posted 10-19-2012 04:02 AM            

Chris at Black Sears is very accommodating. He went out of his way to set up our picnic. I know his fame is his Zin, but the Cab was tasting really well this time. If at all possible, make the trek to O'Shaughnessy . . . the Cabs are worth the trip.

I would be surprised if we didn't come home with 6 to 7 cases following us. Ouch, when the bills come. However, I am also building up airline points for our next trip.

Have a great trip in November and be sure to send us a report, especially on Robert Craig, we have never been there.

posted 10-18-2012 08:25 AM            

I certainly agree, four days is quite enough for one trip. BUT, and that is a BIG BUT, if you are going to spend that much for transportation (especially for us stuck on Delta going through Atlanta) you might just as well spend a few more days, BUT then again a few more days results in a few more cases so you are really on a merry go round.

-Hawkeye

posted 10-18-2012 07:09 AM            

Our first appointment was at O'Shaughnessy Winery which would be a showplace without the wine. Betty O'Shaughnessy is the owner and is from the Corning Glass Co. family. She even has her own Lear Jet. They make two wines, a Howell Mountain Cab that was rated a 94 and a Mt. Veeder Cab that was rated 95 by Robert Parker's group. We are a members of their wine club so we will receive 3 bottles of each of the 2009 vintage in our shipment next month. I like this wine club because you only get 3 bottles each of two Cabs and only once each year. They do not overwhelm you with things that you don't like. These Cabs were tasting outstanding. I know there have been some of you who have tried to visit or who visited and they were out of one or both, so join their club . . . you won't be sorry.

The next stop was at Black Sears where we were to eat our picnic lunch. Chris Jambois, vineyard manager and married to the daughter of the owners had set us up at the top of their vineyard for our lunch. He poured his different wines for us to eat with our lunch. We came away with 3 bottles of the 2009 Black Sears Cab which is a very nice Cab considering this is a Zin house, plus 3 bottles of their 2010 Black Sears Zinfandel. Wine and Spirit magazine just named the BS Zin as the best Zin of the year. The second best also came from the BS Vineyard by another winery who purchases grapes from them. A very pleasant visit with Chris and we were able to meet his wife, Ashley. Thomas Rivers Brown is their winemaker.

The first afternoon stop was at a new winery for us, Spence ou on HM. This is the type of winery I "dig out" and like a lot . . . a one Cab family run business. We purchased the 2007 and 2008 HM Cab after sitting on their porch overlooking their landscaping and swimming pool. There were also 2 9 week old lab puppies playing in their yard . . . what else could you ask for?

Our last stop of the day (4th again) was at Ladera, one of my favorite Cab houses. Their wines were tasting especially well today and because of the nice weather, we were able to taste outside. We purchased some of their 07 HM Cab and it was a delight.

Again, I will say that if you are a Cab fan, you need to make a trip up Howell Mountain. There are more wineries up there than we visited, so you do have a great choice.