Richard Neidich wrote:
> Just returned from 10 days in wine country. This year instead of revisiting
> many of the same ole corporate wineries like Silver Oak, Caymus we went to
> places we had never done before and it was incredible.
>
> Reverie on Diamond Mountain is a real gem. Incredible red wines.

I love the A.S. Kiken red blend and it's sort of affordable at $30.

> El Molino is a very small producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Total
> 1800 cases of incredible wines. They date back to the 1800's and during
> prohibition operated as a ghost winery. What I found amazing is that their
> fruit is from Rutherford and that is Cabernet/Merlot country. Wines are
> very ageable and we tried a 20 year old Chard that was incredible.

I was fortunate enough to attend a party at friend's house last year
at which we tasted a number of older Pinot Noirs; while the details
escape me, the consensus favorite was an early 90s El Molino, which
was good since Reg Oliver (of El Molino) was at the party. It is
quite unfortunate that Reg recently passed away but I certainly hope
El Mo continues on with the amazing contrarian wines.

Dana