Wilted spinach salad with carmelized onions and balsamic dressing. Served with hard-boiled egg crumbles and garlic toasty sticks.

This is George Hendry, the proprietor of Hendry Wines. I don't know if I've ever met anybody with so much spunk, pizzazz, and plain old gumption as Mr. Hendry. This guy just could not be slowed down!


After the ninth martini we cut him off and called the Mentor Police...

Hendry Zinfandels. Block 7 2002; Block 28 2001.

I thought the 2001 Block 28 had a little bit more thickness than did the '02 Block 7. Of the Hendry wines I tasted the Zins seem to be the most refined efforts.

Hendry Napa Valley Rose 2004

Good clean wine. Competitively priced for Napa pink wine. Still, when seven bucks buys you some crispy, quenching guzzler from Spain or Provence, why bother with the Napa juice?

Hendry Napa Valley Chardonnay, Dijon Clones, 2002

Really, really, really tasty fruit sullied by the unwieldly essence of oak tannin. No less is expected of the finest Napa winemakers...

Connor Park Durif, South Autralia, 2002

All thick and nasty. Ya gotta smack the bottom of the bottle to get the last drops out. Who really drinks this stuff? Go dye your teeth.

Casa Lapostolle Rapel Valley Sauvignon Blanc - Chile

The quality of the fruit was evident. The ageing in barrel was unnecessary.

Echelon Clarksburg Pinot Grigio, 'Esperanza Vineyard', 2004

I thought this wine to be far tastier than expected for mass marketed value priced stuff. Actually has some texture and palate weight. Clean finish with only the slightest hint of malo-wet-sock-ishness.

Sterling Napa Valley Pinot Noir

LoLo brought this bottle in two days after opening. Still fairly fruity. Better than I would have expected.

Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2003

Freakishly big and fruity. Massive extraction and still some acid. Having drank every vintage since '98, I'd say this is hugely drinkable, but not as gritty and thick as the '98 or '01. Visit Domaine Grand Veneur.

Chateau Tour de Grenet 2000, Lussac St. Emilion

The 'unwritten rule' of Bordeaux is pretty simple: The more windows on the chateau on the label, the better the Bordeaux. The granite tower has three windows and a door. I don't know if that little mini-tower to the left can be included in the grand window total.

Baron D'Ardeuil Buzet, 2000

A crusty loaf, a chunk of fromage, an apple, an onion, some grapes, a lusty French harlot, and a bottle of Buzet. Life is good...

Introduction

So this is what happens when a bunch of wine dicks get together at a fancypants restaurant after work on a Thursday afternoon. The official introductions will commence Thursday 05/05/05...