The Official Wine Thread

[Omega Male]

Must admit, I'm not, like, super good at dieting.



Drank some healthy, thinning bourbon first but that just made me want to hit the wine later. Maybe self improvement isn't for me?

 

[Piobaire]

Had a 2020 Linne Sticks and Stone tonight with dinner. The most complex and huge yet easy to quaff wine you could wish for.

Now sipping a Babs 2021 Red Wine blend; heavy Grenache.

 

[venividivicibj]

A couple more pics of the terrace. We already have plans to reserve next time we go with some friends.


View attachment 2152895 View attachment 2152897

We did a tour when it was under construction and it was already looking amazing

 

[venividivicibj]

We split a bottle daily with dinner, 1.5-2 glasses for her and I tackle the remainder.

Oy, we spent way too much money. I have over a dozen cases getting delivered next week.

Best out of new places we tried would be Fulldraw. Owner/winemaker worked six years at Booker while he developed a vineyard on a directly adjacent 100 acre plot and then went out on his own. We hit there after our Booker tasting and were lucky enough we were the only visitors and got to spend over an hour with Gary the assistant winemaker. Enjoyed the wines very much.

Worst new wine we tried was La Cuvier. Very nice setting, impressive food paired with the tasting, very friendly staff. The winemaker is obviously making the wine he wants to produce but it's not for us.

It had been several years since we visited Epoch and the new tasting room is simply stunning. Great tasting there with friendly staff.

Speaking of Fulldraw - their stuff is great with a couple years on it. Can be a bit much right out of bottling.

And Clos Solene

 

[Piobaire]

So per Gary that Chopping Block...the wife had just bought a gorgeous new cutting board, and for a reason I can't remember, he laid the cleaver into it. While not happy the wife decided a pic of that would make a good wine lable/name for that bottling.

 

[Piobaire]

Yikes, just looked at my CC to see what the damage was.

 

[Piobaire]

Cracked a magnum of Self Esteem from Slacker (second label for Linne). 2020, 90% Grenache, 10% Syrah. Very tasty and went down very quickly.

 

[Piobaire]

Cellar Tracker has been down for a couple of days

 

[venividivicibj]

 

[Omega Male]

Just a heads-up, Fabien Castel, the longtime winemaker at The Ojai Vineyard, has gone out on his own and is starting sales shortly. Good opportunity to get on his list early and I imagine the wines will get more expensive once the reviews come in.

Side Street Wine crafted in Ojai California

Side Street Wine is made In a small town amongst the mountains, we craft wines that capture the spirit of the Ojai Valley. From winemaker to restauranteur, engineer to brewer, their shared goal is to create a unique blend.. We improvise and experiment with low intervention & natural winemaking.

www.sidestreetwine.com

 

[sfo423]

Anyone tried any of the options from Hiyu Wine Farm?

Mad scientist stuff....

 

[jbarwick]

Just a heads-up, Fabien Castel, the longtime winemaker at The Ojai Vineyard, has gone out on his own and is starting sales shortly. Good opportunity to get on his list early and I imagine the wines will get more expensive once the reviews come in.

Side Street Wine crafted in Ojai California

Side Street Wine is made In a small town amongst the mountains, we craft wines that capture the spirit of the Ojai Valley. From winemaker to restauranteur, engineer to brewer, their shared goal is to create a unique blend.. We improvise and experiment with low intervention & natural winemaking.

www.sidestreetwine.com

Does he have a specialty of the 9 listed?

 

[Omega Male]

Data points: OM is down 15 lbs so far on the steak and bourbon diet. OM's Mrs. was out with some Korean LPs last night and came home absolutely hammered on soju, so has no recourse to moral suasion. Conclusion: OM can have a little Beauj, as a treat.

 

[Omega Male]

I woke up in the guestroom, and this was mysteriously empty in the kitchen too?

 

[Piobaire]

Drinking pretty fantastic but has years left. The Grenache is popping with nice florals and dark mocha. After it's been open some menthol/eucalyptus on the nose from the back end grapes.