STM82

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• The Wine Write says:

  5/28/2013 6:21:00 PM - We've loved our visits at Ayres and Brick House. The views at Anne Amie are spectacular. You can spend a day tasting in downtown Carlton. If you want a taste of non Pinots, try Ed Fus at Angel Vine. Makes a tasty Zin with WA fruit. Great guy. We also had a nice visit at Beaux Freres. It requires an appt as does Ayres and Brick House. Tyson Crowley at Crowley Wines is another good one.

• STM82 says:

  5/24/2013 5:13:00 PM - We would appreciate any and all tips for the Willamette region. We are planning on beginning in Walla Walla and heading over to Seattle before heading south through Willamette and down the coast.

• The Wine Write says:

  5/23/2013 8:23:00 PM - And you need to stop in the Columbia Gorge and taste at Syncline. Terrific WA Rhone varietals.

• The Wine Write says:

  5/23/2013 7:58:00 PM - Hopefully you saw my earlier message. We've been to the Willamette Valley several times and can give you some tips there, too. Just let me know.

• STM82 says:

  3/7/2013 8:40:00 PM - Forgot to mention that we visited with Laird and really enjoyed Rangeland. We joined the wine club and really liked the wines from top to bottom. Such an amazing location. Thanks for the recommendation!

• STM82 says:

  3/7/2013 5:49:00 PM - Thanks for the info about Maison Bleue. We are actually heading up to Washington this summer to check out some wineries and vacation in Walla walla, then heading to Seattle, and down through Willamette for Pinot tasting and relaxation. If there are any others you might recommend it would be greatly appreciated. We will check out Maison Bleue as well. I've heard great things about them. I actually was not able to snatch any bottles of the 2010 Saint Prefert before the scores and reviews came out and by the time the bottles make it this far west it makes it difficult. Send me an email at shanerm5@yahoo.com and let me know what we can do as I would love to get my hands on a bottle! Thanks!

• jpaul1 says:

  3/7/2013 4:37:00 AM - Glad you had a chance to stop by and see Pismo Beach Wine Shop. Really is a cool little shop. I liked the chaos of wines all around! After your recommendation I joined the mailing list for Nicora and received the release news. I am going to snatch up a few before they are gone! FYI as well, found a really nice QPR wine out of Washington...Maison Bleue you may want to check out. On a side note...I see you have 2010 Saint Prefert listed on a dream wine. Did you score any of these? I bought 6 of them long before the reviews hit at $70 a bottle. I would be willing to send you one if interested? If so let me know and we can work out details on a private e-mail.

• STM82 says:

  3/4/2013 9:48:00 PM - Hey Jordan, just wanted to thank you for recommending the wine shop in pismo beach. We stopped there and we're like kids in a small candy shop. We enjoyed a glass of the value priced Baja Colina. Just a heads up, nicora has opened for their release. Nick Elliot makes the wine. He was a cellar rat for Scott Hawley at Torrin. His new release has shown very respectable numbers and I've tasted the Buxom... Really nice wine! Food, or rather, wine for thought. Thanks again for the recommendations. Hope all is well!

• jpaul1 says:

  1/30/2013 8:15:00 AM - Glad you got your hands on some! I am sure that they will close the mailing list soon so probably a good thing to buy a few on this release. Understand the wedding deal...was there not to long back. I looked at the Nicora wines..thanks for that. I will try to get my hands on a few next release though maybe a tasting if we make it back to Paso this year. On your next trip to Paso stop in and see Ash and Lissa at Pismo Wine Shop. We meet them last year at Denner....GREAT people! Awesome shop with wine to the ceiling! Alban did there release party there this year. The have over 700 wines by the glass as well. Sans Liege has a tasting room across the street and they have some solid 90pt wines as well. If you stop to see Ash and Lissa, tell him Jordan says Hi!

• STM82 says:

  1/29/2013 11:32:00 AM - Snapped up my allocation of Keplinger wines this morning. Thanks for the heads up! As I am somewhat of a newcomer to the wine arena I am always interested in trying new wines. However, I am on somewhat of a tight leash since my fiancee and I are getting married and we are paying the tab in June. If you have any other recommendations they would be much appreciated! I'll keep you posted as well. Speaking of which, not sure if you've heard of Nicora wines, but Nick was a cellar rat with Scott Hawley at Torrin for a few years and is now putting in work for his own label which is being produced at Alta Colina I believe. I know he does tastings out of the same room and is sourcing fruit from Starr ranch. Worth checking out...

• jpaul1 says:

  1/27/2013 7:31:00 AM - Just a heads up if you have never tried any of Helen Keplinger Wines. Her spring release is this Tuesday the 29th and I think there is still availability on the mailing list. She has her label focused on Rhone wines and is also at Bryant Family Wines. Some time in the bottle will reward though they show tremendous structure. $60 a bottle and I don't think much if any ends up at retail (super small production). I also checked out some of your other recommendations and will have to order some of them up! Hate living on the East Coast sometimes! Only good side is I see the French and Italian wines first!

• STM82 says:

  1/25/2013 5:53:00 PM - I completely agree about Ed's wines. Although I wish him the best too because he is such a great guy. He was saying that it might be one tasting room with a few wineries using it. He was saying it might be in downtown Paso and some of the wineries pouring MIGHT be his label, Torrin, Jacob toft, and l'aventure. I do appreciate the cooler climate syrahs and will definitely check out the others you suggested. I have a bottle of Gramercy and have enjoyed their wines. If you ever get south to Santa Barbara county, I would recommend piedrasassi for cooler climate syrah. The owner is the winemaker for stolpman which is also turning out nice wines. Very complex wines. If you're down there, I'd also highly recommend Harrison Clarke. Mom and pop operation. They live on the vineyard and have the winery on site. They give tours and tastings and sell fruit to higher end labels like Lillian and Matt dees of jonata, which is think is grossly overpriced. But the couple are fantastic people and make wines with fantastic depth. Thanks again for the suggestions too!

• jpaul1 says:

  1/25/2013 3:47:00 PM - We did taste with Judy Starr as well! Really like her wines. She summed it up at our tasting saying that she styles her wines for every night wine...easy drinkers! Her Crooked Creek original wine is also pretty solid if she has any left. If you like Judy's wines you will also like Rangeland. However, I think Rangeland wines will develop over time as opposed to the drink now style of Starr. In some ways I wish Ed could keep his wines a secret though being such a nice guy I wish him success . I purchased some of Jacob's wines on this past release as well. If you are a fan of the cooler climate CA Syrah I would highly recommend Lagier Meredith, Donelan and Gramercy in WA....I think you should be able to see the cellar now!

• STM82 says:

  1/25/2013 11:15:00 AM - Still can't peek at your cellar. I agree with the top picks. Torrin, for me at least, is definitely top 3. I'll check out rangeland when I get back up there in a couple weeks. Have you had Jacob Tofts own label? Really great stuff as well. I am a huge fan of Ed's wines. Heard they're opening a tasting room soon too! have you tried Starr ranch?

• jpaul1 says:

  1/25/2013 9:38:00 AM - No connection with J. Paul Rosilez! I opened my cellar control for you to view. Tough question on Top 5...I would have to say not in order....Epoch, Terry Hoage, Edmond August (Jacob Toft), Booker, Alta Colina, McPrice....just to many. Also like a few wines from Denner iand want to try some Torrin hopefully on this release. Brochelle is doing some nice Zin and places like Caliza and Anglim have potential. So many left to taste with as well. Have you ever tried Rangeland Wines? Very interesting property. Shannon Gustafson is the winemaker. Young promising career ahead for her. Value priced and more Bordeaux in style..soft elegant wines. Laird Foshay is the owner of the ranch. Private tasting at his home, interesting guy.

• STM82 says:

  1/24/2013 4:21:00 PM - Hi jpaul1! I noticed that I am unable to see your cellar to compare what bottles we share in common. It would be great to be able to check out what you have too. Just out of curiosity, I noticed you handle (jpaul1) and was wondering if there is any connection to the J. Paul Rosilez winery which used to be in Paso? I agree completely about Alta Colina! Really great wines and great people. What would the other top 4 be in the Paso area if you had to list them? I haven't had JC cellars but I will seek them out.

• jpaul1 says:

  1/24/2013 8:03:00 AM - Hey STM82...looks like we have some Paso wines in common! Had a chance to visit twice last year. On a side note I read your notes on Alta Colina. Personally think they are top 5 in the region. On a side note, Jeff Cohn formally of Roseblum, and now JC Cellars is consulting at Alta. Have you tasted any of the JC wines?