The selection at the restaurant that I will be dining at this evening is small (at least on their website it is). They do have a reserve section, which I'm not including here as it goes over the budget. If anyone sees any gems here, please let me know and thanks. Yhe only one I have experience with is the Huntington.

Petite Sirah, 2005 Huntington (California), $8/$34

Shiraz, 2005 Four Sisters (Australia), $8/$34

Cotes du Rhône, 2006 Perrin “Reserve” (Rhône), $8/$34

Syrah-Zinfandel-Malbec, 2004 Atrea “Old Soul Red” (Mendocino Co.), $12

Malbec, 2006 Finca Flichman “Oak Aged” (Mendoza, Argentina), $7/$30

Zinfandel, 2006 Windmill “Old Vine” (Lodi), $8/$34

Pinot Noir, 2004 Tandem “Van Der Kamp Vineyard” (Sonoma Mountain), $14

Pinot Noir, 2007 Tortoise Creek (France), $8/$34

Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 Cycles Winery (Central Coast), $7/$30

Merlot, 2006 Oxford Landing (Southern Australia), $6/$26

Well, this list sucks. But I'd order the Tandem.

Agree 100%. The Tandem is the only wine I'd order from that list.

I'd order the Merlot. In the bargain basement area, with unknown wines, I find that merlot is often the pick of the litter, and usually mellow and drinkable.

Tandem's not an unkown.

OK, I'm an idiot. I went back and looked at the website again thinking that can't be all there is....Guess what- I found the rest of the list- here goes. Don't know if it's any better. Thanks in advance

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DRY REDS



400 Cotes du Rhône, 2006 Domaine Lafond “Roc Epine” (Rhône), $36

401 Pinot Noir, 2007 Castle Rock (Mendocino County), $37

402 Pinot Noir, 2007 Cartlidge & Browne (California), $38

403 Pinot Noir, 2005 Domaine Parent (Bourgogne), $38

404 Pinot Noir, 2006 Jigsaw (Oregon), $42

405 Pinot Noir, 2006 A to Z (Oregon), $47

406 * Pinot Noir, 2004 Tandem “Van der Kamp Vineyard” (Sonoma Mountain), $58

407 * Pinot Noir, 2006 Russian Hill Estate Winery (Russian River Valley), $60

408 * Pinot Noir, 2005 Wild Earth (Central Otago, New Zealand), $62

409 * Pinot Noir, 2005 Arbor Brook Vineyards “Estate Block 777” (Yamhill County, Oregon), $64

410 * Pinot Noir, 2004 Tandem “Auction Block” (Sonoma Coast), $70

411 * Pinot Noir, 2005 Sea Smoke Cellars “Southing” (Santa Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County), $116

412 * Pinot Noir, 2006 Red Car “the Aphorist” Bartolomei Vineyard (Sonoma Coast), $128

413 Petite Sirah, 2004 Foppiano Vineyards (Russian River Valley), $47

414 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2003 Château-Fortia “Tradition” (Rhône), $52

415 Sangiovese, 2004 Chariot (Central Coast), $35

416 * Sangiovese, 2004 Long Meadow Ranch “Peter’s Vineyard” (Napa Valley), $52





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CABERNET & MERLOT



420 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 Wall Cellars (Napa Valley), $35

421 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 Silver Palm (North Coast), $40

422 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 Alexander Valley Vineyards (Alexander Valley), $42

423 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 Angus “the Bull” (Australia), $42

424 * Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 R Wines “Green Lion” (Napa Valley), $48

425 * Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004 Arrowood “Unfined & Unfiltered”” (Sonoma County), $76

426 * Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 Cliff Lede “Stags Leap District” (Napa Valley), $93

427 * Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 Justin “Isosceles” (Paso Robles), $109

428 * Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004 Spring Mountain Vineyard (Napa Valley), $111

429 * Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004 Cain Concept “The Benchland” (Napa Valley), $110

430 Bordeaux Blend, 2005 Trefethen & Trefethen “Double T” (Napa Valley), $45

431 Bordeaux, 2003 Château Fleur Haut Gaussens (Bordeaux), $36

432 Bordeaux, 2003 Château La Garenne (Pomerol), $48

433 Bordeaux, 2005 Larose de Gruaud (Saint-Julien), $76

434 Merlot, 2004 Burgess (Napa Valley), $42

435 Merlot, 2005 Silver Ridge (California), $28



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BOLD REDS


440 Shiraz, 2006 Woop Woop (Australia), $32

441 Syrah, 2005 Kinton (Santa Barbara County), $44

442 * Shiraz, 2006 Stockade (Barossa Valley, Australia), $46

443 * Shiraz, 2004 Rusden “Black Guts” (Barossa Valley, Australia), $173

444 Syrah-Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004 B.R. Cohn “SYRCAB” (Sonoma Co. Syrah-Napa Co. Cabernet), $63

445 * Grenache, 2005 Betts & Scholl (Barossa Valley, Australia), $54

446 Zinfandel 2005 Trentadue “Old Patch Red” (Sonoma County), $30

447 Zinfandel, 2006 Edmeades (Mendocino County), $44

448 * Zinfandel, 2006 Dashe Cellars (Dry Creek Valley), $45

449 * Zinfandel, 2006 Ridge Vineyards “Three Valleys” (Sonoma County), $49

450 Syrah-Zinfandel-Malbec, 2004 Atrea “Old Soul Red” (Mendocino County), $48

451 Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah-Petite Verdot, 2005 Truth “Lindsey’s Cuvee” (California), $52

452 * Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Cabernet Franc, 2004 DeLille Cellars “Chaleur Estate” (Yakima Valley, Washington), $114

453 * Syrah-Merlot, 2004 Arietta “Variation One” (Napa Valley), $198

I've had the AtoZ Pinot and liked it and have tried the Ridge "Three Valleys" Zin (my wife liked it). I have had the Fortia multiple times and like it a lot. I have more of it in my cellar.

Do you have an idea of what you will be ordering and can you byo. Do you care more about the wine or food or like to compliment both. This might help in advice.

Vin- you can't BYO here and I'm care more about the wine than matching it. I can match the food close enough to complement the wine.

Agree with Aphilla, A to Z is more than serviceable. Of course Seasmoke should be good, but its pricey.

Alexander Valley Cab is pretty good as well, good fruit, and not too over the top oak.

I've also had the Angus "The Bull" Cab, and it too wasn't too bad...oakier than the Alexander Valley though.

If you believe that 100% mark-up is a decent deal then these two cabs are right there. The A to Z might even be a tad less than 100% upped.

The 03 Château-Fortia “Tradition” CDP doesn't seem to have too bad of a markup on it @ $52 for the table.

if you like your jammy reds like the suggestions given with the A to Z. (I personally find this wine feeling manufactured and unbalanced)

Save some cash and just get the woop woop, (I know the mark up is a killer) but it's got good body, loads of fruit and the nice spiciness that a shiraz offers and the cheapest thing on that list =)

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
Tandem's not an unkown unknown.

What kind of comment is that? Obviously, if Jamie doesn't have experience with the Tandem, it's an unknown. No biggie.

Actually, when 2 of us recommend it, it's not an unknown. At least it's not an unknown to us; just to you. No biggie.

I've had the '05 Cliff Lede SLD Cab and enjoyed it a lot.

quote:

Syrah-Zinfandel-Malbec, 2004 Atrea “Old Soul Red” (Mendocino Co.), $12

This is a pretty good value. Not a great wine by any means but for the price it is pretty good.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
Actually, when 2 of us recommend it, it's not an unknown. At least it's not an unknown to us; just to you. No biggie.

Wow, you've had more wines than I have. You're so cool!

Most of us have. No biggie. We were all beginners once.

Under these new circumstances I would order the Fortia CdP. The Tandem is still an option. As is the A to Z Pinot. But, depending upon what you are eating, I think the Fortia is the way to go.

Another vote for the Cliff Lede.

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I wrote them down and will compare them to what we order and make the selection based on the one that best suits our entree's.

And for the record, I haven't heard of Tandem. I guess that makes me a beginner

So what did you get and how was it?

quote:

Originally posted by Jamie:


And for the record, I haven't heard of Tandem. I guess that makes me a beginner

That makes two of us.

Hope you enjoyed the evening.

BYO.

The wines are well over 3x markup from retail. What restaurant is that?