Enough politics, let's drink!

[lagilman]

The first of two shipments from my California trip arrived today (discounting my Box O Books from WFC).

This was... no, let me backtrack a bit.

So. debg and I are prowling the back roads of Dry Creek Valley (Northern Sonoma area), looking for the obscure but fabulous gems I know are there. And we find a lot of great vineyards, really solid, fabulous places where I taste and take notes, and buy selectively because these are NOT the vineyards where they ship what they make to retail stores for $20 a pop. No, these guys have seriously low yield (most under 400 cases), and you buy either from them, or you pay a huge markup at a restaurant. End of story.

Anyway. We've starting to head back, and I suggest we pull into this enclave of tasting rooms, because there's a name that catches my eye.

I went in there, found some stuff of goodness, came out and, on a whim, went across the way to another tasting room and tried their wines...

wow. Just, wow. And the woman behind the counter knew her shite: she was able to tell me details of location and harvest and cooperage and whatnot (we neeped so much I thought poor Deb was going to curl up and take a nap), And then I did something I swore I'd never do. I joined their wine club. Because the thought of not being able to lay hands on these wines made the baby meerkat cry.

And today, my first shipment came. Four pinot noir and two zinfandel*, and in entering them into my database I discover that they're racking up scores in the 90's from the major wine magazines.

Okay, yeah. I buy from my taste, not review, but it's nice to have the backup.

The winery, for those who might have a curiosity, is Papapietro Perry.

(Oh, and the one that got a 94? Already sold out, within a month of its release. I'm saving that baby, hoo yah. I mean, besides the fact that it's a damn expensive bottle of grape juice...)


EtA: one of the interesting things is that PPW treats their zinfandel the same as their pinot noir, which means that although the zins have the awesome flavor and feel typical for the grape, but they're elegant instead of aggressive, and with a slightly lower alcohol than the norm. I heartily approve.



*not including the bottle of pinot noir I brought home directly

Comments

[jperceval.livejournal.com]

I thought of you on Halloween when my brother-in-law and I shared an amazing bottle of Pouilly-Fume he brought back with him from his last trip to France. Of course, now I can't remember the maker or year...go figure.

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

Can you bring one of their bottles of Zin when you come to visit? I'll trade you some French wine.

[lagilman]

I think we can manage an exchange of worthy hostages....