Livermore Wine Country Festival May 3rd & 4th

Music, Wine, Food, Arts & Crafts and Beer, what more could you ask for. Pay special attention to wine booth #2 (Murrieta's Well and White Crane) and if you get a chance visit our friends at Bent Creek they are at booth #3.

http://www.livermoredowntown.com/winecountryfestival/

Mary's Pizza Shack

So it is Saturday afternoon, you have been walking around Sonoma Plaza, visiting art galleries, wine stores, cooking stores, and the various other shops that help you pass the time and spend your money. Your hungry, you want something casual, and you don't' want to spend a lot because you have reservations at the French Laundry later (costs as much as a small car, okay could be a large car if go for the 97 Screaming Eagle). The answer is (you guessed it) Mary's Pizza Shack. Mary's is your basic pizza place with not so basic pizza, pasta and salads. Friendly staff, good service, and reasonable prices. The original shack is just up the road a bit in Boyes Hot Springs. Mary and family have been quite successful, so they have a number of locations, but it still has the feel of a family owned pizza place. For locations and directions see http://www.maryspizzashack.com/.

2005, Darioush Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

This winery in my opinion is a fairly typical example of the new Napa Valley high end wineries. They have a beautiful building, on a very nice plot of land along Silverado Trail, nice people at the tasting room, nice trinkets at the gift shop, good wine to taste. All this sounds very good, and it does make for a pleasant visit, but then you take a look at the price of the wine. Way, way over the top, eighty dollars a bottle. If you read this blog very often, you have come to the conclusion that I spend most of my allowance on expensive wine. I am more than willing to pay more than is sensible for a bottle of wine that leaves me saying, "Wow, that was great". No such luck here, the wine is good, but not great. My advice, visit the tasting room, by a shirt or a hat, take a picture standing in the fountain, then buy your cabs a little further up the road.

Sea Smoke 2006 Vintage Allocation Up For Grabs

I currently have allocatons for;

2006 Ten Pinot Noir
2006 Southing Pinot Noir
2006 Botella Pinot Noir

If you would like some and are in the Bay Area, drop me a line.

PS: Yes this is one of the wines featured in the movie "Sideways" and is always very tasty.

Halleck Vineyard Release Party

At Farallon Restaurant
450 Post Street
San Francisco, CA

April 23rd, 5:00-7:30 pm

Halleck is releasing 2006 Pinot Noirs at a special event at the Farallon Restaurant. This
may be the only chance you get to taste these Estate Grown Pinots, they sell out quick!

Here is the list;

2006 Estate Grown
2006 Hallberg
2006 The Farm
2006 Clone 828
2006 Three Sons Cuvee

Ticket Price: $25.00