The Auswine Forum

Hello,

Does anyone know of any good wine stores anywhere in Arizona (USA), although around Scottsdale would be ideal, or could anyone put me in the right direction (maybe post on eBob)?

My mother is over there at the moment and is happy to bring 3 bottles back for me, so I thought I would use the opportunity to sample some of USA's finest at a price cheaper than I would need to buying from here (still probably not that cheap!).

Any help would be appreciated, including any wine recommendations (no Zins please).

By the way, I understand that the wine laws in Arizona are a little behind the times in that wine can not be supllied to a consumer unless it has gone through a wholesaler in that state.

Kind regards,
Adair

Adair

I'd post this on eBob. you are much more likely to get more locals answering.

Mike

Yeah, I thought so... but then I might get abused for not liking Zins. Seriously, I think I will in the next few hours.

Thanks,
Adair

Use wine-searcher, as it works by state over here.

Mike

Adair
I usually check wine-searcher, which turned this place up. 2490 wines seems a decent number to choose from.


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Name Type Services Address (USA) Web

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AZ Wine
Retail
Wines:2490
W-Wide Delivery
Wine Club 2515 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 15, Scottsdale, AZ 85257 Price-List

Excellent. Thanks for that. I just looked at Wine Searcher - http://www.wine-searcher.com - as well as the wine list at AZ Wine: http://www.azwineco.com/WINES.html

Now for the harder question, what am I going to buy?

I thought it best to limit myself to Napa Cabernet as nothing else American has the worldwide acclaim of these wines. I see that RPjr. rates the 2001 and 2002 vintages very highly (1997, 1995 amd 1994 before that).

Any recommendations on possibly available Napa Cabernets that could be served on any great tables of the world?

Adair

2001 Abreu Cabernet Sauvignon Thorevilos 99 N/A Young
2001 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 99 $130.00 Young
2001 Shafer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select 99 N/A Young
2001 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 98 $150.00 Young
2001 Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Peterson Family Vineyard 98 $72.00 Early Maturity
2001 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 98 N/A Young
2001 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder 97 $135.00 Early Maturity
2001 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 97 $185.00 Young
2001 Abreu Cabernet Sauvignon Madrona Ranch 97 N/A Young
2001 Bond St Eden 97 $175.00 Early Maturity
2001 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve 96 $100.00 Young
2001 St Clement Cabernet Sauvignon Star Vineyard 96 $80.00 Young
2001 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon 96 $80.00 Young
2001 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain 96 $135.00 Young
2001 Behrens and Hitchcock Cabernet Sauvignon 96 $60.00 Young
2001 Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard 96 N/A Young
2001 Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard 95 N/A Early Maturity
2001 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 95 $135.00 Young
2001 Lewelling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard 95 $50.00 Early Maturity
2001 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Reserve 95 N/A Young
2001 Rudd Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown 95 N/A Early Maturity
2001 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 95 $50.00 Young
2001 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 95 $90.00 Early Maturity
2001 Jones Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 95 $85.00 Early Maturity
2001 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon St Helena Home Vineyard 95 N/A Early Maturity
2001 Hundred Acre Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan Vineyard 95 $225.00 Early Maturity
2001 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa 95 $125.00 Young
2001 Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon 95 $90.00 Early Maturity
2001 Staglin Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 94 $110.00 Young
2001 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 94 $120.00 Early Maturity
2001 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon RBS 94 $135.00 Early Maturity
2001 St Clement Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 94 $70.00 Early Maturity
2001 Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (94-96) $225.00 Young
2001 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Moffet Vineyard M Bar 94 N/A Young
2001 Merus Cabernet Sauvignon (94-97) $95.00 Young
2001 Tor Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 4 94 $62.00 Early Maturity
2001 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon 94 N/A Early Maturity
2001 Conn Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 94 $65.00 Early Maturity
2001 Bond Vecina (94-96) N/A Young
2001 Behrens and Hitchcock Cabernet Sauvignon Dr Crane Vineyard 93 $60.00 Early Maturity
2001 Behrens and Hitchcock Cabernet Sauvignon Kenefick Ranch 93 $65.00 Young
2001 Fisher Cabernet Sauvignon Lamb Vineyard 93 N/A Young
2001 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon 93 $65.00 Early Maturity
2001 Robert Keenan Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Spring Mountain 93 $75.00 Young
2001 Tor Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 4 West Block 93 $53.00 Early Maturity
2001 Lewelling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 93 $35.00 Early Maturity
2001 Seavey Cabernet Sauvignon 93 $64.00 Young
2001 Larkmead Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Solari Reserve 93 $60.00 Early Maturity
2001 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Vineyard 93 $135.00 Early Maturity
2001 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard 93 $150

Thanks for the help.

In the end I went with Village Wine Cellar.

Yesetrday I picked up the wines from my mother. Here they are:

Front Labels:


Back Labels:

2001 Keenan "Reserve" Cabernet Sauvignon, 2002 Viader "Proprietary Blend" Cabernets, and 2001 Merryvale "Beckstoffer Vineyard Clone Six" Cabernet Sauvignon

I paid $US 90 for the 2002 Viader "Proprietary Blend" Cabernets.

I paid $US 99 for the 2001 Merryvale "Beckstoffer Vineyard Clone Six" Cabernet Sauvignon.

I paid $US 80.50 for the 2001 Keenan "Reserve" Cabernet Sauvignon.

$269.50 for the wine plus 8% Sales Tax of $21.43
TOTAL = $US 290.93.

As well as some issues with the man I spoke to understanding my Australian accent, there was an amusing moment when he asked me whether I might like some Torbreck!

Kind regards,
Adair

Adair

I think you will like the Viader. Its been a while since I've tasted one but in the past it was quite a nice drop. Don't know much about the Keenan or the Merryvale. FWIW I'm told Parker is a fan of the Keenan, but not the other two.

Its a pity you didn't have a larger number of stores to select from - the 2002 Viader and Merryvale go for about $70-75/bottle here in San Diego. That is the biggest problem with buying wine over here - some of the differences in price between stores can be huge.

Look forward to any TNs you might put on these wines,
Mike

Wine Advocate - January, 2004 / Issue 150:
2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Spring Mountain: Another limited cuvee of less than 300 cases made completely from Keenan's Spring Mountain estate. An inky saturated purple color is accompanied by aromas of creosote, crème de cassis, melted licorice, espresso, and toast. It boasts fabulous richness along with a big, rich, medium to full-bodied personality without a lot of weight or astringent tannin. The finish lasts for 35-40 seconds. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring; it should last for two decades. 93+

Wilfred Wong - March 3, 2005:
2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Spring Mountain: 93 POINTS WILFRED WONG. (Tasted: March 3, 2005, Concord, CA USA) Deep ruby color; outstanding aroma of ripe black currant fruit, excellent depth of fruit, youthful but already showing its charms, enticing; medium bodied, full, dense and glycerol laden on the palate, fine tannins; dry, very good acidity, good balance; pleasing, ripe fruit flavors, fine concentration of fruit; medium to lingering finish, fine young aftertaste. (Best Served 2008-2015) [85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot] [279 cases produced]

Looks alright.

With regard to buying wine, given that every State seems to have its own laws, there is no wonder why prices differ so much.

I will definitely post tasting notes. I have paid too much money not to have a strong opinion one way or the other.

Adair