Concur. I've always preferred the Alexander Valley. Hit the winery last year on a lark again, after not having been for several years. I have to say the 2010 and 2011 wines are significantly improved to some preceding dark years. They seem to have gotten a handle on the oak treatment, and it's not as overwhelming. I've got 1998-1999-2000 kicking around in the cellar to check out at some point.

 

Apt stuff, DO, as always.

Chase the market or lead the market? California winemakers "explored" terra incognita with Chardonnay or just fucked up? Merlot became "bad" when overproduced and somehow not a single producer could remember how to treat it properly, or was that more of a stampede ... vodka is hip, no it's pure-cane rum, no it's rye, no it's silver tequila, no it's ... ?

It is interesting when certain products are "cult" yet legit and others are "cult" yet somehow don't bring the goods.

 

I really want some Surh Luchtel

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

. The local store here carries some of their stuff but not this one. I've had it at Prime and Cut with dinner. Do you know of any casino bars or HL bars that might have it? If not comped, any idea how much they want a glass?

 

Had to look that one up. Nice clonal mix. 30 bucks a bottle at release? That's a no-harm, no-foul price point. So you figure someone was picking it up in the 20s.

 

Drank this last night. Nice wine for around $30.

 

This was our lineup for the Easter weekend. My wine loving niece with a wealthy husband was in town so most she brought, I contributed one of the Reguscis.

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

 

You must be a registered user with confirmed email address to view this content.
Register or Login

 

What makes wine "good" or "better"? Why doesn't everyone in the world just drive a Corolla? Good car. Won't break. All you need. Why does Pebble Beach cost $500 and Pacific Grove just up the coast a rip-roaring $48? Motel 6 has beds, linens and we assume operable door locks.

But, yes, there is a lot of wannabe in wine.

 

Why do you want it if there is no tangible benefit to the upgrade/upstep/upcharge?

 

Big words, my friend, you gotta help a mere colonist out!