Are there any other wine buffs out there?
I wouldn't mind some advise on current vintage Napa Cabernets. Can you PM me please?

 

Tsk, tsk Bernie. After all you told me about not succumbing to temptation you stoop to this.

Stick with the Cane Toads - at least you have to drink them quick before they go bad!

 

(Singing) Everybody loves the cane toad.

I saw an American documentary several year back that detailed the history of the cane toad and the Ausie "love" for them. One little girl had one as a pet. She called it "Daaaaairy Queen." She would rub its belly and the toad would pass out.

Another guy would drive his "sporty" American car (on the wrong side of the road, of course), well equipped with wide rear tires, and run the toads over. He seemed to get great pleasure from lining them up just right so he would trap air in the toad as he ran it over. This would result in a loud, and I'm sure messy, pop.

The show also told of how some members of the counter-culture would boil the toads making a psychedelic tea.

 

I enjoy a little rojo every now and again, but the difference between good and bad is pretty defined for me. I either like it or it's crap. No in between.

 

Guys

The Cane Toads 2kturkey is referring to is a boutique beer - 7% alcohol.

He spent last Saturday afternoon indulging in them while Muz and I had to drink light beers because we were driving

Cane Toads are an absolute bloody plague in Australia. Up in North Queensland, the mongrel things come out at night and they are everywhere. We can't run them over fast enough and the bastard things have poison on their skin which is lethal to family pets.

 

A friend who's really into reds, specifically Cabernet Sauvignon, really likes Stag's Leap.

When I was out there recently I sampled some Robert Mondavi that was very good. Just their regular stuff. The Chardonnay Reserve was awesome.

I wish I could remember where that Petite Syrah came from...

Anyway, I don't know any specific years or some such. From what I understand, all the recent years in Napa have been very good.

Let me know if you find something you really like.

 

Bernie,

I just got back from a vacation in Napa Valley. All the wines there are great. Unfortunately, I don't like cabs as much as I used to. I'm starting to really go for the pinots and the cab francs.

By the way, there are 2 stags leap brands. One is Stag's Leap and the other is Stags' Leap. I forget which one puts out the better wine, but it's kind of messed up that the apostrophe is the only thing that seperates their names.

 

bernie... some very general advice is that '97 is probably california's best vintage (for cabs).
my early guess (from the zin that we grow) is that the 2001 is looking good from a grower's point of view, but we will all be waiting awhile to know for sure.

i like wine spectator's rankings and info-
http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Spectator/homepage
(or print version at your news stand)
or try the specific searchs at:
http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Spectator/search

but again if you want vintage recommedations, you cant go very wrong with the calif '97 cabs.

 

Thanks Mark

The famous established vineyard is Stag's Leap.

I can't believe that Stags' Leap were able to get away with the name