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"Candle Light and Pizza" Last Post 05-24-2003 09:26 PM by Randy Koch. 35 Replies. | Sort: |
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georgia groff  
Grape Destemmer
Posts: 53
 | | 05-14-2003 02:07 AM |
| ...We are having a party this Saturday, May 17th at 6:30 at Del Dotto Caves. Everyone is bringing some great wines and we are chipping in on Gourmet pizzas, salad, appetizers, ect. E-mail me if you can make it or let Pyang know. Some of you may have read about it on W.S. forum.  My e-mail addy is georgia9382@yahoo.com | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts: 12600
| | 05-14-2003 02:12 AM |
| Damn. Sounds great. Tthis country is just too damn BIG. | | | |
| skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5452
| | 05-14-2003 02:25 AM |
| | Why do all the winerys have to have their party's on the same day? Pride's is Saturday, the Montelena Moveable Feast is Saturday, Phelps has the Insignia release party on both days, now this. How is one expected to dry out after all this wine? | | | |
| ChangeMe
Grape Sorter
Posts: 307
| | 05-14-2003 02:37 AM |
| skwid,
all of east coasters feel real bad for you  | | | |
| love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts: 12600
| | 05-14-2003 02:39 AM |
| Hey you CA-wineries...how about holding an Event on the east coast once in a while?  A lot of winos here also... | | | |
| David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts: 15756
| | 05-14-2003 02:40 AM |
| CaveGirl,
Put MrsN and myself down as a maybe. Will let you know for sure later. We could pick up our Cask C then. Had some Sat night with PYang. Sure is (still) good! | | | |
| Eric White
San Ramon, CA
Advanced Sommelier
Posts: 9430
| | 05-14-2003 03:20 AM |
| Wow, this thing has taken on a life of it's own! What started out as a humble cave tour has, well, exploded. How unusual .
Of course, we'll be there - can't wait! | | | 2008: the end of an error | |
| ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 05-14-2003 03:24 AM |
| | I'm envious. That sounds terrific. | | | |
| georgia groff
Grape Destemmer
Posts: 53
| | 05-14-2003 04:17 AM |
| | ...skwid...most of those parties are during the day. A wino has to have something to do at night! LCC...you and your family will be missed...davidn...please come and BOARD-O...we must meet you! | | | |
| TBird
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Master of Wine
Posts: 10194
| | 05-14-2003 04:54 AM |
| | sounds fun. i'm gonna see what i can work out.. | | | |
| Brent Null
Roseville, CA
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2194
| | 05-14-2003 05:31 AM |
| TBird: If you come up for the weekend, you gotta hit our Petite Sirah Tasting Sunday, May 18th at 1:00pm...  | | | |
| Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts: 13767
| | 05-14-2003 12:54 PM |
| OK, I'm starting to getJEALOUS!!!!
Dagnabbit. | | | www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
| ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 05-14-2003 12:59 PM |
| | cave girl, we'll be there either August 5, 6, or 7. We have a dinner planned for August 6 with GATC, Bressler, latour67, and other friends, so some of them may accompany us. I'll let you know in advance. I know I've asked this before, but I forgot. When should I drink the '99 The David? | | | |
| Bradley Molzen
VinoCellar.com Admin
Bayonne, NJ
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5054
| | 05-14-2003 03:29 PM |
| Anyone have a cheap room to rent out there in the napa/sonoma area????? All these great California events that I'm missing out on really makes me sad! All those cool wineries to visit... the infamous cavegirl tour.... I'm missing out!
| | | If you drink wine, you get smarter.... | |
| love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts: 12600
| | 05-14-2003 04:27 PM |
| | cavegirl: thank you. Wish you guys were closer or vice versa. Hmmm, ignored the East Coast comment, I see... | | | |
| David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts: 15756
| | 05-14-2003 05:52 PM |
| Quote:
Rev...
the infamous cavegirl tour
Hey, it is a fantastic tour. Best I've ever been on. It is FAMOUS!!! No way infamous that I know of unless you might count how blasted you can get and you can't crawl your way out of the caverns. | | | |
| mountainman
Mammoth Mountain
Wine Addict
Posts: 6156
| | 05-14-2003 11:13 PM |
| | If I got a hall pass, could I sleep in the cave afterwards? You can hide the thieves if necessary | | | |
| ChangeMe
Grape Fermenter
Posts: 667
| | 05-15-2003 04:29 PM |
| | Revlis, I know an "inexpensive" room, actually cabin, if you're serious. Just let me know. | | | |
| Eric White
San Ramon, CA
Advanced Sommelier
Posts: 9430
| | 05-18-2003 08:02 PM |
| Posting here, since I don't really feel that my notes are extensive enough to post as offical "Tasting Notes"...
Even though I eschewed my normal role of note taker, I thought I would kick off a thread with at least some brief impressions from memory. I know a few others, such as Scotty and lenehanbill were taking notes, so hopefully we will see a more complete list of wines.
It’s been said over and over again on these forums, but cannot be stressed enough – the Cave tour at Del Dotto is a Napa valley MUST DO. The hospitability of the cave crew is second to none, the wines are all outstanding, and the enthusiasm if Cave Girl and Cave Man is infectious.
So, in no particular order:
Before the Cave tour, we enjoyed Saddleback Pinot Gris (refreshing & yummy), a 1999 Magnien Morey St. Denis, but I did not catch the specific designation (nicely extracted, no stink, good clean Pinot), and 2000 Crocker & Star Cab Franc (always a favorite)
2001 Del Dotto Estate Cabernet from three different types of Oak, Missouri, Minnesota, Marsannay French oak. Of these, the Marsannay produced a wine with tremendous fineness and complexity over the other two. The two American Oak samplings were very good, just not as elegant and complex as the Marsannay.
2001 Del Dotto, ‘Lot C’, from three different types of oak (American Demptos, a Colbert French blended oak barrel, and an Eastern European barrel). I am a nut for this stuff, and for me the Demptos wins out (though to be fair, we didn’t taste the other 47 different barrels this is in). This is a huge, complex, fruity, spicy, wine with an espresso-like finish. The Blended French barrel was still mighty yummy, more restrained, subtler. The East European barrel showed a lot of fineness and elegance. All three are flat out awesome wines.
2001 “The Bob” Field Blend. This is Cave Girl & Cave Man’s project that in all likelihood won’t ever make it to market. There are only two barrels of this field blend of about 5 different varieties, 8 months in new oak before being transferred to neutral oak where it’s been for 22 months. Tremendously fun and delicious, a fruit driven wine with that is a joy to sip.
2002 Del Dotto Cabernet Franc – This is going to be some incredibly good juice. Tightly wound right now, compact super-ripe, extracted fruit, huge tannic structure, super-long palate.
2001 Del Dotto Sangiovese – Simply delicious – rich, extracted, and spicy.
2001 Del Dotto Merlot – This Merlot is just huge. If the restrained, subtle style of Merlot is what you are looking for, look elsewhere, this is a full throttle powerhouse that needs some time for the oak to integrate. I loved it.
2000 Bond Matriarch – You’ve all heard about it, is it all hype? Or is there substance? The answer is: I may have to see if I can’t get some of this stuff after all. At $50, this actually represents a good value for such a fine, elegant wine. Refined, elegant fruit with silky, fine tannins, and offering a kaleidoscope of interesting flavor sensations on the palate. What a treat, thanks Vista!
2000 Bear Ursa – From Washington State, I purchased this solely on the recommendation of QoH – and now I am tremendously glad I did. A beautiful wine, soft, elegant, fruity, and complex. Not one for aging, but built for immediate appeal, drink this over the next 2-3 years. An amazing value priced in the mid-$20s.
2000 ZinAlley Vicolo Della Zinfandel Riserva – Another wine that I brought, this is a one man project out of Paso Robles. Frank Nerelli runs the whole show single handedly, from the vineyard to the bottle. This is an old world, almost rustic Zin and that is exactly what Frank was after. Muscular, brawny, big, and full. I love it.
2000 Brown Estate Zin (from Magnum) – I’m a big fan of Brown Zins, and this continues to perform beautifully. Soft sweet tannins, packed with tons of fruit and glycerin, a tremendously satisfying wine with layers upon layers of fruit. Super stuff.
1993 Brunello di Montalcino Frescobaldi-Ferré Riserva (from Magnum) – An excellent Brunello with several years of development ahead of it. Elegant soft fruits, plums and cherries, with notes of tea leaves. Rich and integrated tannins, very impressive stuff.
2001(?) Forgeron Cabernet – Many thanks to Sir Willy for providing this outstanding Washington wine for our tasting. I had never heard of this winery, but will seek it out now – an outstanding Cab, not sure if I got the vintage right.
2001 Mitolo G.A.M. – This one has gotten a lot of recognition on the boards already, and it is well deserved, this is great stuff. Ripe brambly fruit, pure sweet tannins, excellent length.
1998 Saltram Shiraz – Wow, what the heck is this? Never heard of Saltram, but it’s on my radar now, this is an outstanding wine – rich sweet fruit, tremendous structure and depth, stunning stuff.
1999(?) Showket Sangiovese – a big Sangiovese, harsh tannins, I didn’t care so much for this one.
1997 Heitz Bella Oaks – Poured out of the “correct” bottle, this was excellent stuff as you would expect. I have no tasting notes on the “other” bottle of Heitz
2000 Texier Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Very Stinky nose, better palate, needs some time, but the stink is a bit overwhelming.
1999 Lewelling – Always a winner, and this one was no exception. Excellent stuff.
2000 BV Signet Zinfandel – did not get a chance to try
1999 Pride Merlot – did not get a chance to try.
1999 Del Dotto Giovanni’s Tuscan Blend – Excellent, rich, spicy, and vibrant.
NV Trever Jones Tawny – I’m not so into to Tawny, but this was pleasant enough.
NV Buller fine Muscat – As you would expect, awesome stuff - rich, sweet, and spicy. Love it.
Well, that’s as far as my memory is going to take me. I know there were other wines present that I have omitted, so hopefully others will chime in with their additions as well as their tasting notes or impressions.
What a fantastic time! Thanks again Cave Girl for putting up with us, and for the numerous trips back into the cave 
| | | 2008: the end of an error | |
| David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts: 15756
| | 05-18-2003 08:21 PM |
| Damn, I didn't make it. Woke up Friday morning with a cold. I was pretty much over it Saturday PM so I sat here and kicked myself for not making the trek. I really wanted to pick up my Cask C. (Cavegirl, I am now shooting for this Wednesday.)
How 'bout THE DAVID? Didn't you have any of it? | | | |
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