Origin Napa Winery

• May 2012

  I am a bit surprised that the acquisition specialist at the Benchmark affilliate wasn't all that familiar with Vandermeulen, including how they stamped their vintages. Wine production and distribution were way different back then, and negociants had a much greater role to play... Read moreI am a bit surprised that the acquisition specialist at the Benchmark affilliate wasn't all that familiar with Vandermeulen, including how they stamped their vintages. Wine production and distribution were way different back then, and negociants had a much greater role to play even with the famous Bordeaux chateaux. As you and Fox have found, there are more than a few of the Vandermeulen bottles floating around. I don't see how bottles from them would be easier (maybe even more difficult, as Fox alludes, because of fewer clear photographs or real samples circulating of bottle and label particulars) to counterfeit than those from any chateau itself (and on a separate note, in the Lafleur case there isn't really any 'chateau' there anyway!).  I can only guess that Benchmark, which is doing a large business in cellar purchases in the States, isn't doing that much outside of the States (as in Europe), and those collectors it deals with in the States must only offer up bottles from the past two to three decades. I remember a BPWine offer a couple of years back with plenty of Napa bottles from the '60s and '70s but I haven't even seen those years from Benchmark.Considering the potential value of the bottle, you should keep plugging away. Contact BP and HDH, too. Even when you run across someone who's interested, you shouldn't immediately stop there. It's always good to have more than one option.The famous big auction houses out of London with lots of European experience like Christie's and Sotheby's likely can't be fussed about a single bottle. I don't have any personal experience with Zachys, but they'd be the next likely candidate I'd look to if nothing was happening at the places outthere and I originally mentioned.One reason why is Zachys seem to be making a big push into China these days--at least as aggressively as the older houses, if not more so. Flashy, classic names (the brand rather than the wine content) seem to work well in China at the moment. The depth and sophistication of knowledge and demand on the consumer/collector side there is less than in Europe or North America, though certain segments of the economy from which the collectors come have plenty of discretionary cash to throw around. Even if the wine in your bottle might be questionable, the label and its origin are one of the 20th Century's classics from the right bank of Bordeaux. Plus there's the advantage that Lafleur's not one of the First Growths from the left bank, the popularity of which is waning a bit from oversaturation in China. Collectors who've been there and done it, and waved First Growth bottles from famous years at their guests already, can now move on to a second level of sophistication by waving this type of bottle instead. Who knows, whoever sells this wine over there might even luck into someone who needs an appropriate bottle for the recipient's birthyear.  ;-)And thanks for bringing your question, and bottle, to this Forum. You're providing an education for a bunch of people while getting one yourself! Please do keep us posted on how your search proceeds....    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic 1947 Chateau Lafleur

  
  

• May 2012

  I suppose yet again another post by someone who has stumbled upon a bottle of fine wine that surpasses their abilities to appreciate and wishes to know how best to dispose of it.... Years ago my father was gifted the above named wine when he retired from ABC TV in Chicago. How... Read moreI suppose yet again another post by someone who has stumbled upon a bottle of fine wine that surpasses their abilities to appreciate and wishes to know how best to dispose of it.... Years ago my father was gifted the above named wine when he retired from ABC TV in Chicago. How he stored this bottle I do not know. Years ago he gave it to me and I have cellared it but I do not know if it is still good. The cork is bulging a bit, the wine level is down a few centimeters below the neck. Otherwise, nothing seems afoul.i would prefer to sell it and give him whatever it would bring. If anything? Please advise...    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic 1947 Chateau Lafleur

  
  

• March 2012

  Hello fellow wine lovers!I have been drinking wine for the last 10 years and have gone to various tastings starting with the Finger Lakes in upstate NY and most notably Stellenbosch, South Africa. But I  feel as though I have not really retained enough wine knowledge to make... Read moreHello fellow wine lovers!I have been drinking wine for the last 10 years and have gone to various tastings starting with the Finger Lakes in upstate NY and most notably Stellenbosch, South Africa. But I  feel as though I have not really retained enough wine knowledge to make informed decisions at restaurants and bars.I am fortunate enough to live in NYC which avails me to many wine tasting options and am looking to both start a collection of wines and improve my overall experience in general. However I was recently laid off and therefore need to do so on a budget.Please note it should be limited to red wine as I seem to be allergic to white wine.Feedback is greatly appreciated!(On a time sensitive note, I will be going to City Winery tonight and in 2 weeks travelling to Portland, ME for a few days so any specific feedback on either location would be great.)Thanks!    (hide)

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• January 2012

  Hi, a good friend will be at SanFrancisco next days, we have shared thousands of good bottles and we have plan to use this work travel to find (and buy) some good wines from California. We are not into California wines, just know and taste some world famous names like Mondavi.... Read moreHi, a good friend will be at SanFrancisco next days, we have shared thousands of good bottles and we have plan to use this work travel to find (and buy) some good wines from California. We are not into California wines, just know and taste some world famous names like Mondavi. I'm asking u some advices about really good bottles, price is not a big problem. 3/4 Bottles, he can't travel with more wine.That's some our ideas, someone can tell us where he can find this bottles in SF?Mumm Napa - DVX 2001Mumm Napa - Brut ReserveDomaine Carneros - Le Reve Blanc de BlancsDomaine Carneros - Pinot Noir Estate 2009 Thanks     (hide)

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• August 2011

  Every now and then, I come across a winery that’s almost too good to be true. Whenever that happens, I keep going back to taste, taste again, re-discover nuances and taste some more. I love when that happens!It was my good fortune to stumble upon the Lambert Bridge Winery in... Read moreEvery now and then, I come across a winery that’s almost too good to be true. Whenever that happens, I keep going back to taste, taste again, re-discover nuances and taste some more. I love when that happens!It was my good fortune to stumble upon the Lambert Bridge Winery in Healdsburg, California.I was hooked the moment I drove through the gates and saw two friendly dudes come running to greet me as I stepped out of my car. Dude #1 was Bernie, the resident Saint Bernard, and Dude #2 was Gus, the Chief Turkey Chaser. They’re often seen in the company of Heinzy, the Chief Financial Labrador.After such a warm welcome, you truly feel compelled to walk into the tasting room. And what a gorgeous room, it is.But it’s the wine that really stands out as exceptionally memorable. Jill Davis and Jennifer Higgins are the architects of Lambert Bridge’s artisan wines. Under their watch, only fully mature, perfectly ripe, and hand-selected grapes become Lambert Bridge wines. A tremendous amount of time is spent in the field – evaluating soil nutrients and water holding capacity, sun exposure and climate data – finding the perfect sites with conditions that enable Lambert Bridge to produce grapes with the most concentrated flavors possible. The grapes are hand-selected from clusters only at their optimal ripeness. “Our processes are unusual in that they are very time consuming,” says Jill. “They are expensive. To completely hand-sort fruit is extremely uncommon. You don’t get the level of richness, balance and complexity found in our world-class wines by accident.”I’m a fan of all of their reds, particularly the Cab Francs. Every time I bring a bottle of Lambert Bridge to share with my persnickety wine loving friends, the comments are uniformly superlative.An informal blind tastingRecently, my friends Cheryl and Bob Guth had an informal blind tasting of Cab Franc blends over dinner at their home in Baltimore, MD. Joining us were two fellow wine aficionados who agreed to spend the evening guessing the origin of each Cab Franc. Bob selected Cab Francs from four different wineries. One from Napa, one from France, one from Washington State, and the 2008 Cab Franc from Lambert Bridge. Bob made sure to open the wines at the same time, he took care to pair foods that married well with Cab Francs, and only he knew which wines were being featured.Throughout the evening, course after course, our friends declared with emphatic certainty that the glass that contained the Lambert Bridge was consistently the winner and further asserted that it had to be the wine from France. Meanwhile, I confidently knew the best tasting wine of the group was “my” Lambert Bridge. The distinctive black cherry and plum, with a hint of vanilla and soft gentle tannins gave this wine away. This was the first Lambert Bridge wine that I fell in love with and, like your first date, you never forget it. Imagine the surprise (for the others) and pride (for me) when Bob revealed that, no, the winner did not come from France; it came from good old California.Influenced by European travelsAndy Wilcox, National Sales Manager at Lambert Bridge, explained to me that their winemaking is influenced by his father’s travels throughout Europe. Their wine styles are Old World elegant combined with the intense flavors that are only found in Sonoma County fruit. I’m particularly grateful for the slightly lower alcohol content which provides for a far more subtle wine which is more food-friendly and ages more gracefully.Impressive WinesLet’s not forget their other varietals which are equally impressive. If you’re a Zin fan, the 2008 and 2009 Zinfandel blends really ought to be part of your repertoire when you’re firing up the grill. They’re made in Italian style which is to say they’re not “hot” but incredibly smooth. A very small quantity of the Zins are produced (no more than 500 cases) and I’m partial to the Forchini Vineyards Zins, although the other Zin selections are equally lovely.For an extra special occasion, I’ve stocked up on the ’06 and ’07 Crane Creek Cuvee. At $95/bottle it is admittedly a splurge, but these bottles will age well over time and I consider it a sound investment in my mental health.White wine fans, don’t despair! There are some delightful Chardonnays to choose from which may remind you of a white burgundy. The 2008 Chambers Vineyard Chardonnay and the 2009 Sonoma County Chardonnay are on the shy side — which is to say not too overly oakey. An easy everyday wine that won’t break your budget is the Bevill Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. All are 100% Sauvignon Blanc and would be the perfect dollop to savor on a warm Southern California summer night with lighter culinary fares.Lambert Bridge Hospitality House and visitsOne of the fun benefits of becoming a wine club member (or “Liquid Assets Wine Club”) at the Signature Member level is that you get to enjoy a complimentary two-night stay for four people at the Lambert Bridge Hospitality House just up the hill from the tasting room. Waiting for me when I arrived were some bottles of Lambert Bridge wines and a mini-refrigerator stocked with all the basic ingredients for Happy Hour. The house comes with two bedrooms with two baths; each on opposite sides of the house for extra privacy, and a central intimate living room accentuated by a gas fireplace. A deck wraps around a portion of the house that offers breathtaking views of the vineyard. If you happen to go during Fall, you’ll be surrounded with foliage that bursts alive with color. If I had my druthers and no one was looking, I’d defect there.I would also defect to the picnic grounds since it is the typical bucolic Sonoma setting that you read about in all those glossy magazines. You’re encouraged to stroll around and relax. No one really rushes you at Lambert Bridge and it’s the perfect respite to the noisy and cacophonous world that we live in (looking at you, Los Angeles freeway system). Getting to the winery from Los AngelesGetting to Lambert Bridge or to Sonoma from Los Angeles is easier than you think. As of this writing, Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air flies direct from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Santa Rosa/Sonoma County Airport (STS), which is also known as Charles M. Schultz named after the creator of the “Peanuts” cartoon series. It's also a nice roadtrip, about 7 or 8 hours north of Los Angeles off the 101.Andy Wilcox put it best when he said that Lambert Bridge is great wine served with great food and shared with great friends. You may enter as a stranger but you’ll leave as a life-long friend.Gus, Bernie and Heinzy would agree.Lambert Bridge Winery4085 West Dry Creek RoadHealdsburg, CA 95448Phone: (707) 431-9600    (hide)

  From the article Two friendly dudes

  
  

• March 2011

  I've just offered to help some friends select wines for their upcoming wedding, and thought i'd drop in to see if you all had any fresh suggestions.  The price range/bottle is $10-$20, and it will be for at least two types of red wine. Right off the bat, I'm pretty... Read moreI've just offered to help some friends select wines for their upcoming wedding, and thought i'd drop in to see if you all had any fresh suggestions.  The price range/bottle is $10-$20, and it will be for at least two types of red wine. Right off the bat, I'm pretty sure I can easily find a good Malbec blend from Argentina that fits the criteria.  Amalaya 2009 is what i'm thinking, any better suggestions for South American Malbec?Have had some pretty good Chianti Classico's in the $18 range, so this is also a strong consideration.If I have to throw a Cabernet in there, think it would probably have to be Waterstone.  If a Pinot is asked of me, i'd probably have to go Melville if i'm to be south of $20.00Thanks in advance,-Jon    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Selecting Wines for a Wedding

  
  

• March 2011

  Soo... based on some other threads, the topic of Burgundies vs. CA pinots has arisen.  I, being a French virgin, would love to hear more about burgundies.  They are NOT my expertise at all... and to be honest, I have only tasted one, and it ended up being oxidized... Read moreSoo... based on some other threads, the topic of Burgundies vs. CA pinots has arisen.  I, being a French virgin, would love to hear more about burgundies.  They are NOT my expertise at all... and to be honest, I have only tasted one, and it ended up being oxidized (sommelier agreed). My expertise tends to lie with Northern California coastal pinot noir, and to some extent, Willamette, OR pinot noir.  I, personally, do not tend to enjoy central coast CA, and most Santa Barbara Pinot noirs.  I know nothing about French "pinots" or Burgundies. So for my personal experience, I would characterize the pinots I prefer from NorCal coast/Willamette OR as low alcohol (13-14%), almost clear, pale red in color, an earthy, perhaps a tad of barnyard nose; perhaps a tad of coffee on the nose.  Taste- bright red fruit- cherries, currants, perhaps a bit of raspberry, followed by depth of spices, often asian spices.  Also a bit green.  That is perhaps simplistic, but it is what I taste.  These tend to be the pinots I like best.Interesting point- many people I know who LOVE big zins and syrahs HATE the type of pinot I prefer.  Just an observation.So what do others prefer?  How do Burgundies differ?  What are some good ones to try (not too hard to acquire)?     (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Burgundy vs. CA Pinot Noir......

  
  

• February 2011

  Hi everyone, just found this site last night.  I'm a disillusioned attorney seriously considering a change in career.  As I love wine (and the food service industry as a whole), I'm curious what the training and career path looks like for a sommelier.  I've seen... Read moreHi everyone, just found this site last night.  I'm a disillusioned attorney seriously considering a change in career.  As I love wine (and the food service industry as a whole), I'm curious what the training and career path looks like for a sommelier.  I've seen organizations that give exams for accreditation, but I'm thinking it requires some significant self study and practical experience.  Do aspiring sommeliers work in the wine business prior to actually becoming sommeliers at restaurants, hotels, etc.?Thanks for any and all info and opinions!    (hide)

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• January 2011

  This came up in another thread and I thought it would be an interesting new topic.Have you ever done a blind tasting for friends?  Which wines did you choose?  Was there a theme?  Did you have food?What were the results?  Did anything surprising happen?I've done... Read moreThis came up in another thread and I thought it would be an interesting new topic.Have you ever done a blind tasting for friends?  Which wines did you choose?  Was there a theme?  Did you have food?What were the results?  Did anything surprising happen?I've done this several times and had fun with it, and would love to hear other people's experiences (HINT: FOXALL)...p.s. Sorry if this sounds like a midterm exam.... occupational hazard.  ;-)    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic blind tastings at home

  
  

• September 2010

  So I'm just wondering......what's everyone's take on the old screw caps vs cork debate....?  How would you best describe the role of each, and overcome perceptual barriers....?

  Forum post in the topic Screw caps Vs cork

  
  

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