mike volker

The Twin Bays Cafe in Phoenixville has great food and its BYOB makes it even better. Our wine tasting club is having it's christmas party there. They gave us a really unbelievable deal on dinner. If anyone is interested in joining our wine tasting group give me a holler, we'll be glad to have you join us. Best, Mike

Here's a few that I think drink pretty well: Pinotage, Cape Indaba Wines Pinotage, KWV International Pinotage, Zonnebloem Wines Pinotage, Spier Of course you have to like Pinotage. Best, Mike

'99 Hanna Cab is all dark fruit and bing cherry flavors, with a big whiff of licorice in the very beginning, herbal notes, and the tannins are still mouth coating. If you haven't already, pick up a bottle or two befor they are gone. Where else could this be QPR @$20. Best, Mike

I think that a dry side viognier and a valdiguie will complement the standard turkey dinner as well as anything, with some bubbles to start. Best, Mike

The Hanna cab is in at the Collegeville store. Again its in six bottle wooden cases(not that I'm complaining). I'll post a note as sooon as I open one. Best, Mike

Katie, The Collegeville store has the 2000 Sette Ponte for $39, but it wasn't rated nearly as well as the 2001 so I didn't buy any. I'm guessing that if you didn't find any of the St. Supery its gone. The state only got 200 six bottle cases. What do you think is the deal with all these six bottle cases all of a sudden? Changing a standard? Glad you liked the Fra G more than I did. Best, Mike

Tried the Vinas del Monsant Fra Guerau 2001 tonight and at first I thought it was unbelievable for $7.99 but it has a sour aftertaste that is rather offputting, at least to me. Your mileage may vary. We also tried the St. Supery and its worth every bit of the $23 they're asking for it. If you can find it, buy a few bottles. The Hanna cab still isn't in at the Collegeville Store. Wednesday night we tried the 2001 Sette Ponte Oreno (in the state stores for six hours in August). I lucked out and got 5 bottles while somebody was buying out the state in Philly. Even at $43 this was . Best, Mike

Try today's issue of the Wine Spectator, a big article on the man behind the winery. Best, Mike

You might want to try COSTCO they are selling 24% lead crystal riedel bordeaux knockoffs for 8/$24. What a deal! Best, Mike

Katie, When is the wine tasting? aIt sounds like fun. Best, Mike

The St. Supery hit the shelves today so I'll post a TN s soon as I open one. Collegeville didn't get any of the Hanna Cab at all so we'll wait on that one. We still have some of the Burgess Zin left if anyone is interested. Best, Mike

The state stores work on a percentage most retail only dreams about. However, the new chairman has started a program that buys cheap from certain winerys and passes the savings on to the consumer called "Chairman's Selections",these come in at about half the price anywhere else. Other than that, its Moore bros, Total Wine, Canal's etc.. There's even a website devoted to finding a good price and selection called "Wine Shops for Pennsylvania" Refugees. Best, Mike

Welcome Diedre, We will be happy to take all the inside information we can get. BTW, maybe its just my browser, but your link to pa wine and spirits didn't work. Best, Mike

Katie, FWIW, I started drinking at about the two hr mark and it seemed to reach its peak at about five hrs after decanting. Glad you found some. Best, Mike

I picked up my case of the '92 Burgess this afternoon and the first bottle is decanting right now. Collegeville got 24 bottles but the other twelve were being shipped out to another store. I just took my first taste . Thanks for the heads up Katie. Best, Mike

Thanks Katie, I think I"ll go over right now and try to reserve a case or two when it comes in. I almost missed the Sette Ponti Oreno in July it went so fast(someone was buying up every bottle in the state, but they managed to get me five bottles that got missed). Best, Mike

Just down the road from Dry Creek is Yoakim Bridge winery which I like very much. Its just yoakimbridge.com for there web site so go there and look. The good news is that they will ship to you. Have them ship you a bottle of zin and a bottle of syrah (its better than the zin and the zin is wonderful). Best, Mike

Thanks, but Collegeville just got the Trilogy back in again. Also the Iron Horse PN 2001 $18 and the Arrowood Syrah 2000 $18 are very good for the money. Best, Mike

I have a passive cellar in the basement that works pretty well. I would highly recommend that you get Jeff Cox's "Cellaring Wine"(available at amazon.com). This is the best book I have ever read on the subject, its easy to read and runs the gamut from why to how to what to cellar. Its lots of fun. Best, Mike

Katie, Glad you liked the wine, I was pretty sure that you would. I'm obviously pretty new to the board, but do we ever get together at a BYOB restaurant and meet each other? Best, Mike

After D's column on the Cuvee de Pena sold out the stores I found Hand Picked Selections online. Wine Cellar in Cinnaminson had it for $5.95. Check the HPS web site and you will find their top forty and all are reasonable. Their "The Fifteen" grenache was a Chairman's Selection a couple months ago at $10(down from $15), its a great QPR at that price. Here's the email for Wine Cellar, it's probably cheaper over there and cinnaminson is not that far from Philly. regalwine@aol.com Best, Mike

For something affordable Cline's Late Harvest Morvedre is very nice. Best, Mike

Katie, Yes, it was the 2000 Flora Springs Trilogy $23 at your local state store in the chairman's selection section(sold out I think, at least in Collegeville). The Landmark PN is great at $20 and so is the Foley for the same price. Also the Rosemont Traditional is fantastick for $15. Best, Mike

Katie, Tried a bottle last night and it was better than I expected. Wish I had bought another case of Trilogy when it was available though. Thanks for your Help. Best, Mike

The Kimberton Inn off Rte 113 in Chester Co. Ask for a table by the fireplace in the bar. Great food and a supurb wine list. Best, Mike