Hey Everybody,

We’ve got some incredibly exciting news! I am coming to Texas in early February along with Jeff Pisoni and we have arranged for a series of wine dinners and tastings throughout the state. We wanted to give you all of this information right away so you can attend, if at all possible!

Here’s the information as we now have it:

Monday, February 7th – Austin, Texas. Winemaker Dinner at Mirabelle Restaurant. Jeff and I will be showing some of our wines in a tasting prior to a dinner/tasting with the fantastic food at Mirabelle. All of the details are still being worked out but to get your name on the list give Michael at Mirabelle a call directly at 512-346-7900.

Tuesday, February 8th – Houston, Texas. Winemaker Dinner at Shade Restaurant. Once again, Jeff and I will be showing our wines paired with the incredibly food at Shade Restaurant in Houston. To get on the list for this dinner give Russell at Shade a call at 713-863-75000.

Wednesday, February 9th – Dallas/Southlake, Texas. Wine Tasting and Winemaker Dinner. We’ll do a big tasting of our wines and then a smaller, more reserved dinner afterwards. Call Mike Friend at FarPointe Cellars for more information and to get on the list. His number is 817-416-7500.

We will certainly be pouring some new Siduri and Novy wines at all of these events and I know that Jeff will be pouring his new 2003 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir and his 2003 Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir.

These are events not to be missed and a great opportunity to meet one of the owners of one of California’s most acclaimed Pinot Noir vineyards. We hope to see each and every one of you there! If you have any questions you can also email me directly at adam@siduri.com.

Adam Lee

Siduri Wines & Novy Family Winery

It will be great to get you back "home" Adam.

I already emailed my buddy Mike Friend that PURPLE and myself are in for the tasting and dinner. I've forwarded the email you sent me to all of the Dallas members as well.

BTW Adam, let me know if you want to get together with the Dallas group afterwards, schedule permitting. We'll put together a tasting and dinner for you.

Looking forward to seeing you again.

Interesting Mirabelle does not have this on their upcoming events yet. However it looks like they haven't been updated since the Holidays.

We have been to several Mirabelle Wine dinners and tastings and all have been waaay good.

I am in town that week and will definitely attend!

Any word on what you'll be pouring?

See ya there.

Yowza - this is a sold-out show!

Just got a call from Mirabelle confirming (a week early) my reservation(s).

It seems they overbooked this thing simply via word of mouth - they never sent out their regular email.
Can't remember Shafer, Seghesio, or anyone else meriting this kind of buzz.

The entire restaurant is now being closed for this event.

Can't wait.

We are a go for the Houston dinner at Shade on the 8th. They are also closing the entire restaurant for the event so it should be great. They told me we had almost the last two reservations and that was two weeks ago! The Pinot-heads will be out in force.

There was such a demand here in Dallas that a second night was added.

Adam - we are looking forward to the dinner tonight at Shade. Hopefully you are having a good trip thus far.

On Tuesday night we had a nice time talking to Adam, meeting Jeff and some other new people at Shade here in Houston.

Here was the menu with the wines:

Freestyle Feta cheese and onion tart with a fricassee of wild mushrooms and white truffle oil infused buttermilk dressing
2002 Siduri Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Curry and yogurt marinated grilled sturgeon with toasted almond date cous cous, fava beans and grilled eggplant sauce
2001 Novy Alder Springs Merlot

Smoked Sweetbreads with oven dried roma tomatoes, corn and french bean succotash, and red onion jam
2003 Lucia Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
2002 Siduri Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

Open faced ravioli with butternut squash puree, sautéed mustard greens, hot italian sausage and pan roasted quail
2003 Lucia Gary's Vineyard Pinot Noir Mr. Winetex's WOTN

Seared loin of venison mignon, grilled asparagus, potato, morel mushroom Napoleon, braised leeks, red wine essence
2002 Novy Napa Valley Syrah

Selection of imported and domestic artisan cheeses with red wine poached seckel pear
2003 Siduri Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir Winetex's WOTN

Lots of good wine with very good food. The best pairing was the Merlot with the sturgeon (who da thunk it?).

*************************
All was well until the middle of the night when Mr. Winetex and I came down with severe food poisoning. Interesting because everyone at the dinner ate the same menu so I'm wondering if anyone else was ill. I'm going to have a chat with the restaurant today.

We had a fantastic time last night at Il Sole in Dallas. One of our prime retail contacts arranged the Dallas tastings and dinners so naturally, some inexplicable way, PURPLE, the preferreds, MikeB and myself all ended up at his table with both Adam and Jeff.

Here is the menu and wines:

Reception
2003 Novy Four Mile Creek
2003 Siduri Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

First Course
Marinated and pan fried Diver Scallops with Roasted Tomato Compote and Micro-green Salad
2003 Siduri Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
2003 Lucia Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

Second Course
Beef Carpaccio with Arugula, shaved Parmesan and Oven-dried Tomatoes and Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2003 Siduri Pinot Noir Gary's Vineyard
2003 Lucia Pinot Noir Gary's Vineyard
2003 Siduri Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch

Main Course
Pork Tenderloin encrusted in Forest Mushrooms with Fava Bean Whipped Potatoes, Apple and Fennel Slaw and Balsamic Vinegar Glaze
2003 Siduri Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard
2003 Siduri Pinot Noir Cargasacchi Vineyard
BONUS WINE: 2003 Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir (to be released in the Fall)

Dessert
Fresh Fruit and St. Andre with House-made Lavash and Crostinis
2003 Novy Syrah Napa Valley
2003 Novy Syrah Gary's Vineyard