David Niederauer Los Gatos, CA
 Master Sommelier Posts:15709


 | | 04/06/2008 8:27 PM |
| Small Vines Wines "The smaller the vine, the better the wine" Tell 'em David N sent you  . Believe it!
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shaferguy91 Germantown TN
 Wine Bottler Posts:3367


 | | 04/06/2008 9:55 PM |
| | Also tell them Ken Markwell sent you. | | | |
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JimmyV Central Connecticut
 Wine Connoisseur Posts:5015


 | | 04/07/2008 4:31 PM |
| What is the price point, and what would you compare this to, stylistically? (As you can tell, my cellar and bank account are both past the point of signing up blindly anymore, though I must say that 75% of my blind referrals from this board have turned out to be "keepers".) | | Beta testing a new signature. | |
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David Niederauer Los Gatos, CA
 Master Sommelier Posts:15709


 | | 04/07/2008 6:18 PM |
| Jimmy, The RRV is $50 (I don't know if I would call that expensive or not in this crazy world of premium Pinot  ).
Stylistically some people would say Burgundian but I won't say that because I really don't know what that means. It is a medium viscosity medium fruit wine (that doesn't help much  ).
I've haven't taken any notes on it. I've tasted the '05 RRV twice and remember liking it very much. I've tasted the '06s only once and remember one being really really good and the other just really good. I was out in the vineyard with the Sloans at the time. There were quite a few of us on a bus the afternoon before the Freeman Cave dinner.
If I were you I wouldn't buy any without tasting it myself or at least hearing from someone who writes better notes than I do. I do recommend signing up on the list asap in case you find out you do like it. I don't know if the list will be another KB sellout list or not however I do think this one has that potential. Once on the list you don't have to buy some but at least you will have the choice.
Does that make any sense?
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Budman
 Master of Wine Posts:11834

 | | 04/07/2008 7:30 PM |
| | Yes... or maybe no!!! | | | |
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David Niederauer Los Gatos, CA
 Master Sommelier Posts:15709


 | | 04/07/2008 7:32 PM |
| | Definitely Maybe! | | | |
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gus fleener gilroy
 Barrel Filler Posts:1343


 | | 04/07/2008 7:34 PM |
| | i signed up because david said to. | | | |
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Elkiholic New Hampshire
 Grape Fermenter Posts:462

 | | 04/07/2008 8:46 PM |
| I got the mailer... was going to say pass due to the Tariff, then DavidN chimes in... man this board is going to cost my kids their college fund.....
I may have to think about this one again. | | Mike Coutu Addicted to Wine | |
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David Niederauer Los Gatos, CA
 Master Sommelier Posts:15709


 | | 04/07/2008 8:59 PM |
| Caveat:
I should say that there is one board member that I know of whose taster I usually agree with that doesn't like the wine at all.
If he wants to chime in he will. If not he should remain nameless.
Please, either taste first or go easy on an order. | | | |
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kpak Alaska
 Wine Thief Posts:2907


 | | 04/07/2008 10:10 PM |
| I remember liking the Sonoma Coast wine better, but have ordered from this current offering also.
| | The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits... ps - friends don't let friends eat farmed salmon. | |
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Dave
 Wine Thief Posts:2852


 | | 04/07/2008 10:24 PM |
| Posted By David Niederauer on 04/07/2008 8:59 PM
Caveat:
I should say that there is one board member that I know of whose taster I usually agree with that doesn't like the wine at all.
Hmmm, maybe I'll give this one a try.
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JimmyV Central Connecticut
 Wine Connoisseur Posts:5015


 | | 04/08/2008 9:13 AM |
| | Thanks David. Your thoughts actually do make sense. | | Beta testing a new signature. | |
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tanglenet Oakland, California
 Wine Bottler Posts:3021


 | | 04/08/2008 9:56 AM |
| Posted By kpak on 04/07/2008 10:10 PM
I remember liking the Sonoma Coast wine better, but have ordered from this current offering also.
Ditto to both.
| | TN posted on Cellartracker "I drink no more than a sponge." François Rabelais www.tanglenet.com | |
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Randy Wigginton
 Wine Connoisseur Posts:5427

 | | 04/12/2008 11:09 AM |
| | Problem with this wine is you can only drink it when the moon is in the house of Aquarius. | | | |
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SCMGuy
 Grape Sorter Posts:290

 | | 04/13/2008 3:10 AM |
| Posted By Randy Wigginton on 04/12/2008 11:09 AM
Problem with this wine is you can only drink it when the moon is in the house of Aquarius.
....and only if that day happens to be a "fruit day".  -Dave-
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Drew Sammamish, WA
 Wine Bottler Posts:3080


 | | 04/13/2008 9:54 AM |
| and.... RANDY WITH THE SCORE!
I was underwhelmed with one of their wines. Ok, bored/disappointed. The Sonoma Coast was much better, but given the laundry list of wines out there, I'd have a tough time keeping this over some of the other guys I'm buying from. Winetex? :-P | | | |
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Winetex Austin, Texas
 Master of Wine Posts:10573


 | | 04/13/2008 11:38 AM |
| Pretty much what Drew said.
Sorry, I'm not any help on these. I thought the vineyard was
interesting (other than sacrificing virgins at sunset as Davidn might
have noted - for everyone the jokes are about their Biodynamic practices) but the wines were lost for me at that tasting. The weather was
too glorious. We tasted:
2006 RRV 2006 Sonoma Coast
2007 Keller (out of barrel) I remember liking the Sonoma Coast better than the other two. Stylistically the wines were not in the Pinotfandel range with a medium weight and red fruit and spice flavors.
I do wonder why a $50 price point for Cali Pinot Noir seems to be
the norm/minimum these days for wineries without much of a track
record. Kind of like the $100+ Cali cab. | | | |
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Dave Tong Santa Clara, CA
 Barrel Filler Posts:1334


 | | 04/13/2008 12:23 PM |
| Posted By Winetex on 04/13/2008 11:38 AM
I do wonder why a $50 price point for Cali Pinot Noir seems to be
the norm/minimum these days for wineries without much of a track
record. Kind of like the $100+ Cali cab.
You mean SONOMA Pinot and NAPA Cab. That's because you're shopping in the wrong areas. In the Santa Cruz Mountains prices are more reasonable; eg. Big Basin's Pinot is $35, Black Ridge is $39.
| | http://scmwine.blogspot.com - My wine blog. http://scmwine.wikispaces.com - your guide to the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley
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Winetex Austin, Texas
 Master of Wine Posts:10573


 | | 04/13/2008 12:44 PM |
| You mean SONOMA Pinot and NAPA Cab. That's because you're shopping in the wrong areas. In the Santa Cruz Mountains prices are more reasonable; eg. Big Basin's Pinot is $35, Black Ridge is $39.
Good point. Guess it all depends on what you want to drink. | | | |
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Winegeek San Francisco
 Grape Puncher Posts:774

 | | 04/20/2008 1:52 PM |
| They seemed like nice folks and are certainly passionate about what they're doing, but the wines weren't anything special and $50/bottle is way too much for this level of quality. YMMV.
Richard | | | |
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