Some wines cause a different reaction then others. This is why our tasting this Friday is so important. When we are not used to certain varietals or blends, when you try a well made wine it will cause a different reaction. For the most part, if someone served you blind a glass of Pinot Noir or Port there is a good chance that you will be able to guess at least that because you know what these are suppose to taste like. But what happens if you were served blind a glass of wine that made you say, “My gosh, that is good…what is this?” Then you say to yourself, “Am I smiling, did this wine make me smile?” Come and try a series of wines that might just be your next favorite. Join us this Friday for a flight of obscure red blends.

Friday Night Flight

May 2^nd Wine Tasting: Obscure Red Blends ($15)

4:30-7:30 PM 2005 K Vintners Guido (86% Sangiovese and 14% Syrah)

NV Sean Thackrey Pleiades XVI Old Vines (Syrah, Barbera, Carignane, Petite Sirah, Sangiovese, and Viognier to start)

2006 Orin Swift ‘The Prisoner’ (51% Zinfandel, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Syrah, 6% Petite Sirah, 6% Charbono, and 2% Grenache)

2005 Tablas Creek Rouge (43% Grenache, 24% Mourvedre, 18% Syrah, and 15% Counoise)

2006 LIOCO Indica (87% Carignan and 13% Petite Sirah)

Bonus Pour ($5) 2006 Linne Calodo ‘Problem Child’ (77% Zinfandel, 12% Syrah, 11% Mourvedre)

PRE-SELL Hundred Acre 2005 Kayli Morgan (WA 96-99 Points)

The pre-sell will end on Tuesday the 29th. Subject to availability

$230 a bottle

Since opening, I think that people have gathered that I have a passion for some California wines. I have just as many California wines in my personal cellar as I do Oregon or Washington wines. Many of those come from my years of purchasing wines from mailing lists that I was once belonged. Still to this day so many of the small production wineries chose to sell their wines completely through their mailing list. These wines sell out in a week, days, or some wines in even hours. The wines that receive the highest scores rarely make it to any retail location in the country. Yet, from time to time, a distributor works out a small allocation of some of the highest profile wines from California. If you are a collector of California Cult wines or wines in general, this could be your only chance to get this wine at a below market price. At the time I posted this the lowest wine-searcher.com (pro version) price ranges from $289 to $349 a bottle.

From the Wine Advocate, Issue #174

“The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan looks to be the finest Cabernet Sauvignon Jayson Woodbridge has yet produced… A total thrill, this wine has absolutely awesome aromatics of creme de cassis, cedar, sweet cherries, spice box, as well as licorice and graphite. A caramelized sweetness to the fruit, loads of glycerin, unbelievable unctuosity and opulence a la Pomerol’s Le Pin or some of the legendary vintages of right bank Bordeaux leads into a full-bodied, concentrated, exceptionally pure wine that is a total delight to smell, contemplate, sip, and in my case, spit out. This is a wine that can be drunk young or cellared for 20+ years.”

Come enjoy a series of Chianti wines from some great producers and vintages. The wines being poured represent some of the best available. Tasting takes place from 4:30-7:30ish. Please come enjoy these wines with us. $15 for 6 wines or all 7 for $20.

2005 Felsina Chianti

2004 Felsina Chianti Riserva (last Sunday’s Kramer pick)

2005 Querciabello

2006 Fattoria Montellori

2006 Casa alle Vecche Chianti

2004 La Trame

Bonus Pour: 2003 Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico San Marcellino ($5)

Every Saturday we try to pour a series of wines that fit into your everyday drinking routine. Below you will find a partial list fo the wines that will be featured this Saturday.

Saturday April 12^th Tasting (Free) 12-3pm

2005 Domaine des Lauribert Cotes du Rhone

2006 Peter Schandl Pinot Blanc

2007 Kungfu Girl Riesling

April 18^th Wine Tasting: Bordeaux Blends ($14)

4:30-7:30 PM

2005 Mark Ryan Long Haul

2006 Waters Interlude

2005 Woodinville Wine Cellars ‘Little Bear Creek’

2003 Chateau Haut Colombier Blaye

2003 Chateau Segonzac Bordeaux Superier ‘Heritage’

Bonus Pour: 2005 Orin Swift Papillon (I know, Sweet!) $6

Special Event: Bergevin LaneFree Tasting April 17^th 1:30 to 4:00

Please join us on April 17th to meet the owners of Bergevin Lane. For those of you who have had a conversation with me about this winery, it should have been obvious that they are one of my favorites. It is one thing for a winery to make one wine well, but to exceed with multiple varietals is another. This tasting takes place from 1:30 to 4:00 on April 17^th. It is a perfect day to take an extended lunch, go to Nostrana and then stop by the shop for a free tasting afterwards. Better yet, it might be a good enough reason to leave work early and stop by on your way home to try some great wines. Either way I hope that I will get to see you at this special event.

I am always excited for the tastings we have on Fridays. Yet, some Fridays I am more excited than others. Partly, like anyone else, I enjoy some varietals more than others. This Friday’s line up of Syrah will be a great one. We are pouring some old favorites, some new favorites, and one special wine. Please take a moment to review our line up of Washington Syrahs and join us this Friday as we taste through them from 4:30 to 7:30.

April 11^thWashington Syrah ($16)

The Starting Line Up:

2005 Delille Doyenne

2004 Boudreaux Syrah

2004 Bergevin Lane ‘Oui Deux’

2005 Ash Hollow Syrah

2006 Owen roe Ex-Umbris Syrah (Made mostly from Washington Fruit)

Bonus Pour: 2005 Cayuse Cailloux Vineyard ($7)

Come enjoy select wines from all over France. We will be showcasing some great examples of wine that highlight the different regions.

NV Cotes-du-Jura Cremant du Jura Brut

2005 Francois Chidaine Les Choisilles

2003 Domaine Juliot “Les Champs Martin”

2005 Vaquer L’Expression (100% Carignan)

2004 Chateau Saint-Andre Corbin

Bonus Pour: 2003 Clos Rougeard ($5)

Saturday tastings are always free. We always offer a series of wines that fit everyone’s budget. The tasting will take place from 1:00-until the wine is gone. Below you will find a list of wines to be featured. Rememeber we will always add a bottle or two from our new finds during the week.

2007 Kung Fu Girl Riesling

2005 Domaine Taupenot Merme Bourgogne Passetoutgrain

Among others