In reply to:

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What were you guys having with those wines, chess?

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That night it was a big pot luck with a theme for "wild game".
As such, we had various methodologies of cooked caribou (roast), moose (steaks), salmon (whole) and bison (ribs).
Other dishes included some wild rice casserole, wild berry desserts, etc.
It was quite a spread.
Some of the wines were, as one put it so elegantly, "the bomb" with the moose steaks and caribou roast. The ribs were a bit tougher to pair but personally i liked the Don Melchor with those.

The notes i had for the Melchor were pretty intense. I actualy thought i was drinking the pinot noir when i first tasted it (did all the tastings blind of course).

Wow, not much of that type of fare in Calif. sounds good though.

wow that's beautiful Chess, how did you do the stone work?

Very nice Chess. I plan to build a small cellar myself. – After the HT. Won’t be a walk in though…..not enough room.

Funny you mention Kim Crawford. Their merlot is what started me on this wine journey. I really like their Chard – and I don’t much care for whites.

Hurry up with the rest of the pics, will ya?

The stonework is actually cultured stone.
Prairie Stone
Anyone can put it up just like laying tile on a back splash. We had a contractor do all of the basement work though. I did some of the finishing material, staining, urethane, the door clavos, paint touch ups, etc.
The basement design was in part done by our interior designer (wall structures and layout ideas) while the decor and colours were all my wife and I.

I'll have the rest of the basement pics up soon. I'll throw up one more of the cellar tonight.

If you ever have another Kim Crawford, make it the Sav blanc. In fact, have ANY good New Zealand Sav blanc and let the tastebuds party!
Unlike any sav blanc from any other country i've tried yet to date.

I had a Portugese white varietal called alvarinho from Trader Joes a couple years ago - it, too, was unique. The nose was pure ocean, never smelled a wine like it - tasted of green fruit and grass, if I remember correctly.

Useless info here, but I received my wine club shipment from a local vintner and it included a white blend that is "exclusively bottled for members only."
Underwhelmed, I cracked it open tonight with some BBQ chicken (lemon pepper, herb and garlic rub under the skin ) and mushroom risotto. Oooh is it good!

Bright concentrated fruit, silky mouthfeel, a little vanilla and butter, a little sweetness in there somewhere, and a clean, clean dry, but lush finish. The old lady's assessment was, "It's clean." 30% viognier, 25% sauv blanc, 25% chard, 10% cortese, 10% riesling.

Here's a link if you'd like a crack at getting them to sell some:

http://www.mountpalomar.com/

Are there any chard fans on the boards? Ian and I love what I'll term 'big fat chardonnays' and alas, I think I have rounded up the absolute last 2003 Chateau Ste. Michelle Chards that were imported into Ontario. The '04 is pretty mediocre, and there's nothing worse than that pause during a great dinner party where you try to decide if your guests are worthy of your last bottle of your favourite wine . . .

At any rate, I went to the liquor store and bought every bottle west of Ontario I could find, hoping to find another new world BFC we liked as much, and the closest we've come is a Beringer Stone Cellar - but if anyone out there can steer me right I would be most appreciative! Especially if we can get it in this fair province!!!!

Hi Amie--

My wife in particular likes BFCs! I have no idea if it's available up your way but Rombauer Chardonnays are huge. It used to be very affordable, but has snuck up in price over the last several years.

One that can still be found <$20 (US!) that I adore is Lambert Bridge Chardonnay. This Sonoma county BFC reminds me of liquid Creme Brulee. Truly outstanding.

In fact, Lambert Bridge is one of my favorite wineries, period. They make a superb Merlot that just barely qualifies as a Merlot. It is blended with 3 other varietals. The other two wines they make are a Zinfadel and a Sauvignon/Fume Blanc.

Hope you can find any of these!

Regards,
Rich