Wow, a nice wine, but just a baby. Almost black in color with a nose that reminds me of baking a berry pie. Tart raspberry flavors with charcoal and cedar notes. Significant but smooth tannins in this balanced wine promise even a better future and long life. If you don’t have Jean Edwards wines to your cellar already, you’re missing out on a small Napa gem. Hold this wine for 2-3 more years. Decant to remove sediment.

Gott’s Roadside Tray Gourmet (former Taylors Refresher) and Match Cabernet on an 80 degree Napa afternoon.

The vines at Butterdragon are ready for spring, which judging by the downright balmy temperatures today, is already here.

I also had a great vertical tasting today of our 05’s – 07’s. All the wines were nice but the 2005 Baconbrook and the 2007 Butterdragon are in a really special place right now.

A few friends might have seen this when I attempted to post it on Facebook, but it’s worth a repost — at least in my shallow mind.  I rarely shoot video of toilets — okay, i never shoot video of toilets — but this public toilet in Picton, New Zealand must be shared with the geeks among us.  WARNING: THIS VIDEO IS CLEAN AND NOT GROSS.

2010 Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc Rarangi Vineyard – one of the more distinctive Sauv Blancs we tried on our trip to New Zealand. Besides the tell-tale typicity, it showed distinct jalapeno pepper, asparagus, and celery seed. It was more attractive and interesting in the tasting room than on the dinner table but still… ***1/2

2010 Wither Hills Chardonnay – non distinctive

2011 Wither Hills Pinot Gris – nicely balanced, peach, 9g residual sugar ***

2009 Wither Hills Pinot Noir – lean but with some charm and upside potential. *

2008 Wither Hills Pinot Noir – Rounder than the 09 with spicy notes. **

2011 Te Whare Ra “Toru” – Perhaps the best of an outstanding lineup from wife and husband winemakers/owners Anna and Jason Flowerday. A lovely blend of Gewürztraminer, Riesling, and Pinot Gris, it’s cotton candy and bubblegum but deftly avoids being cloying with just the right balance of acidity. “Toru” is the Maori word for “three” meaning the 3 varieties making up this wine. ***1/2

2011 Te Whare Ra Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) – almost clear color, delicate, pineapple **

2011 Te Whare Ra Riesling “D” – their Dry Riesling… Banana… Nice. **1/2

2011 Te Whare Ra Riesling “M” – their Medium Dry Riesling *

2011 Te Whare Ra Pinot Gris – bubblegum flavor *1/2

2010 Te Whare Ra Chardonnay – really lovely drinking with distinctive roasted coconut element ***

Te Whare Ra is a biodynamic and organic winery.

On Friday we bottled 120 cases of 2009 Baconbrook Cabernet Sauvignon:
216 six packs of 750ml
10 twelve packs of 375ml
7 six packs of mags

They understand that a daily cup of joe is necessary for a well balanced diet. Or is that 10 cups?

I finally got the iPhone to post to the blog from overseas. This pic was taken yesterday in Picton, New Zealand, the port at the northern tip of the South Island.

Whatever you do, whatever you believe, whomever you’re with… have a safe, healthy, wonderful, happy, peaceful holiday season.

Black Friday…

Small Business Saturday…

Whatever-you-call-it Sunday…

All equal Big Savings on Big Bottles.

Starting at 12:01 AM (Pacific) on Friday morning and lasting until midnight Sunday night (or while supplies last) every big bottle in stock will be marked down 20%. Repeat customers can log in and get their eligible discount as well. That means some of you will get 40% off the regular price on rare Match Vineyards magnums!

Please note that some of these bottles have less than 6 in stock so you should act as quickly as possible.

Visit http://matchvineyards.com/store/blackfriday.html to shop.