mike volker

Thanks, I was kind of surprized they could fit a wine column in among the ads, and then I thought that maybe George was paying some endorsement money for admitting that he buys nouveau by the cases. Have a great Thanksgiving everyone. Best, Mike

I'd go with a nice briary red zinfandel as an alternate to the white. Best, Mike

Pardon my ignorance, but who is the Bryan Miller that wrote the wine column in todays Inky food section? Best, Mike

Sorry guys but I think I just annexed Phoenixville into Montgomery county. Four of us went to the Black Lab Fri night and the food was definitely a "WOW". The noise was not. I started with potato pancakes topped with smoked salmon, onions, creme fraiche, and caviar. Then onto a filet in foie gras and truffle. We're going to go back and just do starters real soon. Best, Mike

I sure hope that he has a web page and a search fuction so we can find the wines in a no sales tax state. Gotta love it. Best, Mike

I am reluctant to do this because they have gotten so busy its hard to get a table on fri or sat night, but the best pizza/ital place in the Collegeville area is the Bella Rosy on the corner of Germantown and Evansburg rds. Best, Mike

My wife and I have attended two of their wine dinners. The first one featuring rhone wines was great; both the wine and food was very well done. The second on spanish wines wasn't so good; the wine wasn't very good and in short supply as compared to the first one, and the food was really not good. Just got an email today that their going to do food and beer pairings this fall. Best, Mike

Are there any small and obscure wineries in Napa? Better yet, are they going to do you a deal? I think not. Best, Mike

Not a chairman's selection, but I just picked up some '03 ESJ "Wylie-Fenaughty" syrah $15 in the collegeville store. Check around, but there is supposed to be some "Shell $ Bone" and "Bassetti Vineyard" in the system. I think this is the first time for ESJ in Pa. Best, Mike

My wife brought home a bottle of the '01 Schweiger Spring Mountain Napa Cab. I'll be going back tomorrow for a case. This is a steal at $20. Best, Mike

Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red lot# (pick one) mine was 35 $11 This never disappoints and at this price what more could you ask for? Best, Mike

The price of gold must have gone down, waaayyy doowwnn. Best, Mike

Revisited the '99 Hanna Bismark Ranch Cab last night. We drank the first sixpack right after purchase and it was good. Its been two and a half years since we opened the last bottle--what a difference! This has matured into a very nice bordeauxlike cab, soft and silky, with mostly resolved tannins. What a great deal at $19.99. Best, Mike

I'm surprized no one has commented on the new policy of having to spread all the Chairman's selects around the store, instead of all piled together in front of the door. Kudos to our manager in Collegeville who actually printed a guide so we could find them all. Best, Mike

Why do I have such a problem envisioning Rothschild and dim sum? Mike

I was kind of in a hurry, but I swear the "upcoming" and "now in stores" lists on the plcb website are the same. Best, Mike

Kaiken Malbec '03 from the Mendoza region of Argentina, this has great dark fruit and not much RS. At $7.99 this was the QPR of last year in Pennsylvania. Best, Mike

I've been a couple times in the last year and would rate the food C+ to B- YMMV. Best, Mike

I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering what your kissing. Best, Mike

I have some racking in the cellar and the assorted boxes, bins, and crates for the overage. Best bottle is a '61 Gloria that I'm afraid to open. Best, Mike

For all you Kaiken fans. Canal's @ $8.49 Best, Mike

Did anyone open one of the '03 Lascombes? If so, please post a note. Thanks, Mike

Look upthread to p 53, Mike Volker thought highly of this one, enough so that I will trek to Newtown/Yardley and pick up a few on his rec ← Look upthread for the latest PLCB screwup. They distributed this and several others early. Collegeville sold out of their allotment before the recall to the back room. I bought a case of the '01 and a case of the '02 SQ reserve, my wife wanted me to go get another case of the '02. If you like up in your face BIG Cali Cabs this is for you. I've bought a lot of Cali cabs, but for $25 what a deal. Best, Mike

Hanna is on the list for the Easter promo Best, Mike

The latest LCB srewup. CS wines were distributed earlier than they were scheduled. Some stores got them out on the floor and some didn't. They are all now in the back room waiting for the proper release date, unless somebody comes in and asks for them, in which case they'll go in the back room and get it for you. Kinda reminds you of the good old days. Best, Mike PS There a list on the cash register