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In French, the literal meaning of “forgeron” is “blacksmith” but more importantly, it refers to artisans who build with their hands, combining experience with an extensive knowledge of their trade. This is indeed an apt description of Marie-Eve Gilla, the winemaker and managing partner at Forgeron Cellars. The Wine Advocate has praised the winery, saying “The wines are outstanding across the board and show great textures, integrated acidity, and overall very drinkable profiles.” And tonight, you can bring home this Magnum of 2008 Forgeron Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon for your own cellar. Sold out for the general public, this intense and silky Cabernet Sauvignon will make you go weak in the knees. Giving it 90 points, The Wine Advocate calls it “…an elegant, racy, relatively forward style of cabernet. In the glass it reveals savory flavors, excellent volume, enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years, and a lengthy, pure finish.” Act now, you will NOT be disappointed.
OPENING BID
$115
INCLUDES
One 1.5-Liter Bottle
DONOR
Forgeron Cellars
Walla Walla, Washington
Dunham Cellars has established an award-winning reputation for their wines using grapes from some of the finest vineyards in the Walla Walla, Yakima, and Columbia Valleys. Its first vintage, a 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon, was deemed one of the finest wines made in Washington by Wine Enthusiast. Senior winemaker Eric Dunham creates original artworks for all of the Dunham Cellars vineyard- designated and special bottlings. This lot includes an Artist Series boxed set of Dunham’s award-winning trio from 2009—the Lewis Vineyard Merlot, the Lewis Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Lewis Vineyard Syrah—all featuring labels with Eric’s distinctive artwork. All three varietals were awarded 94 points by Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator. And for good reason…these wines are truly works of art!
OPENING BID
$175
INCLUDES
Three 750 ml Bottles
DONOR
Dunham Cellars
Walla Walla, Washington
The goodness just keeps on coming. Yet another outstanding Magnum of Chardonnay from Ramey is sure to win you over. The 2011 Russian River Valley Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay is bright, focused and wonderfully intense. One reviewer called it “vivid gold.” A wine with layers of complexity, this vintage of the Ritchie Chardonnay walks a fine line between richness and delicacy. It has a great mouthfeel that balances power and elegance. The Wine Advocate gave it 92 points, saying, “Tropical fruit is the dominant characteristic of the 2011 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard, a medium-bodied, layered, fresh, pure Chardonnay offering hints of apple blossom, pear, buttered pineapple, and orange marmalade. Enjoy this attractive white over the next three years.” What’s not to like?
OPENING BID
$95
INCLUDES
One 1.5-Liter Bottle
DONOR
Ramey Wine Cellars
Healdsburg, California
That is what the team at Ramey strives for. Their techniques are grounded in tradition and guided by innovation. The unique character of Ramey wines is such that tasting one of their exquisitely crafted varietals is an experience not soon forgotten. And the 2011 Sonoma Coast Platt Vineyard Chardonnay is no exception. It received 92 points from The Wine Advocate: “The Platt Vineyard is excellent: full-bodied and fairly rich, yet with a firm acid backbone. It is long and crisp on the palate, with a range of quality aromas/flavors.” And the review from Antonio Galloni speaks for itself: “The 2011 Chardonnay Platt Vineyard is direct and focused in style…with nuances that are alive in the glass. There is a lot to look forward to here.” Don’t hesitate…make this Magnum yours tonight!
OPENING BID
$95
INCLUDES
One 1.5-Liter Bottle
DONOR
Ramey Wine Cellars
Healdsburg, California
Ramey wines are pure California in a bottle…and now you can take a little piece of California home with you as the winning bidder of this lot. A Magnum of 2011 Napa-Carneros Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay awaits the winning bid. Hudson Vineyard wines tend to a more muscular, masculine character—broad-shouldered, if you will. Reviews describe this wine as full-bodied and supple, with excellent depth and balance, displaying a restrained fruitiness. Awarding this vintage 91 points, Robert Parker says, “With adequate acidity as well as an up-front, precocious, quick-to-mature style, it should be consumed over the next 3-4 years.”
OPENING BID
$95
INCLUDES
One 1.5-Liter Bottle
DONOR
Ramey Wine Cellars
Healdsburg, California
At Ramey, the goal is to craft wines that are in perfect balance…they like to say they are guided by the soul of the land. David Ramey has been described as a visionary in the wine industry and his skill and expertise certainly shows in his collection of Chardonnays. A Magnum of the newly-released Ramey 2011 Napa-Carneros Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay could be yours for the taking if you play your cards right. This vintage—a super-classic Chardonnay—displays the richness of fully mature fruit coupled with crisp, refreshing acidity. The Hyde Vineyard bottling is more luscious in style; a complex wine of exceptional quality. It is richly flavored, full-bodied, very long on the palate, and crisp and very long on the finish. Savor its marvelous textural balance and finesse and remember that The Wine Advocate gave it 93 points for a reason. With excellent purity and hints of tropical fruit that linger on the close, this Chardonnay has surprising length and richness for a 2011.
OPENING BID
$95
INCLUDES
One 1.5-Liter Bottle
DONOR
Ramey Wine Cellars
Healdsburg, California
Château Les Ormes de Pez, also in the Saint-Estèphe region, is a historic vineyard run by the Cazes family, also owners of Château Lynch-Bages. A case of their 2000 Château Les Ormes de Pez Bordeaux is yours for the taking tonight with this special donation from a private local wine cellar. Bring a taste of France home with you to enjoy for many years to come. In pristine condition, this wine was rated with a score of 89 by Wine Spectator and its optimal window for drinking is between now and 2025.
OPENING BID
$750
INCLUDES
Twelve 750ml Bottles
DONOR
Private
Château Sociando-Mallet is a Bordeaux wine producer in the Haut-Médoc appellation located north of Saint-Estèphe, France. The wines from Sociando-Mallet are, by tradition, long-keeping wines whose greater vintages can easily be savored after 30 years in the cellar. Robert Parker gave the 1999 vintage 89 points, saying that the wine is “medium-bodied…with a long/persistent finish and…excellent concentration and purity.” Cellared since its purchase, the anticipated maturity of this case of Bordeaux is between now and 2020. Act now and make it yours just in time for peak enjoyment.
OPENING BID
$700
INCLUDES
Twelve 750ml Bottles
DONOR
Private
When it comes to wine, France stands alone. No other country can beat it in terms of quality and diversity. And this 1989 Petrus Pomerol is a knockout, a hands-down unbeatable red. It received 100 points from The Wine Advocate: “Every bit the blockbuster concentrated effort…in the mouth the wine cuts a broad swath, with spectacular intensity, richness, massive concentration, and high levels of tannin, yet the wine is fabulously well-delineated and has a finish that goes on for nearly a minute…as prodigious as Petrus can be.” Wine Spectator also gave it 100 points: “It’s a giant, yet also sophisticated and reserved. Full-bodied, with opulent fruit and a depth of flavor that lasts for minutes on the palate.” All we can say is, “Wow.”
OPENING BID
$3,750
INCLUDES
One 750ml Bottle
DONOR
Private
Consider this lot the “inside track” to the valley’s best entertainment, offering a special selection of exclusive local cultural delights to the highest bidder.
Don’t miss out on this one…to start, included are premium tickets to all of the Company of Fools performances for the 2014/2015 theater season. The upcoming season includes Peter and the Starcatcher, based on the book by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, the award-winning Proof, and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang.
The winner of tonight’s lot will also be privy to a unique theater experience. The Company of Fools core ensemble will come to your home for a private play reading, along with a case of amazing wine and appetizers to share. And to make it even more memorable, a different character from 12 different plays will write one love letter to the winning bidder for 12 months (the letter and play will be sent to you).
Theater, music, dance, readings, classes, lectures … together, Company of Fools and The Center offer it all. Continue your cultural escapades with two tickets to The Center’s esteemed and ever-popular lecture series AND fabulous (and usually sold out) winter concert series with reserved seats.
Finally, the winner receives two Premier Cru tickets for next year’s Wine Auction, which will include first choice for the coveted 2015 Vintner Dinners.
Let the fun begin!
Blackout dates for the play reading are December, 2014 and July, 2015. Reading to take place at the winner’s home.
OPENING BID: $2,000
INCLUDES
SVCA Winter Concert Series Tickets for Two
SVCA Lecture Series Tickets for Two
Company of Fools Season Theater Tickets for Two
Private Play Reading with Wine and Appetizers
SVCA Wine Auction Premier Cru Tickets for Two
DONOR
Sun Valley Center for the Arts & Company of Fools