Amusing Musings From the Wine Road

A Toast to Rocco Mediate!

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008
I'm a lousy golfer.  Sure, I enjoy my bi-annual tour of the links.  But for me the game serves two purposes - it's either an excuse to enjoy time with friends, or a way to induce a good nap.  The announcers voices and the pace of the game are amazingly somnambulous.

As an untalented hack, I'm in awe of Tiger Woods, one of the most naturally gifted, driven men or women to ever play the game.  So sure, it's nice to see him win the "Father's Day" US Open at Torrey Pines, a course where I once shot a 79.  Though I must also tell you I shot much better on the back nine.

But I had to change allegiances yesterday.  I was rooting for the underdog, Rocco Mediate, once I read the accounts of Sunday's tie with Tiger Woods.  He is a 45-year old professional golfer who has never won a major tournament.  He has been described as a "Palooka Golfer" and a "Journeyman golfer", but no derogatory description could mask his selfless love of the game that could be seen during his interviews.

"I'm just thrilled to be here" he said grinning from under his golf cap full of U.S. Open souvenir pins - "I just want to see what I've got when playing against Tiger.  I already know what he's got.  What an amazing opportunity"... and such as that.  So its to Rocco's amazing spirit that l ask you to lift your glass with me, in a toast to all "Palookas" and "Journeymen" regardless of their field.  May they rise to their own challenge, whatever it may be, with the class of a Rocco Mediate.

Toasting Rocco Mediate
I am breaking out some of my best stuff for this toast - three of my favorite Central Coast Pinot Noirs.  You may not automatically reach for Pinot when you're ready to toast.  To each his/her own.  Just try these special wines and I think you'll see why I consider them among the best toast-worthy wines California has to offer.

1. Labyrinth 2005 Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido Vineyard, $31.00 - Produced in an elegant, food friendly style, this wine has the structure to age and the fruit to last the duration.  A journeyman wine that will surprise many in a sudden-death taste-off on the 19th hole.
2. Au Bon Climat, 2005 Pinot Noir, "Knox Alexander", $45 - A wine for hedonistic pinot lovers, who enjoy rich with fruit and with a silky finish that lasts through tomorrow.  An homage to the Winemaker's son, Knox, this is an assemblage of the best from the ABC vineyards within Bien Nacido - what better wine to feature at the end of a Father's Day tournament?!
3. Arcadian Winery, 2005 Pinot Noir, Fiddlestix Vineyard, $55.00 - I am so in love with this wine, I wish I could drink it everyday.  But as a Journeyman wine merchant, it is still a special treat, even with my discount.  A wine to enjoy today or for many years to come.  This is the current release from Winegrower Joe Davis, whose meticulous approach to every step of making wine is exemplified in his extended barrel and bottle aging prior to release.

Cheers!
Dave the Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com or
Dave@TastesOfTheValleys.com

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Tom Seaver Pitching Wine? Hope it doesn't go "Sideways"

Tuesday, June 10, 2008
In 1969 I was a young Cubs fan.  Games were broadcast from Wrigley Field on Channel 9 with memorable sponsors such as Hamms Beer, Harris Bank & Trust, Wrigley's (of course) and a handful of other Chicago institutions.  When I couldn't watch the game, Jack Brickhouse provided the soothing voice I listened to for the hours in which the game unfolded.  Baseball was my religion and Wrigley Field was my temple.

I watched a lot of games that year, and felt as if the intensity of my fandom could help my Cubbies cinch the National League pennant.  They would win and I'd walk on air for an hour, they would lose and I was no fun to be around.  Their rise seemed fated - they had a comfortable, multi-game lead going into the month of August.  Ohh, sure there was some young guy named Tom Seaver who was making news with the New York Mets, but they were in last place going into August, and I'd scratched them off the list of possible threats to my Cubbies.  Fans of the game know the rest - the Cubbies slipped, Seaver didn't, and the "Miracle Mets" are a part of baseball history.

Now Tom Seaver is making history again.  At the ripe age of 63 he's pitching the first release of his own wine label using grapes from his own vineyard located in a prestigious sub-Napa appelation.  I'm pleased to see him getting into wine, but I don't plan to carry it in my shop.  It's not because of his $65 price tag.  And it's not because it's from Napa and I focus on wines of the exciting Central Coast.  It's because, as any self-respecting sports fan knows, you never let go of a good grudge.

My Grudge Wines
Want good Bordeaux blends without the price of a Napa Cab?  Check these out.  Paso Robles has always been known for it's Bordeaux wines, and now the Happy Canyon AVA is giving it a run for its money as well.  Try these great producers and let me know what you think:

1. Buttonwood Farm, 2000 Trevin, Bordeaux Blend, $30.  The Bordeaux vines in Eastern Santa Ynez Valley grow in an area typified by warm days and cool nights.  This wine is the premium wine from Buttonwood, and with 8 years of bottle age is ready to drink tonight!  Forget about cellaring, we've done it for you.


2. Happy Canyon, 2003 Piocho (Bordeaux Blend), $38.  Happy Canyon is the newest area to apply for AVA status in Santa Barbara County.  It is the farthest East, so the cooling Pacific breeze that makes most of the County so good for Pinot and Chardonnay, and so inappropriate for Bordeaux varietals, is thorougly warmed by the time it gets to Happy Canyon.  Though not cheap, this is a good value in Bordeaux blends!  Doug Margerum, winemaker.


3. Cass Winery, 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles), $42.  A blend with 10% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the miserly 750 cases of this wine produced by Steve Cass will sell through quickly.  Look for classic essence of Cabernet, with ripe berry, tobacco, pencil shavings and cigar box, but made more complex by its blending partners that bring a bigger nose and softer mouthfeel.  90 points, Wine Enthusiast


4. Barrack 2005 "Brand" Bordeaux Blend, $42.  Deeply-colored blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot taking the dominant role. Offers deep scents of plums, cassis, licorice, dark earth, toasty oak, and cedar forest. The tannins the wine will improve with four to five years of bottle age though you will never regret opening a bottle.  While not quite as dark and concentrated as the 2004, the 2005 offers an elegant expression of Merlot. The wine has a very fine nose with hints of blackberry, plum, oak wood, and currants. On the palate it is very diverse from front to back jammy fruit, hints of espresso, herbs, and tobacco. Only 200 cases produced!

Cheers!
Dave the Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com or
Dave@TastesOfTheValleys.com

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Robert Mondavi, R.I.P.

Friday May 16th, 2008
Please join me in a moment's reflection on the life of Robert Mondavi, who died peacefully this morning at his family home.  He was 94.

Though I don't carry wines from any of the companies he fathered, I believe everyone in the industry - whether grower, producer, retailer or wine fan - owes Robert Mondavi a debt of gratitude.  Long a supporter of California wines, Mondavi spent much of his career inveigling his fellow winemakers to cooperatively promote wine as healthful food product for everyday consumption with meals.

Mondavi was already 52 years old when he forced a nasty split with his family winery, Charles Krug (owned by C.K. Mondavi).  The resulting ill will lasted well into late adulthood for both Robert and his Brother Peter, who took the helm at C. Krug. 

Robert and Peter had worked together for 22 years before the 1965 rift, which resulted in the founding of Mondavi winery a year later, notably marked by the innovated and showy winery facility (well, for the time anyway, now it seems quietly tasteful in comparison to the architectural monstrosities in the neighborhood).  Mondavi wanted a facility that typified California architecture, so he hired noted architect Cliff May ("Father of the California Ranch House").  It was the first big new winery built since prohibition, and announced to the world that California wines were entering the world stage.

Over the next 30+ years, Mondavi built a wine empire, resulting in the 6th largest winery in the U.S. at the time of its 2004 sale.  Over these years, Mondavi advocated the adoption of quality European winemaking techniques, including the use of French oak barrels, stainless-steel fermentation tanks and temperature-controlled fermentation to preserve delicate aromas.

Here's to you, Robert.
Dave the Wine Merchant

Wine & Music, the Interplay. Does Music Change What We Taste? S.F. Wine Class at Reaves Gallery

May 5, 2008
I first became interested in how music affects one's approach to wine when I read a 1997 article in Nature Magazine, nicely summarized here.  It described how wine purchases are modified by the music being played at the time of purchase.  Reportedly, at the wine shop being studied, German wines made up 73% of sales on the days German music was played while French wines accounted for 77% of sales on the days French music was played.  Helpful retailer tip - running the needle through the groves of your old Edit Piaf albums will help unload those lingering cases of obscure Madiran.

Ten years later, I'm introduced to the likes of Clark Smith, the owner of Vinovation and industry rabble rouser.  Clark tends to enjoy creating a wake in still ponds.  And he is a tireless promoter of a number of ideas, including the discovery that music can affect our sense of taste and smell.  As reported in my previous posting, Smith's theory is that romantic music (such as Mozart) enhances the taste of Pinot, while brooding, angry music (i.e., Punk Rock) enhances Cabernet Sauvignon.

Skeptical?  Let's Test It!
At last month's wine class at the Reaves Gallery, attendees voted on the content of this month's class.  They enthusiastically chose to participate in this test.  Participants will be tasting six wines paired with different music to see whether the music makes us like a wine more or less than when tasted alone.

This experience is a must for anyone who has ever wondered what music to play during their dinner party, in their wine shop, or at their tasting bar.  Is it possible to enjoy a certain wine more when you hear a certain type of music? Come join us and see what you think!

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When: May 20th, 6:30 - 8:00

Where: Reaves Gallery, 235 Gough St. (Hayes Valley) San Franciso

Cost: $49 (must be 21)

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Cheers!
Dave the Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com.

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Coming to a gas station near you!

Friday, April 25th 2008
This morning's news carried a story about professional truck drivers descending on our nation's capital to protest the high cost of gas.  I support their worthy desire for lower fuel prices, though suspect driving around "W's" colorless residence might not be the most effective means to this end.  I'm just thankful my Prius averages 45 MPG on my wine-soaked travels.

Frequent drivers are not alone in their concern over finances.  So this seems a good time to offer a suggestion for a world where jobs are less secure and our savings rate is less than 1% of income - eat out less often!  Not only will you discover more money in your checking account at the end of the month, you'll likely eat more healthy foods and rediscover the pleasant experience of conversing with friends and family before, during and after meal preparation.  You might even discover some great new wines.

To make home entertainment easier for those short on time, our seasonal recipes provide a complete meal (including wine) with a convenient shopping list of ingredients.  And best of all, the host/hostess can be assured of a perfect food and wine pairing, as each recipe compliments one of our club wines.  These recipes and wine pairings are being compiled into a cookbook for release later this summer.  I'll notify you via email once it's available.

But whether you use our recipes and wines or other recent discoveries, replacing one restaurant meal a week with a home-cooked meal can result in savings of up to several hundred dollars a month.  And that's just good cents.

Sorry, couldn't resist.  Probably should have.

BBQ Chicken Sandwich & Toucan '06 Cuvee
Here's a recipe and wine pairing to launch your new-found frugality.  It features the popular Toucan Wine 2006 Cuvee ($24.95), a most pleasant and intriguing blend of Estate Zinfandel (55%), Old Vine Carignane (from the 120 year-old Evanghelo Vineyard - 36%) and Estate Petite Sirah (9%).  This wine begins with promises of fragrant violets that also haunt the finish in a most enchanting and pleasant way.  A moderate 13.9% alcohol makes it easy to drink without punishing the head or the liver.  But watch out, you'll want a case of this wine, I'm betting, which I would argue is frugal because of the 10% case discount offered and because it means you're committed to at least 12 more meals at home.

Ingredients

• 8 slices good, dark bread (but not heavy rye) or Kaiser rolls, lightly toasted over grill
• Black Cherry BBQ sauce - to your favorite brand simply add 1 can bing cherries & 1/4 cup red wine – really good, and really fast!
• 2 large boneless chicken breasts (1 for every 2 sandwiches), pounded until evenly thick, trimmed to fit bread.
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
• 1 cup shredded cabbage
• Juice of 1/4 lemon
• finely sliced red onion, tossed with fresh lemon juice (from above)
• 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
• 8 lettuce leaves (optional)

Procedure
Prepare outdoor grill for indirect cooking, or preheat broiler. Oil grill and immediately cook chicken over high heat for one minute per side, then move to cooler part of grill (or reduce oven from “Broil” to 350 degrees) for another 7 – 9 minutes, turning 2-3 more times, applying liberal amounts of BBQ sauce in the last 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat, add more sauce, and let rest for five minutes. 

Meanwhile, combine mayonnaise and mustard then stir in cabbage and onion until well blended. Place a chicken breast on bottom half of each roll; spread Mayo/Cabbage/onion mixture on top and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. Cover with lettuce (optional) and top half of roll.

Makes 4 sandwiches.  Serve with Toucan '06 Cuvee!

Cheers!
Dave Chambers, Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com.

Today's Quote
"Thrift means you should always have the best you can possibly afford, when the thing has any reference to your physical and mental health."
- Orison Swett Marden (1850-1924).  Physician & Founder of 'Success Magazine'

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"Will Date For Food"

This week's wine class was the last event to be held at the Reaves Gallery on Market Street.  The gallery is relocating to Gough Street, in the hip-and-booming Hayes Valley.  It is a great location, complete with the lack of parking which seems to be a badge of honor among true hot spots.  I'm looking forward to holding next month's class in the new location.

I share a similar aesthetic with gallery owner Sharon Reaves.  We both feature products from boutique producers, we personally select each item, we are doing what we love, and we're figuring out a way to pay the bills as we go.  When asked about the rent on her new space, it was Sharon who said "Who needs to eat?  I can always date for food!"  which we thought would make an interesting sign to put in the gallery window.  Printed in crayon, of course, on a flap torn from a corrugated box.

Class Favorites
The guests began with some exercises to help focus our sense of taste and smell - sensory stretching exercises of a sort - then launched into a blind tasting exercise.  The objective of this friendly competition was to identify each wine's grape varietal by correctly matching the wine with its printed description.  The six wines we tasted:

1. Beckmen Vineyards, 2006 Sauvignon Blanc.  $16

2. Costa de Oro, 2005 Estate Chardonnay, $21

3. Barham-Mendolsohn, 2004 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, $42

4. Benjamin Silver Wines, 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, Casa Blanca Vineyard, $24

5. Andrew Murray, 2005 Grenache, $29 (2006 available here)

6. Barrel 27, 2005 Syrah "Head Honcho", $35

(Shop for these and other wines here)

Though there were a few "gimmies" in the line-up, for the most part these wines were not easily identified - the pinot showing more barnyard than most domestics, the aged Cabernet expressing unique characteristics of its origin, and the Grenache being almost as big as a light Syrah.  The class did quite well, with four guests tying for first place after reversing just two wines.  Only one guest mis-identified every wine.  He received a consolation prize of the John Cleese educational wine video, after which he reported having had great fun and promised to return next month.

Cheers!
Dave Chambers, Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com.

Today's Quote
"Real joy comes not from ease, or riches, or the praise of others, but from doing something worthwhile"
Wilfred Grenfell (1865-1940)

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Toasting Ella

Friday, April 25th, 2008
I've been a jazz fan since my youth, an appreciation fed by my Uncle Allen, a jazz drummer.  Any jazz fan knows and loves "The First Lady of Song", Ella Fitzgerald (website).  On Friday, April 25th, I hope you'll join me in celebrating what would have been her 91st birthday.

Known simply as "Ella", I hesitate to compare her to today's artists who enjoy first-name only recognition - Madonna, Cher, Britney... - as the comparisons seem unfair to them.  She was among the first, and most worthy of recognition on the 25th. 

So, what wine is best for toasting this warm and talented woman, the recording artist who won 13 Grammies and sold more than 40 million albums?  Such toasts call for something special, to be sure.  Something like this wine.

Ovene Winery, 2004 Pinot Noir, Solomon Hills Vineyard.  $40  - This is classic pinot from the cool Santa Maria Valley. The nose is dominated by fragrant dark cherries, subtle spice, and inviting oak.  A nice food wine with good acidic structure and ripe fruit with well-balanced alcohol and tannins.  Medium-bodied.  Only 120 cases produced!

The prestigious Solomon Hills Vineyard is found about 20 minutes off the beaten path of Highway 101, neighbored by a laundry list of other famous vineyards that increase the value of your favorite central coast wines bearing their names.  Solomon Hills only sells fruit to select producers, and requires that the vineyard name be included on the label - something that guarantees the quality of the product in the marketplace.

The Winemaker
I feel a certain kinship for people who abandon lucrative careers to pursue their passion.  People such as Jeff and Genni White at Ovene Winery.  Although Jeff began his career as a wine salesman, it wasn't until the mid 80's that he began making wine at home.  His home production expanded each year until the late 1990's, when he finally outgrew his garage and moved into his first leased space.

The Whites now lease space in an even larger facility where they get to share winemaking knowledge and experiences with the likes of Hitching Post Wines, Red Car, Core Wines, Lane Tanner, Labyrinth, Kunin, Bonaccorsi Wine Company, and many other Central Coast luminaries!

"Here's To You Ella!"
Dave Chambers, Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com.

Today's Quote
"I've never worried about getting older, he said, I've been too busy worrying about getting caught"
Artist & Storyteller Brian Andreas

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Robert Parker Retires, Names Successor. Superstar Winemakers Lose Free Run Competition.

April 1, 2008 - Robert Parker Retires.  Announces Surprise Successor!
Well, we all wondered when it would happen.  And we've wondered what the wine world will be like after it does - after The Emperor retires.  Today we get to find out. 

In a short press conference this morning, Robert Parker, the most powerful critic in the history of wine, announced his plans to retire "While I'm still young enough to enjoy it."  People have wondered how The Emperor  could ever cede his throne, particularly after the stunning departure of Pierre Rovani, his heir apparent, in 2006. 

"I've found my successor" Parker announced. "His name is Hans Sheppard, and he may be a surprise to many.  But then, whoever thought a fledgling attorney from Smallsville Maryland would become the most powerful figure in wine?" he asked, presumably rhetorically.  Parker's reassurance seemed to fall on deaf ears, as the skeptical wine paparazzi who gathered for the announcement were visibly disturbed by Sheppard's appearance.  For his part, Sheppard never made a sound as he sat obediently at Parker's side, breathing through his mouth.

When asked how he found his successor, Parker responded "I was reading about some fake jewelry intercepted by a special police officer working in U.S. Customs.  What tipped him off to the fake was the subtle scent of the chemicals used to make the fake jewels.  This barely detectable nuance of scent is much like the subtle aromas a world-class wine critic detects, so it seemed wise and logical to re-purpose this talent into a safer and more useful field."

"Then I read that the cartel responsible for the fakes had issued a death warrant, forcing this gifted officer into early retirement.  I had to move quickly before Shanken thought of this, and started up his well-known recruiting machine.  So I contacted the authorities and succeeded in recruiting Sheppard as my protege - I've been working with him to hone his wine evaluation skills ever since.  At first, Sheppard couldn't resist the temptation to lap up every drop of wine I put before him, but he's a quick study and I found him easy to train.  He was a natural talent, and quickly became as discriminating as I am."

When asked about his own future plans, Parker said "I have been called to Hollywood.  Seems somebody thinks there's room on the silver screen for yet one more wine movie, and this one's about me.  Compared to the slings and arrows I have suffered, Barrack Obama has had it easy, so I'm going out there to make sure my portrayal is fair and balanced."

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April 1, 2008 - Young Winemakers Embarrassed At First "Free Run" Competition
In other news, two young winemaking superstars - Dave Corey and Doug Timewell - were recently surprised after being invited to participate in what they thought was just another wine tasting contest.  "We assumed this competition was to see who could make the best wine from Free Run juice" said Dave Corey, owner and Winemaker at Core Wines, as he popped some Advil to ease his bruised and aching body.  "We showed up with a case of hand-labeled wine we'd bottled just in time for the competition."

"It turned out we'd badly misunderstood the invitation" Timewell said, in what might just be the understatement of the year.  "Our competitors showed up with no juice of their own, so we assumed we'd won by forfeit.  When we began toasting each other, they eyed us rather curiously, then took off running across, over, under, around and through the city.  We did our best to keep up, but only managed to embarrass ourselves (embarrassing video), until the post-event party, at which our version of Free Run was deemed 'Righteous Juice!'  Timewell said, satisfied.

"Sadly, the other team couldn't drink much" Corey said, who appeared as if he may have enjoyed his share of the leftovers, "they had an early wake-up call for their cool music video the next day.  We're just hoping for a product placement!"

Cheers!

Dave the Wine Merchant

Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com

Today's Quote
"Mix a little foolishness with your prudence: It's good to be silly at the right moment."  Horace (65 B.C. - 8 B.C.)

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Beer Ads Rock! Wine ads whimper?

I think it's time I came clean and admitted to you that I am, at heart, a marketing geek.  I used to record the Superbowl so I could catalog the commercials in my collection, and if THAT doesn't define "marketing geek" I don't know what does. 

So it is with great frustration that I watch the beer industry (dominated by a handful of major brands and an ever-shrinking number of micro brands) consistently come out with great ads, while the wine industry founders with minuscule ad budgets.  The answer, of course, is that there are over 5,000 wineries, and only the top 100 or so have significant ad budgets.  The other 4,900 wineries do the best with what they have, but most wine ads are as forgettable as a Lite beer.

If wineries could pool together to create ads as memorable as this one, it could go a long way toward promoting moderate wine consumption as a healthy part of daily life.  But stronger advocates than I have failed at convincing producers of this wisdom.

Have another favorite wine or beer ad?  Post the link in a comment or send it to me in an email and I'll post it if I can find it on YouTube, then we can all vote for our favorite.

Cheers!
Dave the Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com
www.SidewaysWineClub.com

P.S. slmost better than the actual ad is the five minut "Making Of" video.  Wathc it here.

Mark Your Calendars for the 2008 Wine Tasting Championships!

The 26th Annual California Wine Tasting Championships
Greenwood Ridge Winery, Anderson Valley, CA
Sat July 26th & Sun July 27th
Sign Up Here!
$45 for Single Competitor, $80 for team of two

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Thursday, March 6th, 2008
Though the weekend of July 26th and 27th may seem a long ways off, it will arrive before we know it.  And when the sun rises on those fateful days, you'll count yourself lucky if you decided to join me at Greenwood Ridge winery, high in the hills of Anderson Valley for the annual wine tasting competition.

Novices, amateurs and professionals compete in three different waves, so no matter what your expertise, you're assured of a good time while "competing" with your peers.  Each class offers two rounds of competition, those making it through the first round moving on to a second, more challenging round.  The winners of each group then compete in the final round, held in front of the seated crowd - the "American Idol" of the wine industry.

Bring a big hat, a blanket, a picnic and lots of sunscreen then wander from the music deck to the food tent to the ample lawns or vineyard of this scenic winery.

Recommended Strategy
There are those who feel it wise to keep their palate unfettered by alcohol between rounds of competition.  Then there are those who just as strongly advocate for the opposite strategy - consuming ample quantities between rounds.  I've seen victors emerge from both approaches.  My approach is to take the abstention lane, as I was once offered a most welcome, thirst-qunching beer between rounds only to blow it in the second round.  Given that I'm almost as superstitious as your average baseball player, I now swear off the intra-round imbibing. 

But last year's winner, the affable Donovan Weir of Southern Wine & Spirits (see photo, and YES, Donny is the one on the bottom) took the opposite tack.  Maybe Donny won because he was well relaxed by his mid-round tipples.  But I must say he gave an impressive performance that day, identifying not only the varietal, region and vintage, but THE PRODUCER on three of the five wines in the championship round.  Good night, turn out the lights, this round is over!

I'd also be remiss were I not to mention consultant Mark Bowery, responsible for the wine list at the Albion River Inn, winner of several "Wine Spectator's Best" awards.  I was humbled while competing at his table, and made a note to sit within eye shot of his tasting notes this year ;-)

Register Today!
This is a nice, relaxing family event, with outdoor music, olive oil tastings, chocolate tastings, vineyard tours, and lots of open grassland.  One year, a couple who first met at this event years ago, and have attended every year since, decided to get married between rounds of the competition.  Even if your summer calendar is already full - find a way to go!

Email Me at dave@SidewaysWineClub.com if you'd like me to send you an application.  Everyone is welcome, and you'll find it difficult to locate a better use for $45 or $80, even in these economic times!

See you there?!
Dave Chambers, Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com
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