120802 Wynola incl Julian Grape Stomp

2013 JGS notes

http://www.lajollawinetours.com/contact/

I have attended the Julian Grape Stomp the last three years. I know what stops I want to make.
I request an approximate price from your firm for a driver & vehicle for the day & evening to carry six to ten people.
No event organizing or management is needed.

Following is the itinerary: 9.7.13

8:15am prompt (earlier if you need) - from whatever location you prefer no further east than El Cajon (Santee if it reduces the price), no further north than La Jolla.

9:45 - drop at Menghini winery { buy ticket, walk down to Jenkins }
http://www.julianca.com/media/grape_stomp.htm

11:45 am - pickup at Jenkins tasting room just down the road from Menghini
http://www.jenkinswinery.com/Hours_Directions.html

noon approx. - drop at Witchcreek's Julian tasting room
http://www.witchcreekwinery.com/julian-location

1pm - pickup at or generally near Blue Door tasting room in Julian
http://thebluedoorwinery.com/tasting-room/

1:30pm - drop at Jeremy's in Wynola
http://www.jeremysonthehill.com/

Country Cellars
http://www.countrycellars.com/

3pm - pickup at Orfila tasting room Wynola
http://www.orfila.com/tasting-rooms/julian/

3:20pm - stop & wait Edwards winery north of Ramona

4:15pm ~ stop & wait Milagro winery north of Ramona

5pm - stop & wait Turtle Rock Ridge winery http://www.turtlerockridge.com

7:30pm or earlier - arrive at final disembark

= = =
With Ramona wineries shuttered except for weekends, Thursday was a washout for any place new. The regulars, Pamo Valley tasting room & Southern California Wine Co., too near in the calendar's rearview mirror, it was a reprise in Wynola, owl & buzzard in tow.
First stop, since nearly closing time, was the sly & winsome doña of Country Cellars for a take home of a Shadow Mountain "100% estate" 2009 Carignane (sic) at a quite reasonable retail price. Always like to see SoCal locals daring to bottle single varietal from the thunderously leaden pole of the grape spectrum. 
http://www.pamovalleyvineyards.com
http://www.southerncaliforniawinecompany.com/
http://www.countrycellars.com/
http://www.shadowmountainvineyards.com/


Jeremy's OTH is an inescapable must to or from Julian, so dinner of bison meatloaf, pork tenderloin (top choice here even if you have to split three ways to warrant the calorie onslaught) and pecan crusted lamb chop (small, not tiny, so reasonable caloric intake, but insist medium instead of house suggested medium rare).
http://www.jeremysonthehill.com/


Paired was excellent Black Rock 2008 Petite Sirah, only such bottle on their shelf, and list staple 2007 CabFranc (Shadow Mountain ?) at least its equal. Jenkins apple wine for slaking road dust is nice but sparsely flavored so a kiss of something beyond in it is a better ticket, even if only from the flask in your pocket. Still waiting for J to serve the Papyrus by the glass before I blindly spring for pricey half bottle.


Julian grape stomp is now in planning stages for anyone stalwart enough to join the caravan. See initial comment below for projected itinerary.

http://www.julianca.com/media/grape_stomp.htm

Quarterly fete famille Friday 120803 at soon shuttered El Bizcoccho was only a qualified success, mainly in that it finally came together at all.
The fare had its high points, but the wine list was an endless brand name parade with triple digit pricing and port only by the bottle, no sherry at all, no spirits list in sight.
The abbreviated list by the glass was respectable, at least re reds, but the sauterne indicated online was grievously absent.
The foodie community's extant standards for potables are sorely missing among the country club set.
The heir amused himself by banging both hands on the table in time to the cocktail piano and tossing his coloring book page on the carpet to test how dutiful his courtiers.
http://www.ranchobernardoinn.com/el-bizcocho-restaurant/


This pay period's purchases were also disappointing. Results logged at http://logabottle.com/home/wine_log.php?pu=4616
2002 Concordia passes minimal muster and looks much a bargain for 24 months oaked, but the barrels are wasted on such a tepid varietal, and the moderate ABV causes suspicion the vintage is watered.
http://logabottle.com/home/s.php?b=24939