Wow. That was a lot of wine.

I'll post more complete thoughts later, but I thought I would start the thread and give some of my highights... more highlights to follow, too:

August West
2006 Grahm's is very nice, 2006 Rosella's is nicer. Probably a 91.5 and a 92. Ed doesn't useany stemms in fermentation but there is a still a bit of bramble to these wines. Elegant, but not low in alcohol -- labelled 14.7 and 14.8, they are probably just over 15%, which is not so high for CA Pinot these days, but does seem high for Ed, especially compared to Freeman.

Le Cadeau
It was great meeting BHV, his wines were great, I especially liked the new one that begins with the letter E. (They are now making 4 bottlings.)

Ladd
I think Eric Lundblad is a great guy, I've met hiam a few times and always really liked him. So I am SOO glad that I like his wine! The basic bottling that costs $30ish (I forget if it has a name) is a very good value.

Melville
I was less impressed with the Carrie's this year than I have been in years past. But the 2006 (2007?) Estate-Verna's for $26 is a KILLER deal. Highly reccomended.

Calera
I wasn't too impressed with the current releases but, by FAR my favorite wine of the tasting was the 2002 Calera Mills which, for $48 still available from the winery is a steal.

(The 4th Le Cadeau bottling is Equinoxe.)

Pinot Days. Not sure if I'm going to get around to posting any notes, so here's some standouts for me.

Agree with Winetarelli on the August West and Ladd.

06 August West Graham
06 August West Rosellas

06 Copain Tous Ensemble
06 Copain Kiser

06 Dutton Goldfield Sanchetti

06 Freeman RR
06 Freeman SC

06 Hirsch "S"

06 Keefer

06 Keller

05 Ladd Gap's Crown

06 Papapietro Perry Leras

06 Zepaltas SC

Bumped into Powell Yang with a pretty girl on his arm, of course Eric White as operations guru and some others that don't post here. Great event. Looking forward to next year.

Winetarelli, someday soon we should get together and share a bottle!

Thanks for the notes. Looks like a great event.

quote:

Winetarelli, someday soon we should get together and share a bottle!

Indeed!

I actually saw you from across the room but itlooked like you and your wife were on a mission! Ha ha...

Anyway, here is a re-post of what I said on Chowhound...

Ladd- I've known Eric Lundblad for many years, though I rarely see him; I think the last time was two years ago. First time I met him was at a huge wine dinner where we sat next to one another and shared sinus problem stories -- he borrowed one of my breathe-right strips for the event! Anyway, great guy, I'd never had his wine out of a bottle with a label on it, and it was great to get that chance. (I had tasted it when he brought it to dinner as a work-in-progress.) His basic bottling, for about $30 is a GREAT value and reccomended, especally for the price.

Melville- I always love the Carrie's. This time ('06) was a bit of a let-down compared to '01-'05. That said, for the $26, the Estate-Verna's (which is better than the slightly more expensive Estate) is phenominal and a truly oustanding value for CA Pinot and highly reccomended for the price.

August West- I have to give the disclaimer that I love Ed Kurtzman; the first time I really got a chance to meet him was basically him inviting me over to his apartment for a crazy 8 hour dinner party with half the up-and-coming Pinot-makers when I had only ever met him once before! And he has been great since then, too; a friend. I love his wines, all of them. These are more "modern" than the Freeman or Fort Ross but still maintain their elegance. Maybe, *maybe* just a hint of heat on the finish. (both are lablened upper 14% alcohol -- probably both just over 15% actually). Both are fermented completely destemmed but both have a bit of bramble to them. I prefer the Rosella's to the Grahm's by a touch. Both are strongly reccomended.

Freeman- Food wines. Softer tannins but with good acidity. I've tasted these wines every vintage for the past several years and these are se of the few RRV wines at the tasting where I don't think '06 was necessarily any worse than previous vintages. I prefered the more expensive Akiko's Cuvee, which is not always the case.

Landmark- Ran out of Pinot. I didget the current relase Damaris Chardonnay which, as ALWAYS, represents one of the best values in CA Chard on the planet. (Yes, that is an intentionally stupid stentance.)

Native9- '05 is KILLER juice, '06 is good, but not up to the '05. There was a second wine they were pouring, a less expensive wine whose name escapes me at the moment. But it was very good, especially considering the price.

Peay- Good Chardonnay, not too oaky. Very good pre-written descriptors of what each wine would taste lke. Both were good, but neither wowed me.

Le Cadeau- Greate wines, especilly the Equinoxe, which was one of the very highlights of the tasting. Reccomended with a strong reccomendation of the '06 Equinoxe.

Fort Ross- Good wines, especially the reserve, but nothing seriously impressed me. Still, good wines.

Auteur Wine- I didn't know of these guys but they were deffinitely one of the tasting highlights. The RRV was good, but the SC and Shea Vineyards were great. I don't have any idea what the price point is but assuming in the upper 40's I'd say both are highly reccomended with a personal nod going to the SC, though that may have more to do with my own style preference. I *think* the CA wines they were pouring may have been '07s, though. Just to let you know -- they were being poured from unmarked magnums.

Calera- Not a fan of the first wine, nor of the '06 Mills. But, DAMN! As I said, the '02 Mills was just firing on all cylanders. Easy WOTT 93+

Eno- Sascha is a great guy but his wines aren't always my style. The "Never Say Never" was pretty well balanced and if you like the bigger pinot-as-syrah style, might impress, especialy at the price ($32).

Dain- I recall liking the wines, but nothing particularly stood out.

W.H. Smith- LOVELY woman, I still don't get why these wines get the critical praise that they do. I meant, they are good... but they aren't "all that." Still, very good wines, all.

Pey-Marin/Pey-Lucia- Very good within the context of clearly "modern" (to put it nicely) styled Pinot. Fairly priced, too. Reccomended if that is the style you like. Not for me, though.

Davis- Wasn't thrilled with the wine, but first ime meeting the owners and they were super-nice. REALLY enthusiastic about their '07 olive oil, too. And I've loved it in past vintages so...

Clos Pepe- Not hugely into any of their wines (though Wes Hagen is a trip) but I did like a Clos Pepe that they brought from a different producer... began with the letter R.

Overall impressions: This year was far less croweded than years passed. The general consensus seemed to be that this was because it was $65 rather than $50 and while, from my perspective, I am willing to pay the extra $15 to have a less croweded tasting environment, a lot of the wineries who were there because they REALLY were into this (W.H. Smith, for exaple) were actually upset that the price had gone up and were complaining about the lack of people.

I bumped into half the people I know in the Bay Area, and I know there are a lot more people who I know who were there that I didn't even see. A good friend of mine told me he had a ticket for the 11pm start for me but had lost my number and our mutual friend was at a funeral so he couldn't call to give it to me. grrr... Oh well ;-)

Overall I think '06 is sub-par for CA Pinot. Certainly, there were successes -- particularly from Rosella's Vineyard and the immediately surrounding areas. But overall, not up to '01-'05. Still some very good wines.

Also, I still cannot get over how good the NV Perrier-Jouet was. Seriously better than any Fleur de Champagne I've had. I actually would have pegged it as a $35 grower NV Champagne that had been laid downfor a couple of years.

quote:

Originally posted by winetarelli:
I actually saw you from across the room but itlooked like you and your wife were on a mission! Ha ha...

Great notes!

I'm embarrassed to ask, have we met? Or did you see my name tag around my neck?

And what do you say we put together a Bay Area offline in August?

quote:

Originally posted by tanglenet:

quote:

Originally posted by winetarelli:
I actually saw you from across the room but itlooked like you and your wife were on a mission! Ha ha...

Great notes!

I'm embarrassed to ask, have we met? Or did you see my name tag around my neck?

And what do you say we put together a Bay Area offline in August?

HAHA... yes we have met. I'm whiner on the Vinocellar board. We spoke for a while at the VinoCellar 2nd (3rd?) annual thing last February at the Freeman caves. I was there with my then-girlfriend who is quite short and we are still in our twenties, if that helps at all...

In an unrelated matter, I tasted a lot more than what I posted on: Those were just the highlights.

Hey Winterelli, it was good running into you - wish I had had more time to chat, it's been too long since we've shared a bottle!

I found it interested that any winery would have been upset at the "lack of people", while the event did seem lighter than last year I thought last year was just a bit too big, and this year was a much better pace - and certainly very well attended. Interestingly, ticket sales and trade attendance was virtually on par with last year, though I believe Steve cut back on comp. tickets, which may account for the somewhat lighter attendance.

quote:

Originally posted by winetarelli:


HAHA... yes we have met. I'm whiner on the Vinocellar board. We spoke for a while at the VinoCellar 2nd (3rd?) annual thing last February at the Freeman caves.

I remember! You brought the Windy Oaks Wild Yeast. Killer wine. Sorry I didn't see you at the event.

FYI, I've seen you post over at Chowhound under Whiner. I just don't go over there that often.

This was my first time at such an event and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It was a fantastic educational opportunity to try some wines that would take a substantial investment to taste otherwise. If there was any disappointment, it was that a number of wineries which I had hoped to try were absent from their booths - Kanzler, Olsen Ogden, and a few others. I don't know if there were last minute cancellations or if they just ran out of wine early, but to set your sights on a booth only to find it empty or, even worse, with an empty bottle as a representative was a bummer- and at 1:30-2:00. The only other issue, which was to be expected I suppose, were the number of "Marina-ites" who were sloshing around spilling wine on their neighbors, or talking on their cell-phones about what bar to go to while there were those of us who actually wanted to interact with the reps and learn about the wines...but I could live with that and will attend again next year.

Here are some of my highlights (an thoughts):

WH Smith - I enjoyed the fact that these are lighter wines that pack quite a bit of body to them with elegance. The Maritime was my favorite, but the Sonoma Coast is quite nice and a decent value at under $30.

Belle Glos - For the most part, I enjoyed all of their "regular" wines, especially the Clark & Telephone. Joe (right name?) was really engaging too. I did not, however, like their "Gambitt" series wines with alcohol kicking in at 15-16+% - heavy handed, viscous wines, taking everything wrong with Cali Pinot squared.

Testarossa - First time trying. Very nice wines, I especially like the "Gary's."

Sojourn - Quite nice, if a bit heavy handed. Well-integrated fruit & minerality.

Hirsch - Very good. Can't be specific, but will seek out.

Keefer Ranch - Always interested when farmers make wine after others have found success with their grapes. The wine was fruit-driven, but enjoyable.

Alma Rosa - Good wines, especially the Encantata. Mrs. Sanford has a hard time hiding her disgust at how things went down with the eponymous winery. Will seek out.

August West - Agree that the wines are fruit-driven with high alcohol, but there did not seem to be any heat per se. Very nice. First taste and will certainly seek out.

Tandem - Very nice wines.

Skewis - Love em. All of em.

Surprise disappointments (or just not up to expectation and glad I don't have to spend $50-60 to learn):

Goldeneye - ok, but not great.

Roessler - Just a bit underwhelemed. I actually like their cheaper wines - Blue Jay over a couple of their single vineyard (Sanford and Benedict & Savoy were nice though).

Londer - Not up to where their 04s were for me. Their basic bottling was a great value then, not now.

Again, great event, tremendous learning opportunity. Thanks Eric for making it happen. Will sign off with a Dr. Darkrichandbold's tag which seems ultra-appropriate for an event like this..."So much wine...so little time."

-RK

Hi rafinspace,

Glad you enjoyed the event! With regard to wineries being absent from their tables, Kanzler was there but ran out of wine fairly early, not sure what time but when I went looking for a taste about 3:00 or so they were done. However, I am surprised you found Olsen Ogden missing - I saw Tim there manning the table until fairly late. As far as I know we didn't have any no-shows, but we did have a few that simply ran out of wine before the close (many were gone by 4:30).

I posted my brief notes in my blog. I only took notes on the local producers. I was disappointed that there weren't more SCM wineries - way down on last year.

Didn't see tanglenet or pyang anywhere. Did spot winetarelli across the room but didn't get chance to chat.

Met Ray Walker and his charming - and heavily pregnant - wife. He's given up the career in finance and is currently a cellar rat at Freeman; he plans to make his first barrels this year.

Great event - lots of fun, plenty of folks (didn't seem down from last year at all) and PLENTY of wines . . . maybe too many?!?!?!?

Great meeting many of those I've communicated with on these boards . . .

Cheers to Steve, Lisa, Eric and the entire Pinot Days crew!

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Tong BBP:
I posted my brief notes in my blog. I only took notes on the local producers. I was disappointed that there weren't more SCM wineries - way down on last year.

We were looking for Windy Oaks and we were surprised they didn't attend.

Sorry we missed you!

quote:

Originally posted by tanglenet:
We were looking for Windy Oaks and we were surprised they didn't attend.

Did you try the Martin Alfaro Schultze Vineyard? That's a nice wine, and fairly reasonably priced too.

In retrospect, I missed quite a few wineries that I should have tasted. My palate started to fade after a couple of hours and I stopped tasting and writing.

quote:

Hey Winterelli, it was good running into you - wish I had had more time to chat, it's been too long since we've shared a bottle!

It has been WAY too long. The last time I recall was dinner with you and your wife at Nopa well over a year ago. We should change that.

On the price front: Yeah, personally, I thought this year was *perfect* attendance. I went to the Slow Food / Italian event there three weks prior and the place was WAY too packed. I'm just recounting couple of conersations I had... Actually, this came up witht he woman who was running WH Smith and she tried to get me to join Slow Food! HA!

quote:

I remember! You brought the Windy Oaks Wild Yeast. Killer wine. Sorry I didn't see you at the event.

Actually, we brought the 1990 Rene Collard Brut Reserve Champagne. Does that help jog your memory? If not, don't worry... (shhhh... don't tell Eric, but I don't even recall bumping into him on Sunday! -- potential reason listed at the bottom)

quote:

Met Ray Walker and his charming - and heavily pregnant - wife. He's given up the career in finance and is currently a cellar rat at Freeman; he plans to make his first barrels this year.

Yes, I bumped into him as well. I almost didn't recognize his wife! He is a really sweet guy. I didn't know if he would remember me as we had only met once before, but he did, quite well, in fact.

I spent some time hanging out with DJ and his gf, whom I knew was going, and the ever-lurking, never-posting enjoyingwine and some people I've met over at his house playing poker and drinking wine.

Of course, (and this is my excuse for not remembering anyone who I did in fact bump into) on my walk (stumble?) back to my apartment I bumped into the ex for the first time since the breakup. That was exciting!

quote:

Originally posted by winetarelli:
Actually, we brought the 1990 Rene Collard Brut Reserve Champagne. Does that help jog your memory? If not, don't worry... (shhhh... don't tell Eric, but I don't even recall bumping into him on Sunday! -- potential reason listed at the bottom)

I do remember you and your former gf. You were sitting on my left (you're right).I could have sworn you brought the Windy Oaks. I remember faces, but not names. And it really doesn't help when you change your moniker from site to site!

FYI, I read your posts on Chowhound sometimes...well done!

i didn't take any concrete notes, but chose just to score them as i tasted along. here is the breakdown:

PINOT DAYS - San Francisco, CA (6/29/2008)

A- Wines

• 2004 Arcadian Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
  90-93 points.
  
• 2006 August West Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
  This showed better than the previous time I had it. 90-93 points.
  
• 2006 B Kosuge Pinot Noir Manchester Ridge - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino
  90-93 points.
  
• 2006 Black Kite Pinot Noir River Turn - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
  90-93 points.
  
• 2006 Eric Kent Wine Cellars Pinot Noir Stiling - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  90-93 points.
  
• 2006 Freeman Pinot Noir Akiko's Cuvée - USA, California, Sonoma County
  90-93 points.
  
• 2006 Siduri Pinot Noir Sonatera Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  90-93 points.
  
• 2005 Skewis Pinot Noir Lingenfelder - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  90-93 points.
  

B+/A- Wines

• 2006 Alma Rosa Pinot Noir La Encantada Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills
  89-90 points.
  
• 2006 August West Pinot Noir Graham Family Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Green Valley
  This also showed better than the 2 previous times I tasted it. 89-90 points.
  
• 2006 Auteur Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  89-90 points.
  
• 2006 Belle Glos Pinot Noir Clark & Telephone Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley
  89-90 points.
  
• 2006 Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills
  Consistent with previous tastings. 89-90 points.
  
• 2006 Copain Pinot Noir "En Bas" Kiser - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
  89-90 points.
  
• 2006 Fess Parker Pinot Noir Ashley's Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills
  89-90 points.
  
• 2006 Fess Parker Pinot Noir Clone 115 Santa Rita Hills - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
  89-90 points.
  
• 2006 Freeman Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch Russian River Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  89-90 points.
  
• 2006 George Wine Company Pinot Noir Martinelli Nuptial Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  89-90 points.
  
• 2006 J. Wilkes Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Hillside Estate - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
  This did not show as well as the previous time I tasted it. Seemed a bit leaner than before. 89-90 points.
  
• 2006 J. Wilkes Pinot Noir Block Q Bien Nacido Vineyard Q Block - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
  89-90 points.
  
• 2006 Small Vines Wines Pinot Noir - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  89-90 points.
  

B+ Wines

• 2006 Alma Rosa Pinot Noir - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills
  87-89 points.
  
• 2005 Arcadian Pinot Noir Dierberg Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley
  87-89 points.
  
• 2006 B Kosuge Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  87-89 points.
  
• 2006 Black Kite Pinot Noir Stony Terrace - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
  87-89 points.
  
• 2006 Couloir Wines Pinot Noir Romas - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
  87-89 points.
  
• 2006 Fess Parker Pinot Noir Pommard Clone - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
  87-89 points.
  
• 2006 Freeman Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  87-89 points.
  
• 2006 Hirsch Vineyards Pinot Noir The Bohan Dillon - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  87-89 points.
  
• 2006 Hirsch Vineyards Pinot Noir - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  87-89 points.
  
• 2006 Melville Pinot Noir Carrie's - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills
  87-89 points.
  
• 2006 Lucia Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
  87-89 points.
  
• 2006 Roessler Pinot Noir La Encantada Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills
  87-89 points.
  
• 2006 Roessler Pinot Noir Sanford and Benedict - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills
  This showed much better than the first time I tasted it. 87-89 points.
  
• 2005 Skewis Pinot Noir Anderson Valley Reserve - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
  87-89 points.
  
• 2006 Small Vines Wines Pinot Noir - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  87-89 points.
  

B/B+ Wines

• 2006 B Kosuge Pinot Noir The Shop - USA, California, North Coast, Carneros
  86-87 points.
  
• 2006 Couloir Wines Pinot Noir Monument Tree - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
  86-87 points.
  
• 2006 Joseph Swan Vineyards Pinot Noir Cuvée de Trois - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  86-87 points.
  
• 2006 Kanzler Pinot Noir - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  86-87 points.
  
• 2006 Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  86-87 points
  
• 2006 Miner Family Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
  86-87 points.
  
• 2006 native9 Pinot Noir Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley
  This did not show as well as the first time I tasted it. 86-87 points.
  

B Wines

• 2006 Etude Pinot Noir - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros
  84-86 points.
  
• 2006 Fulcrum Pinot Noir - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
  84-86 points.
  
• 2006 Jalama Pinot Noir Cargasacchi-Jalama Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
  84-86 points.
  
• 2006 Joseph Swan Vineyards Pinot Noir Saralee's Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  84-86 points.
  
• 2006 Melville Pinot Noir Terraces - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills
  84-86 points.
  
• 2006 Olson Ogden Pinot Noir Russian River Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  84-86 points.
  
• 2006 Zepaltas Pinot Noir W.E. Bottoms - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  84-86 points.
  
• 2006 Zepaltas Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  84-86 points.
  

B-/B Wines

• 2006 Belle Glos Pinot Noir Griffin's Lair - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  83-84 points.
  
• 2006 Kindred Wines Pinot Noir Amber Ridge Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  83-84 points.
  

Hey Phlin, nice to see your comments, and nice to see Eric Kent i