Deidre Costello

Just a comment on why one part of the state would have merchandise before another part of the state. The state has three distribution centers that merchandise come into. It does not come into one centralized location then distributed from there it is actually distributed from the point of origin. Once a container is full it is shipped to its destination this causes a delay when other containers for the other distribution centers are not full and are not shipped until they are. A perfect example of this was the Cakebread Benchlands that came in and was sold out in the Pittsburgh and Central regions while Philly was about 3 –4 weeks behind. P.S Mike in regards to your ___ I’m trying to find out what’s going on with it. I’ll PM you when I know something more

Thanks Evan, I’m wondering if anyone else tried the Sequoia Cab Reserve yet? I think this is a well-balanced well-made wine at $20 (I posted my notes earlier). I’m about to drop a few more $$ on that one, just curious if anyone else had an equally positive reaction to it.

Hi Mike, I did some checking on the Collegeville store and sent an email to the people responsible for the allocations of the Chairman Selections to see if anything can be done about increasing the number of selections in that store. I know that the amount and variety of the products are based on previous sales history at each location with larger ‘super stores’ getting the majority of the product selections. This formula is also based on the amount of total cases purchased. Katie pretty much nailed it with her post. I’m still trying to find out who responded to Mike the way they did—it makes my blood boil! I did do some snooping and found the following Chairman Selection products currently available in Collegeville: Ravenswood Zinfandel Teldeschi, Saintsbury Pinot Noir, Sequoia Grove, Nardi Brunello, Saint Francis Merlot and Cab. They are slated to get Atalon Merlot, Cambria Pinot Noir Bench Break, Carmel Road Chardonnay, Dry Lands Sauvignon Blanc, Flora Springs Trilogy, Soliloquy, and Toad Hall Pinot Noir, Liparita Cab, Pedroncelli Cab, Pine Ridge Andrus, Ridge Home Ranch, St Supery Rutherford and the Valdubon. ***I also just wanted to correct something that I posted earlier. I was mistaken that you will be able to see the upcoming Chairman’s Selection before they come in on here The new product search feature on the informational web site will not show inventories unless there are more than six cases state wide. So it looks like I still can post the upcoming selections to give you all a heads up before they come in, such as the Liparita Cab deal coming in should be a steal at $13. -Deidre Costello

Hi Katie, looks like the inventory of the Ravenswood was just coming in when you checked it. Over 1000 cases were ordered and just arrived. 1218 Chestnut, 1913 Chestnut and the Society Hill store have it currently in Center City. Along with the most Premium Collection stores in the state.

Hello Lancastermike if you are looking for a Chairman’s Selection oaky Chardonnay check out the Carmel Road Chardonnay (about $18) Apple and butterscotch flavors it was a little over the top in oakiness for me but for people that are a fan of this style they might enjoy it. I really enjoyed the Soliloquy although it’s 100% Sauvignon Blanc the oak treatment 7 months barrel aging adds a vanilla creaminess that you might enjoy without being over done it also has honey and tropical melon nose with tropical fruits and banana on the palate. -Deidre P.S. Welcome Evan we look forward to your posts and finds...I see if I can find out anything on the Cakebread '02s for you

Can I be the first to wish you a very Happy Birthday!!! Enjoy the La Reve!

Hello, I just wanted to mention that the new informational web site is up and running. You can now see all the Chairman’s Selection including the ones that will be coming in. From the new home page: here click on the link for consumers, then to view only the Chairman Selection click on the box on the right hand side. As soon as I know about a new Chairman’s selection it will get added to that page. In most cases when you click on a product that is showing no inventory, that just means it is in transit and will be arriving to the Premium Value stores in the near future so you might want to check the list periodically. Products are deleted when inventory levels fall below a certain point and our e-commerce site is also out of the product. I hope this helps everyone in finding these products!

Hello yeldarb, welcome to the board! I understand your frustration with the search feature that now show stores inventory levels at the PLCB. Please understand that this is a preliminary search engine, implemented to allow public access to available inventories in our stores. We know that it is not optimized and may not meet everyone's expectations, however we felt that letting customers see what products and related inventory is available in our stores, updated every hour, was important enough to allow consumers access to this information while we develop a more functional and easy to use search capability. I can honestly say that the PLCB values every e-mail, phone call, comment cards it sees. I even forwarded your post (I hope you don’t mind) to our development team because it offered useful information that they can try to implement while working on the development of a better functioning search engine. The thing to keep in mind when using the current search feature to produce the most results is to only put in part of a name. For example if you are looking for Chateau St. Michelle products you will get more hits by just putting in Michelle, scroll through the list and click on the product you are interested in to do a state wide search. A couple of things are causing search issues that we are working on rectifying, currently we only have a limited number of characters that we can use to enter products, our suppliers have the ability to enter their own SLO products directly to the site, then we have several of our own departments entering products, each using various abbreviations. We are working on a standardization of description abbreviations for all departments to use that will make the improved search feature when unveiled easier to use. On a related note early next week we are going to be launching an improved public site www.lcb.state.pa.us this will make searching for Chairman’s Selection products in particular easier to find. In regards to the Ridge Home Ranch Monte Bello Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains 2001 Chairman’s Selection code 15124 should not be confused with the Ridge Monte Bello Vineyards. I’m not sure why Ridge would have two products with such similarities in their name, I think this will be confusing for customers in the long run the Ridge Monte Bello is a Bordeaux blend made up of approximately 75% Cab, 23% Merlot, and 2% Cab Franc quoted on the Ridge site $120. The Ridge Home Ranch, Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains is made up of 50% Cab 49% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot quoted on Ridge site at $60. According to the Ridge web site this was named “Home Ranch to honor the nineteenth-century vineyard that has been ‘home’ since 1959” By the way Katie, I ran into our Chairman last week too…know the first thing he said to me??? “I finally got to meet Katie Loeb” you made quite the impression!

Hello again, I thought I would mention that Philly and Pittsburgh stores are showing inventory of a repurchase of the Hanna Bismark Cabernet 1999 looks like it will be in the central part of the state in the next week or two. This wine created a little buzz on the board when it was last in the stores. At $20 it’s a great buy! Hot off the presses this morning is a deal for the 1993 Burgess Cabernet $20 with an ETA of late March only 700 cases were purchased, if you liked the ’92 keep your eyes out for this one I’m sure it won’t last in the stores at that price. I haven’t tasted this one but I’m hoping it will be as good as the ’92… -Deidre

Hello Again, I was going to mention it in this post that the PLCB began posting store inventories of products on their informational web site but Katie beat me to it! I understand that they are working on creating a separate search for the Chairman’s Selection products to be put out on the informational site as well. I’m sure Katie will let us know when that is working. I thought I would mention a few more C.S.’s that are coming in that I didn’t write about in my previous post. I will say that I enjoyed most of the upcoming wines and these are just my impressions on some of them. I will try to post my notes as close to the arrival in our stores as I can. Vine Cliff Merlot 2000 $14.99 Green olive, cedar and dark fruits on the nose, dark jammy fruits on the palate nice balance chewy long finish. Geyser Peak Shiraz 1999 $17.99 (repurchase) Jammy berry fruits mixed with oak on the nose, black cherry and blackberry fruits on the palate with well integrated tannins. Domaine Carneros Le Reve 1998 $27.99 I thought the 97 showed more creaminess however this is still a nice sparkler with apple and toast its clean with a grapey creaminess. St Francis Merlot Behler Reserve $12.99 Red fruits on the nose with a hint of coffee on the palate red cherry red raspberry fruits with a hint of spice. St Francis Cabernet Nuns Canyon $14.99 Cedar and black fruits on the nose, blackberry, black raspberry and a hint of licorice on the palate, soft tannins. -Deidre

Hello everyone, I apologize that I haven’t posted in a couple of weeks I fell behind the eight ball and I am just getting caught up. Anyway I had the opportunity to taste the next round of Chairman’s Selections that will be hitting the stores in the next 4 to 6 weeks here is a quick glance of my personal highlights! 1. Sequoia Grove Cabernet Reserve 2001 Red fruits and celery on the nose big delicious red fruits, cassis and vanilla well balanced and an elegant wine. $20 2. Flors Springs Trilogy 2001 Blackberry fruits on the nose soft round black cherry and black raspberry fruits with a hint of cigar box long finish. $25 3. Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino 1999 Black cherry fruit with a hint of tobacco soft tannins perfect with food. $30 4. Pine Ridge Andrus 2000 Beautiful black fruits plum, black cherry, and raspberry black licorice soft tannins rich and delicious. $50 5. Saintsbury Pinot Noir Reserve 2000 Cherry fruits well balanced pretty finish $20 These are probably my top 5 of the tasting. I will post my other impressions soon. There are some real bargains coming in that I really enjoyed such as the Fra Guerau 02 and the Valdubon 2003 new vintages this time around. Both will be under $10 I’ll gather the rest of my notes and post on some of my other impressions real soon. -Deidre

Hi again, Our stores wouldn't know that the shipment ,for our Philly area stores, was delayed in California. On Wed. of this week I talked to the person tracking shipments and mentioned the Cakebread. They said that it arrived on Wed. morning and would ship out to the stores before New Years I take that to be with the stores next delivery truck. You might want to check with your store and ask them what day they receive their shipment. Our stores don't actually know what they are getting until it comes in that day.

Thanks, Deidre Hate to be a pest, any idea if Lancaster will get any more? ← Sorry to report that the rest of the state outside of Philly is not getting anymore. The State got the last cases from the winery. Philly never got their original shipment it was delayed in California. The stores listed above will be getting it before New Years. By the way Katie, The Lancaster Cabernet just came into the web site today! So that should be appearing in stores in the near future. -Deidre

Good News for everyone in the Philly area concerning the Cakebread!!! Philly still hasn’t gotten their allocation yet, their shipment arrived from California today so our warehouse should be shipping out in the very near future…Should be going to the following stores on their next shipment before New Years! In Philly: Chestnut Hill, Franklin Mills, 1218 Chestnut In Bucks Co. Newtown and Doylestown In Chester Co. Exton, West Chester, Devon In Mont. Co. Ardmore, Maple Glen, Bryn Mawr, Jenkintown, Blue Bell, Sweede Square, Lansdale and Narberth. I hope this helps in your search, I know this will sell out quickly in each of these stores. -Deidre

Hello all I just wanted to give you a quick heads up that the Cakebread just came in today to our fulfillment center and is now online I would think that it should be in some stores starting today too. It is very limited so I’m sure it will sell out fast. I'm going to order some I'll let you know what I think. Cheers Deidre

Glad to hear you got some of the 92 Burgess. I agree it is easier to try a wine that someone you trust recommends especially a wine from a sporadic vintage. If you like the Chairman’s selections you and he must have a similar palate. Evidently he personally tastes each wine before the decision to purchase is made. By the way in an earlier post I said the Cakebread Benchlands will sell for 39.99 I was mistaken it will actually be 34.99 when it comes in later this month. I’m hoping before New Years! I’ll keep you posted. - Deidre

Hello all, sorry about not mentioning the free shipping sooner, because of some technical stuff such as updating servers and software I wasn’t sure if we were going to be able to get the free shipping in place before the holidays. I’m just glad that everything came together for this to happen this year! A whole bunch of Chairman’s Selections just came in to our fulfillment center where we ship merchandise from for www.pawineandspirits.com. You might want to check out the whole list currently on the site, here are some of the products now available that have been mentioned in earlier posts: Burgess 1992 these are part of the additional 300 cases I said we were getting in earlier, two of the newest selections Geyser Peak 1999 Shiraz and the Vision Cellars Pinot Noir 2000 Since these just came in they should also be in our Premium Collection stores. - Deidre

Hello I just wanted to post a follow-up to some of my previous posts. I said that I would let you know when a few more Chairman’s Selections became available. The Valdubon that I mentioned in an earlier post is now back in along with the Newton Epic Merlot and the Newton Le Puzzle Cabernet. Hanna Bismark Cabernet can still be found. We will be getting about 300 cases of the Cakebread Benchlands Cab for $39.99 I’m sure this one will go really fast so you might want to keep your eye open for this one if you are interested in it. I thought that I might mention that our web site www.pawineandspirits.com is doing a free shipping promotion from now until Dec. 31st on all orders. Some pretty interesting things are on there if you want to check it out. –Deidre

Hello Deidre, When are the 300 additional cases likely to arrive? Or have they already come and gone since Oct 22? Thanks! Brad ← The additional 300 cases are not here yet I don't see' an ETA yet so I'll keep looking but I would think in the next few weeks...I'll keep you posted.

Thanks Percyn in regards to the wine club I’m glad to hear that you are enjoying it so far! Just wanted to post that these Chairman Selections are going to be arriving in the near future you may want to keep your eyes open for these: Cakebread Benchlands 2000 suggested price $90 will be $40 Luce Della Vita Magnum suggested price $150 will be $50 Vision Cellars Pinot Noir 2000 suggested $50 will be $18 Lancaster Proprietary Red (from David Ramey vineyard mgr of Screaming Eagle) 2000 $65 will be $20 The Valdubon Cosecha Ribera Del Duero 2002 is coming back in. This was a big seller especially with the restaurant trade when it first came in earlier this year. The suggested price $17.50 will be $8 I’ll continue to snoop around and see what else is on tap. Take Care

Hello a few scoops: First Villa Maria wines it looks like we are waiting on the 2004 release. I still show the 2001 VM Private Bin Chard $13.99, 2002 VM Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc $13.99 and the 2003 VM Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc $13.99 on line at www.pawineandspirits.com The Villa Maria Riesling Private Bin 2002 $13.99 is showing a case available in the following stores Chestnut Hill, Bala Cynwyd and Collegeville. The Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc Cellar Selection $18.49 is showing a case in Ardmore. As I said earlier looks like slim pickings until the 2004 is released probably pretty soon. Here is some quick snooping on a few of the Chairman’s selections Hanna is due in again this week or next and is going to be well represented in the Phila and surrounding areas (Collegeville too). St Supery very limited amounts remain at Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, Jenkintown and Swede Square (as of Sunday Nov. 7th) Oreno is still available at 1218 Chestnut, 326 S. 5th, Chestnut Hill, Swede Square, Jenkintown, Bryn Mawr, and West Chester. The Flora Springs has a pretty good representation in all the Premium Collection stores. I’m going to buy another few bottles of the Fra Guerau to try again (I did not experience a sour aftertaste that Mike described) I want to see if I get the same reaction as I got when I first posted this note: ‘Red fruits on the nose of cherry and raspberry that are carried out on the palate with good intensity with balanced acidity’ I’ll post again on it after I try it again I do know that the first time I tried it the bottle was opened for about an hour before the tasting. Mike I also have noticed more and more 750mls being shipped in 6 bottle cases. I’m going to ask some suppliers what the reasoning for that is…I’ll report back on what they are saying when I get more info. Hopefully I didn’t miss anything that was mentioned. Let me know. -

Hello again Stuart, I’m so glad you mentioned the acidity in New Zealand wines. In my experience with the wines of New Zealand they are a great accompaniment to food. In summer I usually find NZ Sauvignon Blancs so refreshing on a hot day by itself, but during the fall and winter they match up well with certain foods. One thing I noticed in NZ Pinot Noir is the acidity when tasted without food however when paired with certain foods the acidity completely mellows out. I often associated NZ Pinot Noirs as a ‘food’ wine as opposed to a ‘sipping’ wine. Do you also feel that this is the case in general with regards to NZ Merlot and NZ Syrah as I have not been exposed to as many of these wines to make an overall statement? Do you think that consumers will be exposed to more of these types of varietals in the near future?

Gabe I see that the Burgess Zin is back in at both 19th and Chestnut and 1218 Chestnut. It also looks like the Trilogy has hit the Phila area stores again... BTW Katie thanks for hosting Stuart Devine!

Congratulations on your commitment to Stelvin. Are you seeing an increase in demand of your products now that more consumers (especially American) are becoming aware of the quality of the wines closed with the Stelvin. Are you noticing a similar trend in European markets towards this acceptance in the same fashion as its beginning to catch on here? By the way I’m very fond of your wines especially for the quality to price ratio. Thank you for spending time with us. -Deidre P. S. Can you share your trick that Katie refers to? "Stuart taught me the neat trick of how to properly open a screwtop bottle at tableside, so I hope he'll have a chance to explain that to everyone here as well."

Did some checking on the Burgess Zin looks like the 3720 Main Steet and 326 south 5th street have some bottles left. Franklin Mills looks like it is pretty much sold out. I'll check around and see if more is coming into the city...I'll let you know what I find out.