Sunset, many glasses of Elizabeth- Spencer wines and fantastic food from the kitchens of the Calistoga Ranch made this past Sunday memorable.
I have always been a fan of Elizabeth Spencer wines and having the perfect setting and a delicious dinner with Heidi made for a perfect summer evening in Napa Valley!

It's really so much nicer to be here when it's just friends, good food and great wines. The 95+ point tasting was a huge success.

The Wine Juggernaut attended this spectacular wine tasting at the Castello da Amorosa last Monday to taste some of the greatest wines of France, Italy & California.

Wine makers and wine lovers all tasted and between flights dined like Kings & Queens in the Great Hall.

The evening started with 1995 Krug Champagne & ended with 1967 Chateau d'Yquem. This was the WJ's second opportunity to drink '67 d'Yquem (the wine of the century according to Michael Broadbent) as I opened my only bottle previously in 1999 to announce the birth of our twins Nicky & Lara.

The tasting was blind so no preconceived opinions prevailed. Highlights were the 99 point 1985 Sassicaia (accompanied by Sassicaia's wine maker & new consultant for the CdA), the flight of three 1989's (Haut Brion, Chateau Margaux & Chateaux Lafite), the 1997 Gaja Darmagi and the WJ'S bottle of 1995 Lynch Bage.

Wine makers Kirk Venge (left) and Brooks Painter (right) enjoy the wine @ food.
Other wine highlights were the 1992 La Jota Howell Mountain, 1996 Penfolds Grange and the 1989 Lynch Bages.