Are Grgich Hills wines gone?

[markeb]

13 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

If you can point me in the direction of $13/bottle I would be more than happy to pick up a couple of boxes.

 

Looks like Total Wine has it for around $19 here in VA, and Google (blast them) pulled up 375ml bottles when I was checking prices, and those prices "felt" about right so I didn't click on all of them. It's still sub $20, and that midrange price is hard to define. In today's market, I'd probably go $35-45, but that's a fuzzy market. And FWIW, my wife loves Whispering Angel, but she's always got it by the glass. The hotel bar had it in London this summer, for instance. She has a ton of other rose`s, but most of them are niche brands. And she probably likes those more...

 

If I were really adventuresome, or decided to be highly analytical (neither likely) I'd keep track of our beverage purchases on our Equinox cruise. The problem is that I enjoy a beer, whisk(e)y, or mixed drink periodically (along with diet coke, a long term weakness) and we're on an AI fare. I suspect if I go with Italian, Spanish, or Argentinian "other" reds, I'll be content. I'm confident I won't be content with California cabernet, merlot, or Pinot Noir by the glass. On this trip, we still have a LOT of OBC (not true in the future) so no big deal to buy a bottle. And looking in the app, several of the wines don't exist. Benziger doesn't have a Sonoma merlot in its current portfolio, for instance. Curious what's actually on the ship!

[zitsky]

@DaKahuna I would like to hear more about the Kendall Jackson Pinot Noir.  Light, medium, heavy?  I’ve had Wagner Pinot with steak but that’s rare and you could argue that maybe it’s the sign of a badly made Pinot.

 

Is this the Whispering Angel we’re talking about?

 

 

Edited November 4, 2023 by zitsky

[drakes2]

21 minutes ago, zitsky said:

@DaKahuna I would like to hear more about the Kendall Jackson Pinot Noir.  Light, medium, heavy?  I’ve had Wagner Pinot with steak but that’s rare and you could argue that maybe it’s the sign of a badly made Pinot.

 

Is this the Whispering Angel we’re talking about?

 

 

That is the Whispering Angel I bought here in Canada for about $30 which is about right with the FX rate. Didn't think worth the money so never purchased again. Many rose wines from Provence as good at better price points.  Both Elegance wines are good I believe they are medium bodied

 

[NMTraveller]

I just found Domaine Carneros on the menu at the sunset bar.  I would definitely drink a glass or two there.

 

There is a little bit of confusion with the menus as they list wine on the dining menu and then there is yet another menu that has more wines on the app.

Edited December 3, 2023 by NMTraveller

[zitsky]

24 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

I just found Domaine Carneros on the menu at the sunset bar.  I would definitely drink a glass or two there.

 

There is a little bit of confusion with the menus as they list wine on the dining menu and then there is yet another menu that has more wines on the app.

Are you on a cruise right now?  I’m 20 days away and cannot see bar menus yet.  I know the trick about picking another sailing.

 

Where is this “other” menu where wine is listed?  If Carneros is at Sunset Bat am I likely to find it at Cellar Masters or Passport Bar?  I will try another sailing.

 

Thanks.

[NMTraveller]

I am not on a cruise right now but will be soon.

 

For the dinner menu there is a Dinner tab.  It has wine but the wine selection on that tab is meh.  Then there is a Wine tab that has some of the premium wines.  It seems to me that it would be helpful and less confusing if they put the wine selections in one place vs two.

 

I do not have a Passport bar on my cruise.  The wines for the bars are listed under Dining | Bars & Lounges | Menu.  From what I have found is that some bars have a premium wine or two but they are not readily available at all bars.  I suspect that my favorite wine/champagne will be different at each venue.  If you do not see a menu change to a different day.

 

The casino bar seems to just have mid range wines.  So IMHO no reason to gamble or stop by there.

Edited December 3, 2023 by NMTraveller

[drakes2]

12 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

I am not on a cruise right now but will be soon.

 

For the dinner menu there is a Dinner tab.  It has wine but the wine selection on that tab is meh.  Then there is a Wine tab that has some of the premium wines.  It seems to me that it would be helpful and less confusing if they put the wine selections in one place vs two.

 

I do not have a Passport bar on my cruise.  The wines for the bars are listed under Dining | Bars & Lounges | Menu.  From what I have found is that some bars have a premium wine or two but they are not readily available at all bars.  I suspect that my favorite wine/champagne will be different at each venue.  If you do not see a menu change to a different day.

 

The casino bar seems to just have mid range wines.  So IMHO no reason to gamble or stop by there.

Do not bother with casino bar the wine list is terrible

[zitsky]

3 hours ago, drakes2 said:

Do not bother with casino bar the wine list is terrible

Thanks for the warning.  If they have Korbel I’ll learn to play poker.  😎

[drakes2]

3 minutes ago, zitsky said:

Thanks for the warning.  If they have Korbel I’ll learn to play poker.  😎

I did find a pretty good SV from Chile in the martini bar its called Tini. I had it quite often during HH as my Elite benefits

[81Zoomie]

Just off the Reflection.  So grateful they still have Cellar Masters. Opulence was available by the glass as was Freemark Abbey and Emmolo.  

Edited December 3, 2023 by 81Zoomie

[NMTraveller]

24 minutes ago, 81Zoomie said:

Just off the Reflection.  So grateful they still have Cellar Masters. Opulence was available by the glass as was Freemark Abbey and Emmolo.  

Thanks for that.  I was just going to start a post saying that the menu for my cruise is missing for Cellar Masters.

[NMTraveller]

On 11/4/2023 at 4:57 AM, zitsky said:

@DaKahuna I would like to hear more about the Kendall Jackson Pinot Noir.  Light, medium, heavy?  I’ve had Wagner Pinot with steak but that’s rare and you could argue that maybe it’s the sign of a badly made Pinot.

 

Is this the Whispering Angel we’re talking about?

 

 

Yes.  The price varies a bit by region...

[NMTraveller]

On 10/30/2023 at 9:48 PM, markeb said:

Paso Robles makes some great wines. Some of them are “hotter” in fruit and ABV than I’d like. But Daou and Justin are nice. 
 

Oh, and some of my favorite cabs these days are from Washington, not Napa…

Hmmm.  I heard you mention Justin and my previous experience was with their wine from Lodi.  I will have to try their Paso Robles version...

[markeb]

2 hours ago, NMTraveller said:

Hmmm.  I heard you mention Justin and my previous experience was with their wine from Lodi.  I will have to try their Paso Robles version...

 

Their "big boy" wine is Isosceles. It's a three grape (Cab Sav, Cab Franc, Merlot) blend. The ones I've had were very good. Paso Robles has been emerging as a premier destination for California Wines. We've never been, but it's apparently an amazing place to visit. Like I said, Paso can be pretty high ABV and pretty fruity. If you're into more of a French style, they may not appeal. But they are a great alternative to Napa in particular. I tend to find Sonoma a little more subtle (and you'll find some great Pinot Noir in Sonoma County, and Russian River in particular...).

 

And, in lieu of a cruise, we fly to SFO tomorrow and have 8 wineries scheduled in Napa from Tuesday to Friday. Who needs crappy wine on a cruise ship...

[zitsky]

8 hours ago, markeb said:

 

Their "big boy" wine is Isosceles. It's a three grape (Cab Sav, Cab Franc, Merlot) blend. The ones I've had were very good. Paso Robles has been emerging as a premier destination for California Wines. We've never been, but it's apparently an amazing place to visit. Like I said, Paso can be pretty high ABV and pretty fruity. If you're into more of a French style, they may not appeal. But they are a great alternative to Napa in particular. I tend to find Sonoma a little more subtle (and you'll find some great Pinot Noir in Sonoma County, and Russian River in particular...).

 

And, in lieu of a cruise, we fly to SFO tomorrow and have 8 wineries scheduled in Napa from Tuesday to Friday. Who needs crappy wine on a cruise ship...

Yes PR can be pretty good.  Tablas Creek is popular and I like Opolo.  Many others.  We lived near San Jose and have been visiting PR since 1995.

[NMTraveller]

8 hours ago, markeb said:

And, in lieu of a cruise, we fly to SFO tomorrow and have 8 wineries scheduled in Napa from Tuesday to Friday. Who needs crappy wine on a cruise ship...

We are doing the same in July.

[scrapcreator]

10 hours ago, markeb said:

 

And, in lieu of a cruise, we fly to SFO tomorrow and have 8 wineries scheduled in Napa from Tuesday to Friday. Who needs crappy wine on a cruise ship...

Would you and @NMTraveller be willing to share the wineries you are visiting? Family is gathering in March for a 90th birthday celebration and they want to visit some of the wineries near Napa while in town. The last time I visited wineries in Napa or Sonoma was more than 30 years ago. Thank you.

[markeb]

2 hours ago, zitsky said:

Yes PR can be pretty good.  Tablas Creek is popular and I like Opolo.  Many others.  We lived near San Jose and have been visiting PR since 1995.

 

I've had Opolo. If memory serves we had someone from the winery here for a tasting event a few years ago. Very nice wines.

[markeb]

1 minute ago, scrapcreator said:

Would you and @NMTraveller be willing to share the wineries you are visiting? Family is gathering in March for a 90th birthday celebration and they want to visit some of the wineries near Napa while in town. The last time I visited wineries in Napa or Sonoma was more than 30 years ago. Thank you.

 

Sure. These were all insider suggestions but none of these are insider tastings; they're all available to the public. None are free...

 

Porter

Crawford

Paloma Vineyards (they're on Spring Mountain and apparently a beautiful location; I'll find out Wednesday!)

Venge/Trespass (Trespass tastes at Venge)

V. Sattui (Was always a fun winery to visit when we lived in the are. They only do direct sales and some restaurants so you have to buy at the winery or order from the winery.)

Hendry

 

Venge (pronounced Ven gay) is the furthest from Napa in Calistoga. Porter and Crawford are right outside Napa.

 

You'll generally need to book ahead of time, and they all have limits on numbers for standard tastings. Most will do a group, but I suspect you're seriously paying for that privilege. 

 

If the thread's still up when I get back and Anne humors us, I'll update how they were. It's a stretch on "cruise related"!

[zitsky]

17 minutes ago, markeb said:

 

I've had Opolo. If memory serves we had someone from the winery here for a tasting event a few years ago. Very nice wines.

I’m in trouble with my husband because I have an unopened case of Opolo and I still have 4 bottles red/white in the wine fridge.  I stopped the wine club for that reason.

[markeb]

2 minutes ago, zitsky said:

I’m in trouble with my husband because I have an unopened case of Opolo and I still have 4 bottles red/white in the wine fridge.  I stopped the wine club for that reason.

 

You don't want to see my Cellar Tracker...

 

😱

[zitsky]

2 hours ago, markeb said:

 

You don't want to see my Cellar Tracker...

 

😱

So I imagine you have much more than me but what’s in it?  Husband wants another wine fridge in the kitchen so I get the wine out of the guest room that is used once a year.  I said I don’t want another noisy fridge.

 

(He also wants to swap the guest room on first floor with the TV room on the second floor.  I don’t see that happening, unless I leave the house for a few hours.)

[lovecruzin]

7 hours ago, markeb said:

 

Sure. These were all insider suggestions but none of these are insider tastings; they're all available to the public. None are free...

 

Porter

Crawford

Paloma Vineyards (they're on Spring Mountain and apparently a beautiful location; I'll find out Wednesday!)

Venge/Trespass (Trespass tastes at Venge)

V. Sattui (Was always a fun winery to visit when we lived in the are. They only do direct sales and some restaurants so you have to buy at the winery or order from the winery.)

Hendry

 

Venge (pronounced Ven gay) is the furthest from Napa in Calistoga. Porter and Crawford are right outside Napa.

 

You'll generally need to book ahead of time, and they all have limits on numbers for standard tastings. Most will do a group, but I suspect you're seriously paying for that privilege. 

 

If the thread's still up when I get back and Anne humors us, I'll update how they were. It's a stretch on "cruise related"!

We just tasted at Venge last week. Beautiful views, Kirk is a talented winemaker. 

[markeb]

2 minutes ago, lovecruzin said:

We just tasted at Venge last week. Beautiful views, Kirk is a talented winemaker. 

Looking forward to it. Donny is meeting us there to taste Trespass as well. That’s going to be a nice day. Uber all the way 😀. 

[lovecruzin]

8 hours ago, scrapcreator said:

Would you and @NMTraveller be willing to share the wineries you are visiting? Family is gathering in March for a 90th birthday celebration and they want to visit some of the wineries near Napa while in town. The last time I visited wineries in Napa or Sonoma was more than 30 years ago. Thank you.

If you’re looking for a couple near downtown Napa, WALT does a great Pinot Noir, Robert Craig is also very good.

We go to Napa 3-4 times a year, happy to offer any feedback!