Under the Weather …

We're on a slight break here at My Wine Education, brought on mostly by the fact that I've been hit (rather hard) by the flu. 

Bleh. 

We'll be back as soon as I can taste wine again.

Cheers, 

Michelle

Going Once, Going Twice, Sold!

I’ve always wanted to go to a wine auction and the accompanying dinner. If I could find someone to drive to Chicago with me on the morning of Dec 4, I might just try to go to this. 1982 Bordeaux … wow! Even if I don’t make it to Chicago, I will definitely try to watch the auction online on Dec 5.

For full effect, I’ve literally just pasted in most of the press release:

Hart Davis Hart to Auction Important Single-Owner Wine Collection on December 5th in Chicago

Estimated to bring $3-$4.5 million, it is the largest single cellar wine auction offered in the United States in 2009 to date

(November 4, 2009 – Chicago, IL) – Hart Davis Hart Wine Co., the internationally renowned wine auction house and retailer, will hold an exciting single-owner sale, “An Important Private Collection, Including Finest Bordeaux and Californian Wines” on December 5th at award-winning restaurant Tru (676 N. St. Clair St, Chicago). This auction presents a selection from one of the largest and most important private cellars in the world. These wines comprise a veritable library of the most esteemed wines of Europe and America from the most heralded vintages of the latter 20th and early 21st centuries. All wines were purchased from top sources and cellared in ideal professional and home storage.

Bordeaux from classic and increasingly rare vintages 1949, 1959, and 1961 will be represented alongside the greatest wines from modern vintages 1982, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 2000 and 2003. The sale features an impressive 288 lots of first growth Bordeaux, with 55 lots of Château Lafite-Rothschild spanning 15 vintages, 65 lots of Château Mouton-Rothschild spanning 17 vintages and 66 lots of Château Latour. An incredible selection of Château Pétrus covers 57 lots and is estimated to bring between $658,500 and $972,100.

Also included is a deep selection of wines from Harlan Estate, featuring 45 lots across 11 vintages estimated at roughly $200,000-$300,000, including six 12-bottle lots of the 100-point rated 1994 vintage and five 12-bottle lots of the 100-point rated 1997 vintage. Other California highlights include 23 lots of Dominus, many in double-magnum and imperial format.

The 836 lot auction, is estimated to fetch between $3.0 million and $4.5 million. It will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m at Tru Restaurant in Chicago. Attendance is open to the public and free of charge. Reservations for lunch during the auction ($75) should be made by calling Maria Elgass at 312.573.5597 or by emailing her at melgass@hdhwine.com.

To celebrate the collection, Hart Davis Hart will host a dinner at the historic, Morton’s of Chicago Steakhouse on Friday, December 4th, featuring wines from the legendary 1982 vintage from Bordeaux. Seating is extremely limited. Please contact Marc Smoler at 312.482.9766 or msmoler@hdhwine.com for more details.

Highlights from the December 5th Auction Include:
Lot 10: 1982 Château Lafite Rothschild (1 imp (6L)) (Est. $16,000-24,000)
Lot 95: 1959 Château Haut-Brion (12 bs) (Est. $12,000-18,000)
Lot 340: 1982 Château Pétrus (12 bs) (Est. $24,000-35,000)
Lot 381: 2000 Château Pétrus (12 bs) (Est. $28,000-42,000)
Lot 434: 1989 Château La Mission Haut Brion (12 bs) (Est. $7,000-10,000)
Lot 574: 2000 Montrachet Comtes Lafon (12 bs) (Est. $7,000-10,000)
Lot 609: 1996 Krug, Brut (12 bs) (Est. $2,400-3,500)
Lot 626: 1997 Sorì San Lorenzo Gaja (12 bs) (Est. $2,600-3,800)
Lot 629: 1970 Unico Bodegas Vega Sicilia (12 bs) (Est. $4,200-6,500)
Lot 716: 1997 Harlan Estate Red Wine (12 bs) (Est. $9,000-14,000)
Lot 764: 1997 Screaming Eagle (12 bs) (Est. $24,000-35,000)

Bidding Information
Auction catalogs are available through the website or by calling Hart Davis Hart (hdhwine.com; 312.482.9996). The expanded website allows bidders to view and search the auction catalog and place absentee bids online.

Hart Davis Hart’s state-of-the-art technology allows bidders worldwide to participate in the Chicago-based live auctions via the Internet. Bidders can follow the auction in the salesroom, hear the live auction, and bid against the room, all in real-time. More details about the technology can be found at www.hdhwine.com.

Bidders are encouraged to attend the auction in person, but Hart Davis Hart welcomes bids by phone, fax, through the website, and via the live-bid technology. For more information, contact Hart Davis Hart at 312.482.9996 or go to hdhwine.com.

Wine Shop Wednesday: Moving Right Along

This is the one of several recurring posts from David Lazarus about the intricacies of opening and running a wine shop. David’s posts will appear on Wednesdays.

Things are starting to settle into a routine. We closed the books on our first month and I was very pleased with how we did; sales figures surpasses what I had anticipated. We must be doing something right!

There have been loads of year-end deals from the wineries and I have been bringing in the ones I think are the best bang for the buck. Our tastings continue to be well attended and I even figured out, thanks to Michelle how to add up to date info to our calendar of events on the web site. Thanks Michelle! We have planned some fun tastings through Thanksgiving and have more treats on the drawing board before Christmas.

Though most things are going well, I am still fighting with our POS system and the company I paid to set it up. I have made it through about half of the inventory, as far as cross checking what is entered into the computer. It will be a joy when this is done and functioning as it was intended. Construction on the store is almost finished for now and things are looking very nice. We may soon move our wine pouring station into the future tasting room and wine bar.

All and all for our first month-plus, I am thrilled with how we are doing. People are responding well to our marketing technique and my concept of a wine store and we have had a number of repeat customers. Knock on wood things are going well and hopefully as winter settles in and the holidays progress they will only get better. Thanks again to all of you who have helped to make this venture a success  this far!

A Neiman Marcus Holiday

Back on October 6, Neiman-Marcus released their 83rd World Renowned Christmas Book (which is a fancy way of saying catalog). Now, this is a pretty famous catalog. First published in 1926 as a 16-page booklet, the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book was initially intended as a Christmas card to the store’s best customers. Building on tradition through the years, the book has evolved into a legendary source for alluring and mystical gifts.

I was first exposed to it through a Terry Brooks novel, Magic Kingdom for Sale–Sold! I don’t think the author referred to Neiman-Marcus
specifically, but he was talking about this catalog. From within its
pages the protagonist purchased an actual magic kingdom (no worries, I
know it’s fiction).

Since I first read that book, I’ve paid attention every year to the Fantasy Gift portion of the Christmas Book. This year, it’s after my heart. There isn’t a magic kingdom, but you can pick up a custom-built Cupcake Car or His and Hers Aircraft. There are also some fantasy wine & spirits related items:

• HALL Artisan Wine and Art Experience at HALL Winery: Learn organic, artisan winemaking firsthand, tour the estates and the art collection, and have the opportunity to create your own personal vintage in a private blending session with HALL’s Winemaker and have your custom vintage bottled for you. The Napa weekend includes accommodations at Auberge (wow!) and a private dinner party with Kathryn Hall.
  Price tag: $20,000 (page 55)
• Maker’s Mark Master Distiller Experience: All-access, VIP experience with Maker’s Mark Master Distiller, Kevin Smith. Spend a day making whiskey, step by step and take home two bottles of the rarest Maker’s Mark – golden bottles etched with your likeness and dipped in gold wax with 24-kt gold flecks. Includes luxury accommodations in Louisville and a gourmet dinner hosted by Bill Samuels, the 7th generation of Maker’s Mark owners.
  Price tag: $7,500 (page 58)

Additional wine-related items in this year’s catalog include Egermann Neiman Marcus Exclusive Crystal Champagne Flute, Wine Glass, and Water Glass ($150 each), Lalique Crystal Wine Stopper ($90 each), Waterford Crystal Colored Flute ($115 each), Waterford Crystal 12 Days of Christmas Flutes ($85 each), and Ajka Crystal Glassware ($125 each). You’ll notice that those prices are all $150 and under. I was informed that this year, over 40% of the catalog is priced at less than $250. That’s a big step for Neiman-Marcus.

You can buy the catalog for only $15. This year, however, the entire catalog is online, so you can peruse (and drool) at your leisure.

Featured Cincinnati Wine Events: Nov 7 – 13

There are some nice events coming up this week. The retailers are gearing up for the holidays. Around the first week of December, watch for some blow-out tasting events. In the meantime, check out what’s coming up over the next week.

20 Brix is having an anniversary party all week, peppered with drink and menu specials and special events. Additionally, the week finishes off with the Jungle Jim’s International Wine Festival on both Friday, Nov 13 and Saturday, Nov 14. Also on Nov 14 (but not listed because I only list through Friday), is the Taste of the World at the Aquarium. Get your tickets now for any of these events if you’re interested.

Remember, all the recurring events, those dependable weekly tastings,
are displayed on our calendar. The one-time events are after the jump.

For information on what’s going on
in Dayton, you can refer to Mark’s blog at Uncorked.

Local Wine Tasting Event Calendar

Friday Interactive Wine Tasting Map

Saturday Interactive Wine Tasting Map

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