9/23/09-Keith and Helen Faust hosted the first Wednesday night Boat Owners meeting and the group enjoyed a 2005 Altus Cabernet. Although the Altus has yet to be reviewed by any of the major publications, check out what Mark Herold pulled off in the 2005 vintage with some of his other projects: Merus WA96+ , Kamen WA95, Hestan WA94, and Kobalt WA94! A classic California red comprised of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 3% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, this lush, full-bodied wine attains similar levels of perfection as its stable mates.

7/31/09-Four couples of the Folsom Wine Group have purchased a 27 foot SeaRay yacht, with twin Chevy V6 engines. The yacht is being serviced and will soon be moored at Miller Park, ready for her maiden voyage.

7/4/09-Carl and Kathy Hennige hosted the 5th annual 4th of July party at their summer cabin in South Lake Tahoe. Approximately 20 participants enjoyed numerous outstanding wines, including a 4 bottle vertical of Dunn cabernet (83 and 84 Napa, 79 and 84 Howell Mountain) a 5 bottle vertical of Ch. St. Jean Cinq Cepages cabernets provided by the Faust’s, a 7 bottle vertical of BV George Latour cabernets provided by the Danby’s who also brought a 9 liter Salmanazar 1986 Sterling Reserve cabernet (twelve times the volume of a standard bottle). As always Magic Ken Marich, with assistance from Barbara, provided an entertaining magic show. The group also spent a day on the lake in two pontoon boats. The party began with early arrival participants enjoying a 2002 Harlan Estate cabernet with an Italian dinner. The wine was everything Robert Parker had to say (100 Points, “this wine is at once rich and full bodied yet exquisitely elegant”.

1981 Napa Sun Pinot Noir

6/3/09-Dave and Ann Vik hosted the knitters and we tasted a brown bag pinot noir from a winery that has disappeared. The wine has aged reasonably well with flavors of red currant and cherry.

1979 Pichon Lalande

5/27/09-Gary Rose and Laura Laskowske hosted the knitters and we all enjoyed the 1979 Pichon Lalande. This wine was one of the consistent winners in the Northern California Wine Society’s tastings in the 1980’s. Very mouthfilling with a slight vege note, it had lost some of the incredible fruit that made it so enjoyable and approachable in the 80’s. The wine had very little sediment and no residual tannin, which probably accounted for its popularity when young.

1978 Conn Creek Zinfandel, 1982 Clos Du Bois Merlot, 1985 Stanford/Haywood Cabernet

5/6/09-The Wednesday knitters were hosted by Carl and Kathy Hennige, and the group enjoyed another brown bagged, well made and aged 1978 Conn Creek zinfandel. Mouth filling flavors of red currants and nuts, some cherry and vanilla, and a very, very long finish.

5/13/09-The Wednesday knitters were hosted by Dave and Ann Vik and tasted an incredible brown bagged 1982 Clos Du Bois merlot. The wine was truly enjoyable with good fruit and little aged flavors. The wine was finished by the group long before any of the other younger wines. Ann Vik selected it for her dinner wine and was reluctant to share it with others.

5/20/09-The Wednesday knitters were hosted by Keith and Helen Faust and tasted a brown bagged, aged 1985 cabernet made by Haywood Winery for the Stanford alumni association. Many of the group guessed the wine to be a Bordeaux.

1978 Leoville Las Cases, 1974 Louis M. Martini Zinfandel, 1979 Wente Petite Sirah

4/8/09-The knitters hosted by Ross & Donna McGuire enjoyed an elegant aged 1978 Leoville Las Cases bordeaux-boysenberry, nutty, coffee, with little tannin.

4/22/09-The knitters hosted by Gary Rose and Laura Laskowske enjoyed another amazing wine from Louis Martini winery. The well made wine was quite youthful (as was the 69 cabernet previously reported on) and as with the older zinfandels tasted earlier, had flavors more reminiscent of an aged cabernet (red currant and coffee/tobacco versus jammy blackberry).

4/29/09-The knitters hosted by Tim & Jane Curtis enjoyed a well preserved 1979 Wente petite sirah. Our experience with this varietal is that it doesn't change much after many years of ageing, and this wine was no exception. Sweet plums, fruity, little browning and paired nicely with cheese (as reported by Helen Faust).