Monday, June 2, 2008

2003 Boodeaux Cabernet Sauvignon


Hosier Daddy Cabernet ~ BOODEAUX vineyards has twenty seven hundered vines and averages two and one half tons per acre. The quality of this Napa Valley hand-made wine speaks for itself. If you love cabernet, you should try some BOODEAUX! Scott Becker is one of those winemakers that doesn't produce very much wine and the wine he does produce doesn't last very long. Seeing the wine industry in the Napa Valley transform poor farmers into gentlemen farmers, in 1997 he purchased 20 acres Capel Valley (just over the hill from Lake Hennessey) in which 3.5 planted to Cabernet and half an acre planted to Primitivo. With his trusty companion, Boodeaux (Rhodesian ridgeback) and the sage advice of Jeff Smith of Dusinberre Cellars & Bob Milat of Milat Vineyards, he has released his first wines. There are only about 50 cases of 2003 Boodeaux Cabernet left. $38. per bottle, but call Scott and ask him about a case discount.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Focus on Summer Wine & Bottle Shock Gossip

Why don't we just all get along and watch BOTH movies and then pass judgement? As far as Bottle Shock - The Movie goes, I think it's a wonderful story and most interesting to most of us here in Napa Valley.
We especially love Freddy Rodriquez' character, Gustavo Brambila because we drink his wine. My favorite? The wildly fragrant and crispy green 2006 Sauvignon Blanc [just released]. Maybe because it's hard-core summertime now here in the Valley, this wine was most appealling with our seafood bar-b-que [BBQ!].

"Once again, this wine was fermented and aged in stainless steel to retain the crisp, clean tastes in the wine. The nose is wildly fragrant with aromas of fresh straw, kiwis and a hint of the tropics. It has an amazingly round mouthfeel for having been aged in stainless, a nod to Gustavo’s expertise in the cellar. There is a pronounced mineral/steel character to the finish on the wine."

Here's the article from Variety - Wine films pouring it on
'Shock' 'Paris' both tell same winetasting tale
By LEO BARRACLOUGH
It's one of the most famous moments in wine history, but with dueling pics in the works the venom already has been uncorked.
"Judgment of Paris," and "Bottle Shock" both center on the 1976 blind tasting at which French experts chose wines from the Napa Valley over those from France.
But Steven Spurrier, the wine expert behind the tasting who optioned his life rights to the producers of "Judgment of Paris," doesn't like the taste of "Bottle Shock."
Spurrier told Decanter magazine, where he's a consulting editor, "There is hardly a word that is true in the script and many, many pure inventions as far as I am concerned."
He also says the script depicts him as "an impossibly effete snob."
Of course, his reaction may also be soured by the fact that "Bottle Shock," in which he is played by Alan Rickman, has gotten the jump on "Judgment."
"Bottle" started shooting Aug. 1 in the Napa and Sonoma valleys under helmer Randall Miller, while the script for "Judgment," based on the tome by George M. Taber, is still being written by scribe and Sonoma vineyard owner Robert Mark Kamen.
Another bone of contention: The two pics deviate in how they portray Mike Grgich, a former winemaker at Chateau Montelena, and winery owner Jim Barrett. Both have claimed credit for the success of Montelena, with Grgich now running his own winery.
In "Bottle Shock" Grgich makes a fleeting appearance, whereas in Kamen's version, he is expected to play a more central role. In "Bottle Shock," it's Barrett, played by Bill Pullman who gets the spotlight.
Read the full article HERE

Thursday, May 1, 2008

It's Hot Air Balloon Season!

Facinating... as they float across the sky silently first thing in the morning. Ha! and me running out on my double latte in my pajamas to take pictures!

I don't know what hot air balloons have to do with wine, but they both seem to flourish in Napa Valley. There is the champagne brunch before the flight. Woosh

Monday, March 31, 2008

End of March in Napa Valley

This morning I woke up to the low hum of the fans in the vineyards. It must have gotten a bit chilly last night to have to turn those on. They sound like airplanes, several of them waiting on the tarmak. They look rather like airplane propellers standing alone amongst the vines. Yes, thirty degrees this morning the news says. The big fans blow the cold air off of the precious little baby buds. It's a bit strange, only because we don't have an airport anywhere near here, to wake up to the unfamiliar droning of an entire valley.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Las Rocas Explosion

Wow! The only thing more surprising than the quality of this red wine is the merciful price: You can get a bottle of each for about $25. Twenty-Five Bucks! Wine shoppers will want to know about this:

Las Rocas de San Alejandro 2005 Garnacha - Grenache Red Wine


Las Rocas de San Alejandro 2005 Garnacha Vinas Viejas - Grenache Red Wine

Buying Wine Online

One of the most popular online wine shops is:
wine.com


When you buy wine online, or anything for that matter, I recommend setting up a seperate account online for that purpose. You can set up an online account easily at http://ingdirect.com/
Just make a deposit from your real bank account. This way, if anything BAD happens, it won't devistate your life.