encourage you to cook with your other Zins. Along with the very full bodied characteristics, this Zin comes with a soft and sensual side too. The combination of big & bad with soft & mellow will get you in touch with your innermost feelings for the varietal no matter what team you play for.
2008 SCHOOLHOUSE, Estate Pinot Noir, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley–$85.00
This gets released on Valentine’s Day, and if you want some, you should call soon to reserve yours. 2008 was a frost vintage so allocations will be smaller than usual. On years with lighter yields the flavors usually are concentrated and amplified, so look for this to be a very memorable wine from Schoolhouse. This is their 51st vintage of producing Pinot Noir.
2008 SCHOOLHOUSE, Mescolonza, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley–$40.00
Maybe things are getting a little predictable downstairs in that special place you only let your closest friends go. Does it seem like every time you open it up the same old juice comes out? Are you forty-something and looking to try something new? Something you’ve never done before? Let the Mescolonza help you mix things up a little bit. Peel off that tight red foil, carefully stick your instrument in and pull gently as you steadily rotate. Okay, now you’re ready to put it in your mouth. Or share it with your friends if you want to. This is a kinky blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and old Rhone varietals like Carignane, Alicante Bouchet, and Grand Noir. Like a Zinfandel with a schizophrenic personality, this wine will pair with anything off the grill, it’ll age great for the next 5-7 years, and will make you feel sexy for trying something new.
2007 HUGE BEAR, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley–$50.00 (100 cases)
Alright, check this out. This wine is actually declassified Knights Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a one time production made with fruit from the famous and very expensive Dr. Crane and To-Kalon vineyards. Most wines from these vineyards start at $110 and go up from there. This is a kick ass, one time deal that’ll be gone in a New York minute. If you have actually read this far and don’t buy this wine, then I would like to mention what a great fire starter the paper version of this letter is. I will barely touch on what a fantastic vintage 2007 was since the press has already done a fine job. And with the 2010’s and 2011’s on the way, this is a great opportunity to stock up on some high grade wine before we weather the storm. Black cherry, bing cherry, currant, spice, and black tobacco will get your rocks off like the expensive stuff for a fraction of the price. It’s like paying for Swisher Sweets and smoking Cohibas. It’s like paying for bathtub crank and doing blue Peruvian. It’s like buying a Big Mac and waking up at the French Laundry with your face in a bowl of oysters and caviar.
2009 PHILIP TOGNI, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley–$86.00
Here is the new 95+ rated estate Cab from the most legendary producer in Napa. The reason we feature this wine every year is that there isn’t a better producer with a more consistent track record of making age worthy and world class wines. This ’09 is accessible now and will probably age for another 20 years in a good cellar. Antonio Galloni from the Wine Advocate called these wines, stunning, breathtaking, and seductive. A lot of people call us looking for age-worthy wines from a certain year to celebrate a marriage or a birth of a child. This is the wine to do it with, so I hope you did something in 2009 that you want to continue celebrating. Even if you had a shitty 2009, you should get some of this to make it better. The tightly knit flavors of super dark red fruit, eucalyptus, briar, and herb will make you feel at least two and a half years younger while letting you know you are wise beyond your years. Forget the hype and fluff of Napa’s “cults” and get some of the original gangsta.
2010 CALERA, Chardonnay, Mount Harlan–$31.00
The last few vintages of Calera’s Mt. Harlan Chard have been stunning to say the least. Chalky minerality has always been a key component in the flavor profile of this Chardonnay, and this vintage is no exception. Tropical fruit is on the forefront here with nuances of quince and pear. These vineyards were planted tin the early eighties and at roughly 25 years of age, they are producing some of the best fruit in the country. This is a wine that takes you far away from the mainstream style of domestic Chardonnay production while maintaining super high quality and purity.
2009 WHITE ROCK VINEYARDS, Chardonnay, Napa Valley–$27.00
Announcing the new release of Groezinger’s best selling Chardonnay. This beautiful Chard is entirely estate grown, organically farmed, barrel fermented in mostly neutral oak, undergoes only partial malolactic fermentation, and will cellar for a good 6 to 10 years. The vineyard is at the base of Atlas Peak, just outside of Stag’s Leap District and Oak Knoll. This is a superior site for growing grapes, influenced by the cool San Pablo Bay while still getting lots of sunlight and heat.
GROEZINGER’S 2010 JANUARY WINE SALE
We only have a few bottles of each of these wines so don’t expect much quantity on any of these items at these prices. This is intended to make some room for this year’s new items, not to detour you from this month’s featured wines. Sadly, this month’s featured wines will never make it to the sale page. A few do have massive reductions from their original price.
1. 2008 SNOWDEN, Cabernet Sauvignon, “The Ranch”, Napa Valley–$44.00 sale price $35.00
2. 2006 SMITH WOOTON, Cabernet Franc, Gallagher’s Vineyard, Napa Valley–$35.00 sale price $20.00
3. 2006 SURH LUCHTEL, Cabernet Sauvignon, Stagecoach Vineyard, Napa Valley–$50.00 sale price $30.00
4. 2008 HEDGES FAMILY ESTATE, Red Mountain, Washington–$28.00 sale price $20.00
5. 2007 VIRAGE, Napa Valley (CF, ML)–$48.00 sale price $30.00
6. 2006 PARADIGM, Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Napa Valley–$65.00 sale price $50.00
7. 2005 MAYACAMAS, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley–$65.00 sale price $52.00
8. 2008 KOBALT, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley–$90.00 sale price $75.00
9. 2007 PAGE, “The Stash”, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley–$100.00 sale price $60.00
10. 2008 RAMEY, Claret, Napa Valley–$39.00 sale price $30.00
11. 2009 ROUND POND, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley–$30.00 sale price $21.00
12. 2007 LONG MEADOW RANCH, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (Rutherford)–$50.00 sale price $38.00
13. 2008 SURROUND, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County–$30.00 sale price $22.00
14. 2006 GRGICH HILLS, Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley–$60.00 sale price $45.00
15. 2008 DESANTE, Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Napa Valley–$60.00 sale price $45.00
16. 2006 KNIGHTS BRIDGE, Cabernet Sauvignon, Knights Valley–$90.00 sale price $70.00
17. 2007 VIN ROC, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (Atlas Peak)–$90.00 sale price $70.00
18. 2008 VINEYARD SEVEN & EIGHT, Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain District–$80.00 sale price $60.00
19. 2006 VERISMO, Malbec, Napa Valley–$50.00 sale price $20.00
20. 2005 HOPPER CREEK, Estate Merlot, Yountville, Napa Valley–$30.00 sale price $15.00
21. 2005 TEDESCHI, Merlot, Napa Valley–$25.00 sale price $13.00
22. 2008 RIDGE, “Geyserville”–$35.00 sale price $29.00
23. 2007 HEIBEL RANCH VINEYARDS, “Loppa’s”, Napa Valley–$32.00 sale price $24.00
24. 2005 CORTE RIVA, Petite Sirah, Lake & Napa County–$50.00 sale price $20.00
25. 2006 SHOWKET, Asante Sana, Napa Valley–$50.00 sale price $30.00
26. 2009 SANS LIEGE, “The Offering”, Paso Robles, G.S.M.V.–$28.00 sale price $22.00
27. 2010 BEDROCK WINE CO., “The Bedrock Heirloom”, Sonoma Valley–$35.00 sale price $26.00
28. 2010 GROUNDWORK, Grenache Rose, Santa Barbara County–$13.00 sale price $8.00
29. 2010 BIG BASIN VINEYARDS, GSM Rose, California–$18.00 sale price $13.00
30. 2010 EMERY ESTATE, Viognier, Sierra Foothills–$21.00 sale price $16.00
31. 2009 SIX SIGMA, Pinot Noir, Christian’s Vineyard, Lake County–$29.00 sale price $22.00
32. 2007 SIX SIGMA, Tempranillo, Lake County–$42.00 sale price $30.00
33. 2008 ADASTRA, Pinot Noir, Carneros–$40.00 sale price $32.00
34. 2009 EXPRESSION 44°, Pinot Noir, Oregon, Eola Amity Hills–$30.00 sale price $22.00
35. BRICELAND, Rose of Pinot Noir, Humboldt County–$17.00 sale price $11.00
36. 2009 JACQUELYNN, Cuvee Blanc, Sonoma County–$45.00 sale price $35.00
37. 2010 PEY-MARIN, Riesling, The Shell Mound, Marin County–$26.00 sale price $21.00