Say Hey! Here's Your Wine!

SAY HEY!

......... DO I HAVE A WINE FOR YOU!!

Dear Wine Friend,

When I was a kid I used to idolize Willie Mays...the "Say Hey Kid"! I would religiously check his name in the box score every morning in the SF Chronicle's sporting green. To me, Willie was right up there with Roy Rogers and Davy Crockett. Willie's amazing "Cirque du Soleil" feats in centerfield and around the bases were super human! There will never be another Willie Mays!

Happy 79th Birthday Willie!

NEXT! My social networking specialists insists I remind you we just launched The Wine Consultant on Facebook and Twitter, so please join in the fun and follow us there by clicking on these two iconic links.

HERE'S YOUR WINE!!

de Trafford 07 Chenin Blanc and 05 Elevation 393

On Monday, Renee and I were thrilled to lunch with South Africa's superstar wine producer David Trafford and his importer at Salt House in San Francisco. David had just participated in a Hospice du Rhone seminar and was on his way to New York. We shared a bottle of his splendid barrel fermented 07 Chenin Blanc ($27.95 - 91 points WS) arriving Friday. BUT THE REAL SHOW STOPPER was David's 05 de Trafford Elevation 393!

A perfectly balanced, sexy, curveous, ripe, rich luscious cuvee of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah!! AN ABSOLUTELY GLORIOUS WINE!!! Just 150 cases were produced. Only 24 bottles minus the one we drank made it to the west coast. We purchased it all. Don't say yikes at $99.95 a bottle, as it is worth every penny of it....I SWEAR!! The Wine Spectator has totally underscored it at 94 points (I would score it 97 points). However, WS editor James Molesworth's tasting notes are worthy descriptors:

"This offers plenty of dark toast, braised fig and cocoa powder notes backed by a solid core of currant paste and plum sauce. The long, velvety finish has lots of power, but the tannins are fine-grained and thoroughly embedded. Terrific acidity is buried deep as well. An impressive combination of power, balance and elegance. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz. Best from 2010 through 2014. 150 cases made." -JM - 94 points