The title of this post is a quote by the famous wine importer Kermit Lynch.  I’ve been on the fence as to whether or not I believe in blind tasting, but recently have come to believe, that much like strip poker, you aren’t getting the whole experience if you judge a wine blind.

Robert Parker has taken a lot of heat recently because he tastes blind “whenever possible”, which is likely not very often since he conducts both barrel and bottle tastings at the winery.  In 2009, Parker conducted a 2005 Bordeaux blind tasting during which he misidentified most wines and proclaimed wines he had previously given lower scores to be his favorites of the night.  On the other hand, Wine Spectator tastes all of their wine blind but, in my opinion, part of the wine experience is knowing the producer, their reputation and their story.  Sure, it perpetuates the popularity of trophy wines that are only popular because of their names.  I won’t name any specific producers but one example rhymes with, wait, no words rhyme with Silver…  Oh well.  Still, there are more examples of big names that have maintained or improved quality despite (or maybe because of) their popularity.  When wines are tasted blind, the taster can’t take into account the producer’s history and reputation, both important factors in determining a wine’s quality.  If a given winery has been producing age worthy, top notch wines for the last 20 years, that should be a factor in the review.

Here’s the ultimate question:  Would you enjoy your favorite bottle of wine as much if you didn’t know who made it?  For me the answer is no, though I do enjoy a blind tasting from time to time because you never know how it’s going to turn out.  Kind of like a game of strip poker really.  I wonder Lynch’s perspective on blind strip poker…

On Monday we had a company retreat to Avalon, California on Catalina Island.  For dinner we brought an entire case of wine to a very nice restaurant.  The picture to the left is our only evidence for the night.  The faces have been obscured to protect the innocent and the not-so-innocent.

Did you know that almost all fine dining establishments allow customers to bring their own wine?  Often times there is a corkage fee, but sometimes there isn’t.  Sometimes there is a bottle limit and sometimes you can’t bring anything that’s on the wine list.  I always call ahead to find out the BYOB policy.  Either way, it’s almost always a better deal than ordering something off the menu, especially 12 somethings.

The wine we brought averaged $28 a bottle at our bargain hunting retail price (six each of 2006 B.V. Tapestry Reserve and 1997 Burgess Cellars Cabernet).  Even with a relatively high $20 corkage fee, we saved nearly $400 assuming these wines would have been around $80 on a typical wine list.

I’ve gotten to the point where I won’t eat at a nice restaurant unless I’m allowed to bring my own wine.  I’ve recently brought my own beverages to Gramercy Tavern in NYC, Bouchon in Las Vegas, Craft in LA and Redd in Yountville; all high-end establishments with extensive wine lists.  We also bring to all of our regular haunts in the neighborhood.

Nickel and Dime Wine Top Tip: Bring Your Own whenever you can.  It almost always pays, and more importantly, you get to choose exactly what you want to drink.  I like to try something a little nicer than I would normally drink because, hey, I’d be paying for anyway it if I didn’t BYO.  My top picks right now?  Let’s pretend you’re getting together with friends- a party of six for a nice dinner.  Here is a perfect progression of nice, but not outrageous wine, that would make for a lovely BYO evening.

2007 Landmark Chardonnay Overlook- $19.95 ($45-60 on a wine list)

2007 Etude Pinot Noir- $29.95 ($65-85 on a wine list)

2008 Caymus Cabernet- $59.95 ($125-150 on a wine list)

For a little over $100 before any corkage fees, you and your five best friends get to drink high-end wine for value prices.   Next time you go out to dinner, don’t forget to call and ask if you can bring your favorite wine.  It will make your meal more enjoyable and more affordable!

When we pulled up to the front gate of Nickel and Nickel’s Oakville Winery and pushed the call button to open the gates, we knew we were in for a premium experience with some premium wines.  As we walked through the front entrance (pictured above) we were greeted with a glass of Nickel & Nickel’s 2008 Truchard Vineyard Chardonnay on a silver platter (literally).  While waiting in the parlor room, we took in the vintage furnishings of the perfectly restored 1884 vineyard house.  Every structure on the property has been perfectly restored to better than original condition but with a specific effort to stay true to the original.

Originally founded by John C. Sullenger in the 1880′s, Gil Nickel purchased the property in 1998 with two goals in mind: pay tribute to John Sullenger’s farmstead vision and create a premium winery for the production of single vineyard wines.  He was successful on both fronts.  Both the property and the wines are exceptional.  Gil made his money in the nursery business (trees not children).  Every winery story starts similarly.  It seems like starting a winery is a great way to spend money but not really make money, because none of the stories feature the founder getting rich from making great wine.

The barn pictured to the right was originally built in 1770 in New Hampshire and was purchased by Gil Nickel from that original farm when it was about to be burned down, disassembled, shipped across the county, and reassembled using the original construction techniques.  The barn now contains a banquet table, kitchen and glass enclosed offices but retains the original post and beam construction.  It’s really a spectacular modern twist on the original barn.

Next we moved on through the fermentation barn, a new structure built in the ancient post and beam technique.  Nickel and Nickel has a unique challenge since they make 27 single vineyard wines, requiring many more tanks since the wine must be fermented independently.

They are also one of the very few valley wineries that feature a “cave” because there are no mountains into which the cave can be dug.  This one is actually under the barn but once down there, it’s the same as being in the side of any mountain on the perimeter of the valley.  The cave actually provides an economic benefit for the winery because air conditioning isn’t required for the extensive barrel aging.  Nickel and Nickel is 100% solar powered keeping with an admirable trend toward green winemaking in Napa Valley.

Sitting on the back porch of the winery, taking in the scenery, it’s easy to see why Gil Nickel wanted to restore this property.  It’s a stunning setting to grow, create, and drink fantastic single vineyard wines.  I’m not going to write specific notes on each of the six Cabernets we tasted but all were very good and a couple were exceptional.  The 2007 Vogt Vineyard from Howell Mountain and the 2007 John C. Sullenger Vineyard Cabernets (grown on the adjacent 30 acres) were standouts.  At $90-120 a bottle, these are not cheap or even value priced wines, but they are collectible, highly rated and ageworthy.  The tour and tasting are $40 per person, on the high end of the spectrum, but for the right occasion, it’s definitely worth the money. Make this one your splurge and you won’t be disappointed.

Chappellet Winery, located high atop Pritchard Hill, was the second winery established after prohibition when the Chappellets’ took a risk pursuing the concept that mountain wines were better than their peers from the valley floor.  The risk paid off with their flagship Pritchard Hill Cabernet routinely scoring over 95 points and their other wines achieving 90+ point scores at reasonable prices. The same care comes through just as clearly in the tour of their winery, which is a must for any fan of their wines.

The drive to the winery winds up Pritchard Hill and  is almost as stunning as the winery itself.  As we drove along Sage Canyon Road, along Lake Hennessy, it gave me a glimpse of what Napa must have been like when the Chappellets founded their winery in 1967.  Turn up the mountain toward the winery and the heavily wooded road opens up into expansive hillside vineyards with open vistas of the lake below.  Even if you don’t stop at the Chappellet Winery, make the drive for the views!

Chappellet’s winery, office and barrel room is housed in a unique three sided pyramid building that, when viewed from above, forms the iconic logo that appears on all Chappellet wine bottles.  The building is framed in heavy timber and, in a time when wineries were seen as factories rather than showpieces, this building must have been quite a site.  It has withstood the test of time and fits in nicely with its surroundings.

Although not as unique as some of Napa’s caves, the expansive barrel room is nonethless impressive and made a great setting to begin a discussion of Chappellet’s winemaking techniques.  While we enjoyed a glass of their highly acclaimed 2008 Chardonnay ($24.95 at LA Wine Co), we learned that meduim toast French and, surprisingly, Hungarian oak barrels are used to age Chappellet wines, none of which receive 100% new oak. We heard mixed reviews of Hungarian oak during our trip but Chappellet insists that it’s finally coming into its own after being mostly wiped out during WW2.  Our lovely tour guide went on to describe the intricate barrel making techniques and gladly answered our groups questions.

The tour then proceeded past the fermentation tanks (once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all), outside past the crush pad, and into the vineyards.  There we stood drinking a selection of Chappellet’s acclaimed Cabernets including a limited production, single clone and a barrel sample of their 2008 Signature Cabernet, which is looking very promising.  Our guide described the great care that’s put into vineyard management and how Chappellet’s sustainable practices are core to their winemaking philosophy.  The operation is entirely powered by solar panels, located behind the building.  This is a great trend in the traditionally resource intensive craft of winemaking.  Chappellet also provides on-site housing for most of their vineyard workers which they believe translates into higher quality wine since their staff tend tend to stay for the long term.  Water is sourced from on-site aquifers and hundreds of special birdhouses are placed thoughout vineyards to house birds of prey to keep the rodent population to a minimum.  It’s truly a self-sustaining operation; yet another reason to buy their wines.

The tour concluded in the barrel room with a tasting of the brilliant 2007 Pritchard Hill Cabernet (at LA Wine Co. for $109.95), which has been rated 96 points by Wine Spectator for the last three vintages running.  My wife was especially impressed with the Chappellet Red coats, provided to keep everyone warm, since it’s always a cool 55 degrees in the barrel room.

If you’re looking for an off the beaten path experience at a world class winery, Chappellet could be the best choice in the Valley.  At $25 per person for the roughly 1.5 hour tour, that’s a certified Nickel and Dime Wine value.  Consider this: Quintessa makes only one wine, that’s roughly the same price as Chappellet’s Pritchard Hill Estate Cabernet, and their tasting fee is $45.  At Chappellet, you get to taste a number of highly rated wines, walk the beautiful vineyard and learn about the history of the wines you’re drinking, all of which adds up to an unforgettable experience.

Loyal Readers- Nickel and Dime Wine is headed to Napa Valley on Friday for 4 days of exploration, tours, tastings and of course, great food!  We will be visiting some of the region’s top wineries including Nickel and Nickel, Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards, David Arthur, Spring Mountain Vineyards, Pride Mountain, Chappellet and many more.  Watch these pages for reviews and insights on the wines, wineries, restaurants.  Napa has gotten very expensive, but there are still deals to be had on both wines and “experiences”.  It’s our mission to track down those deals so watch for pictures and detailed explanations of the very best!

Note to subscribers: This special poll will not display in email format, so click through to our site to take the poll and see the results.

Since our last poll, “How much do you spend on a bottle of wine“, was so popular, we’re going to try another one. This time we’re wondering what region your favorite wine comes from. Do you love California wines, or perhaps something from Argentina? Whatever your preference, click your favorite wine region to see what other Nickel and Dime Wine fans are drinking.

Each of these regions has multiple wine varietals, so watch for our next poll to find out everyone’s favorite type of wine!

You’ve seen it at the grocery store.  You’ve seen it at the local wine shop.  And you’ve seen it at the wine superstore:  Buy 6 or more bottles and get 10%, even 20% off.  “How can they afford to do this?”, you’re asking yourself.  Here’s how:

The vast majority of wine retailers make out-sized margins on the casual shopper- the people who are looking for a bottle for a party or picking something up to drink with their steak on Saturday night.  Because of this, they are able to discount “bulk purchases” significantly and STILL make a healthy margin.

Have you ever gone into Costco and expected a bulk discount because you are buying six cases of paper towels instead on one?  Of course not.  You know that they are already selling that case of paper towels at a lowest possible price, and you are getting a good deal whether you buy one or six.  The same should go for your wine shop.  If you find a place that never has sales and doesn’t offer case discounts, you can almost guarantee that you are getting a great deal.  Are good deals available at retailers that offer bulk discounts?  Occasionally.  But you should always check their pricing.  Personally, I’d rather shop somewhere where I know I’m always getting a good deal and don’t have to go through the trouble of price shopping.  Remember: their costs don’t change with the quantity you buy, so why should yours?

That’s why you will never find a sale or case discount at LA Wine Company.  Every wine in stock is always sale priced whether you buy one bottle or 10 cases.  Compare for yourself!

How many times has this happened to you: You’re standing in a wine shop trying to decide what to pick up for the weekend and the sheer quantity of wine becomes overwhelming.  So you just grab something that’s on sale and end up disappointed.  When I first got into wine, this happened to me all the time, so I put together these helpful tips for picking great wine at great prices.  I hope they come in handy.

1.  Go with what you know- Put me in front of a store full of California Cabernet and I will be able to find you the very best value every time.  Fill that same store with French Burgundy and, chances are, I will come out with a loser.  Likewise, if you’ve enjoyed the wine of a specific vintner in the past, gravitate toward their wines.  They probably have the same winemaker and use the same grapes every year.

2.  Get familiar with the vintage chart- Wine of a particular region can vary greatly year to year, so do yourself a favor and get to know Robert Parker’s vintage chart.  It gives you a general idea of the quality of wine produced in every major wine region for each of the last 30 or so years.  Because of this chart, I know to avoid 1998 and 2000 California Cabernet but to seek out 2000 and 2005 Bordeaux.  Great wines and bad wines are produced every year so this isn’t a definitive source, but it’s a good start.

3.  Use your smart phone-You’re paying $79.99 a month for that iPhone, so use it!  If a particular wine catches your eye, search Google Shopping and see if you’re getting a good price.  Remember to include the vintage in your search.

4.  Look at the ratings- Some people will tell you that ratings are total junk.  I disagree wholeheartedly with this thought and here’s why:    The raters have trained palates and, generally know a good wine when they drink one.  While it’s true that I’ve been mislead by wine ratings, if you have never tasted a wine before, professional ratings are a great start.  If you’re looking for a particularly good value, find a wine that received an 89 point rating from one of the major publications.  An 89 point rating isn’t high enough to generate much buzz- and thus raise prices- but it means you are likely buying a solid wine.

5.  When you find a wine you like, buy up- One of the greatest joys, and biggest disappointments in wine, is that it’s new and different every year.  So if you find a wine you love, buy it up, because once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.   I happen to enjoy the 2006 Monte Antico Toscano Rosso, and at $8.99 per bottle, it’s an indisputable value.  So I bought a case, and I will continue to enjoy it until it’s gone.

So how do you pick good wine?  Comment on this post to share your favorite wine picking tips.