At Shafer yesterday we had the opportunity to taste a barrel sample of the 2001 HS. This is going to be a killer wine. Huge, huge black fruit with a hint of tobacco and spice on the finish. Even in the barrel it was very drinkable. I can't wait to find out what it is like in a few years. Very yummy.

Tasted it out of barrel in August and agree. It was as good as the '99 and '94. Did they sell you guys a Sunspot mag, or do you have to go back on the 1st? Mike

They aren't selling it until the 1st. But they are closed on the 1st and 2nd, so you actually have to go on the 3rd. That's what they told us anyway.

Yup. Any chance I'll be bumping into any of you on the 3rd?

I will be there next week on the 28th and will try my luck (what's a few days).

Nothing ventured, nothing gained... but they will probably be very strict about this policy. But if you can sweet talk your way past them... more power to you

I will be there with a Thermos of coffee first thing in the morning.

I tried sweet talking for one bottle of '95 HSS a few years back when I lived in Texas and happened to be at the winery 3 days before the release. No dice. At least I got on the list and have been getting offers since '96. If they bent the rules for this Sunspot bottling, there would be none left come May 1st. Of course, I'm not really sure what is so special about May 1...other than it gives all the non-mailing list folk an equal chance at one.

FYI:
Pops wine and spirits online somehow got hold of 6 01' Sunspot Mags. A little steep @ 700 bucks but if you buy all six you get 15% off (I think?) That's if you can't score one at the winery.

that's if they really have them in stock.

FYI spectator just gave the sunspot 93 pts...but gave the Caymus ss 95 ..typical

As I discussed with mm last night, I had no luck talking them into a Sunspot when I was there Tuesday. Even played the "my son was born in 2001" card with Dan (?) Shafer. No dice, but it did not hurt to ask anyway. I told him I was from Denver, and would not be back. He turned to the Nulls and asked them if they could come around and pick it up for me.

"sigh" Hopefully they can.

Mike

Mike - as we'll be in the Valley on the 1st, and the 3rd is a working day, it is not looking so good... Wish they were open on Saturday.

Mike, It's John and Doug Shafer. Did they really say they would allow someone else to pick it up for you (I thought it was one per person max)? I'm sure some folks will bring the entire family to buy a six-pack.

They said it was limited to one per person, but yes, you can take as many people as you want. Me thinks they will sell out very quickly that morning.

Mike

Congrats, Ant!

Thanks for the info Paul. I got married in '04 and I hope its a good year in Napa. I will probably be on the HSS list by then also.

Great nose with lots of supperblack fruits and a bit of tar. Monsterous, almost unctous, in the mouth but not showing anything other than cassis and some tar. The finish is the same. No matter how much swirling it got, this was not giving up the complexity that I know is lurking beneath the surface. I bet this was better last year and will be great again in two years. But, this was a bit of a let down. 93(+?)


BTW: I think you can still get a bottle or two at Shafer.

whiner,

i felt the same way about the 99 when i opened it young. i have faith in shafer though.