2003 Kobalt Mailer is out. Order deadline is February 15th, 2006.


I'm counting this as the first mailer of 2006. I think like last year, the mailers will be coming earlier and earlier.


3 pack $240 (no change from 2002).
Mags $240 - limit one per order
Etched mags $400 - limit one per order

Production:

750s - 3000 bottles (250 cases)
mags - 30 bottles

From the mailer:

"I am proud to bring onboard as my partner Mark Herold, Ph.D. in my continuing endeavor to produce outstanding wines. Mark has been in the industry for over 10 years, first as the research enologist for Joseph Phelps Vineyards, and then in 1998 along with his wife Erika Gottl, he began the very first production of Merus. Currently, he continues to consult for a select few wineries."

"2005 Port

Mark and I have had a long-standing love affair with vintage-styled Ports, where we have not only been drinking them together since we met almost ten year ago, but we have been making them for fun since 2001. So now, I am excited to announce the beginning of our Cabernet Sauvignon Port project, which will commence with the 2005 vintage. These bottlings will be extremely limited and available solely by mailing list. The wine will be available in early 2008."

Man...I'm so conflicted here...

My 2006 wine plan may be busted with the first mailer.

I had planned on sticking with Merus and droping Kobalt...but it's going to be tough...

Any thoughts on Kobalt vs Merus? Based on the '01 and '02, I'm pretty strongly in the Merus camp (even with the price difference), but is the Kobalt still a must buy??

Not for me, I was not as impressed with the 02' Kobalt as most and thought the 02' Merus was way better. I will pass on Kobalt like I did last year.

I had the 01 Merus and 01 Kobalt at a tasting in October. The Merus was definitely on top that night, the Kobalt seemed tannic and tight, I did note that the Merus was decanted about 1 1/2 - 2 hours longer than the Kobalt, so that might have had something to do with it. Merus was top 3 in this lineup:

1999 Opus One
2001 Insignia
1995 Niebaum-Coppola Rubicon
2001 Merus
2002 Foley
1998 Viader
2001 Kobalt
1999 Neal Family