Louie the Wine Guy

April 20, 2004

This week’s edition must begin with a report from last Friday night’s gala Napa Spring Wine Fling, presented by The Rake and sponsored by Excelsior Vintage. The party, held in the lovely atrium of the Doubletree Park Place Hotel, was attended by about 60, and featured almost 70 wines from Napa Valley. Those from the local wine industry remarked that there had never been as varied and fine assembly of Napa wines here in the Twin Cities. Those accolades this might be eclipsed by the Napa Valley Vintner’s Association tasting, coming up on May 6—we’ll have to see.

The wines shown last Friday night included certain labels available here in Minnesota, names like Jarvis and Vine Cliff (this chardonnay was stunning!), Chateau Montelena and Shafer. But most of the excitement arose around one particular table, which showcased some special wines not yet distributed in Minnesota. Standouts in this group included: Luddite ’01 Carignane, L’Ecosse ’96 Cabernet Franc, Atalon ’98 Merlot, Atlas Peak ’97 Cabernet, Prager ’97 Cabernet, and a few stunning meritage wines like Barlow ’01 Red, Elodian (Tom Eddy) ’00 Napa Cuvee, Beaucanon ’00 “Trifecta”, High Rocks ’01 “Wrangler Rouge”, Delectus ’00 Argentum, & Orin Swift’s amazing ’02 “The Prisoner.”

It should be noted that all those wines not yet available here in the “Paris on the Prairie”—wines that wowed industry palates as well as those of the general public—sell for under $30 a bottle. “The Prisoner” quite an impact, as well it was expected to. Dan Dawson, owner of Back Room Wines in Napa, offered this tasting note: “Orin Swift owner/winemaker Dave Phinney brought me a barrel sample of this ’02 “The Prisoner” last summer, and for those familiar with the ’01, it’s all that and more. The recipe is about the same: just over half zinfandel, and about a fifth each cabernet, sirah, and charbono. Perhaps the best compliment I can give it is that Dave is accomplishing his goal of consistency. He wants the same sweet, spicy, jammy, exceptionally smooth, faintly toasty, hedonistically delicious red wine every year. …It is off the charts on the Yummy scale. It is unique as a wine itself, for I have heard over and over again since the 2001 disappeared, “This is good, but it’s no Prisoner.”

The great thing is that you, dear reader, can pick up the telephone, call Dan at his shop (707-226-3560), and have him put together a mixed case of wines like “The Prisoner.” Whether he has any of this gem remaining I cannot predict, but I do know someone else in Napa who had six cases when I was visiting (three weeks ago). And this was my main excitement Friday night, to witness Greg Varner, owner of Excelsior Vintage, Andre Peters of Surdyks, and Mikael Thollander, of The Wine Doctor, gush about these remarkable wines.

The point is this: For every great wine you encounter on a retail shelf here in town, there are ten more just as good at perhaps half the price gathering dust in California. There truly is a glut of great wines available to us; we simply have to learn the ropes when it comes to acquiring them. Delectus is a label, for example, that I deeply want to expose around town. Its owner/winemaker, Gerhard, makes amazing wines (his “Argentum” was Mikael Thollander’s top pick, and it sells at the winery for $20 a bottle, less 20% if you are a “friend of Louie’s.” Pick up the phone and give Gerhard a call(707-255-1252).

Remember that every penny you spend on shipping, you save by not paying sales tax (nine percent here in Minnesota). I was concerned about shipping at first, until I saw the Styrofoam shipping containers Dan Dawson uses. He has never had a case of wine not reach its destination safely.

My deepest wish is to educate wine lovers and expose them to these “insider secrets,” so that they can fully enjoy the incredible quality that comes out of Napa Valley and other west coast wine regions —without spending a small fortune. Remember the May 6 tasting event. It will cost you $75, but in the end it could save you hundreds.

Louie the Wine Guy will next be offering a few of the above-mentioned gems at a benefit tasting for the Twin West Chamber of Commerce, Thursday April 29, at the Colonnade Building in Golden Valley. (952-540-0234 for reservations)

Also coming up: my “Introduction to the World of Wine” seminar series, with the focus on the first of three sessions being California, Oregon, & Washington. This seminar takes place Wednesday May 5, 6-9pm, at the Doubletree Park Place Hotel. ($40/$35 club members, includes light dinner. 763-476-0699 for reservations, which are required).

As for other newsworthy events about town, Haskell’s and Byerly’s & Lunds continue their big sales through the end of April. Most of the outlets have a variety of free tastings in conjunction with the sales. France 44, for example, offers customers a tasting each week, Saturdays from 2-5pm, with five to eight wines available. Call store for details: 612-925-3252). South Lyndale Liquors, one of my favorite shops, offers the Grapevine
Wine Club tasting series. Go to: http://www.southlyndaleliquors.com/grapevine_main.htm for details.