This year eight blockbuster magnums will go head to head in what is being hailed as the Greatest Magnum Madness Tournament of the Decade.  Will the 2006 Leonardini Vineyard Cabernet overwhelm its opponents with its size and power?  Or will the supremely confident 2006 Napa Merlot run roughshod to the Final Four?

Last year it was all about a team of destiny.  The 2005 Rutherford Cabernet won a stunning upset over  the much sought after 2005 Reserve Cabernet.  The 2005 Reserve didn’t make the tournament this year but the 2006 Reserve Cabernet secured a last minute at-large birth.  Could this new comer with its “smooth” delivery take it all?  Stay tuned.

In the meantime you can enjoy the Elite Eight for $740 (shipping included) or pick a couple of your favorites. Get in the game!  And in true March Madness fashion, we’ve created brackets…

Things You Will Need:
- Whitehall Lane Wines
- Oscar themed invitations
- Oscar Ballots, pens  (download your 2010_oscar_ballot here)
- Microphone
- Movie Posters
- Party Food
- Television
- Fake Oscar Statue
- Wine Glasses
- Polaroid Camera
- Red Carpet

TIPS:
- Send out custom invitations. Evite has some great electronic options.
- Request your guests to wear formal award attire.
- Dress for the Oscars. Have fun with it! Wear your jewels, gowns, & tuxes.
- Make a 90-minute mix tape of recognizable movie themes to play in the background.
- Announce guests over a microphone as they arrive. For example, “And now please welcome last year’s winner of the best winemaker, Dean Sylvester.”
-Roll out a Red Carpet in your Foyer and set up mini spotlights to create drama.
- Take polaroid’s of your guests “Red Carpet” Experience.
- Download Oscar ballot. Have your guests fill out their picks prior to the show. The guest with the most correct will win the faux Oscar.

Lastly, sit back, relax, sip some Whitehall wine and enjoy the Oscars!

We hope to see you all at the next “Pick Up” party scheduled for May 16, 2010.  Mark those calendars!

I hoped I wouldn’t have to give these two a beatdown or toss them into the tasting room turnbuckle.  My palms were a bit sweaty as I introduced myself to Smackdown Champion Drew McIntyre and ECW General Manager/WWE Diva Tiffany.

As it turned out, they weren’t looking for a fight, just some great Napa Valley wine.  And that’s probably just as well since they were really too nice to squash.  In fact, Tiffany is all about elegance, like our chardonnay.  But, I think she also has the power and finesse that’s found in our Merlot!  Drew was definitely a Reserve Cabernet… bold, big, excellent structure while also displaying charm.  (I’ll take a case of all three!)

They are great people who were interested in the subtleties of wine and enjoying a fun afternoon in Napa Valley.  They spent a little time in the cellar and if our forklift ever breaks down, Drew could easily move our barrels around (full!)   They left with some wine and new fans and we came away with an autographed big bottle.  It’s on display in our Tasting Room.  No appointment necessary.

We recently renamed one of our prized vineyards and solicited our Wine Club for help.  The Name That Vineyard contest drove in numerous creative entries.  Some of the brilliant submittals referenced the Leonardini family name and the Lion.  Also, the Wappo Indians who settled in the Napa Valley region were recognized.  Other intriguing names were Edge, 20 Acres, Extreme and Elation. Unfortunately, these names were so impressive that other wineries or vineyards already use them. One entry referenced 2000, the year that our family purchased the vineyard.  However, the suggestion, “Millennium Vineyard”, is presently being used by wineries in Oregon and Nebraska.  So we adapted the name and came up with (drum roll please) . . . . . . . Millennium 2000 Vineyard.  And from there we chose Roman Numerals for 2000 so it won’t be confused with the vintage date on the label.   So it is now Millennium MM Vineyard.

Congratulations to Wine Club member Bruce Hunter for submitting the Millennium name.   Thank you for joining us to ring in the Whitehall Millennium.

This wine beat out every other California Cabernet Sauvignon, Meritage wine and Cabernet based proprietary blend to take this award. Check out this great picture I found in the archives. Tom Leonardini Sr. holding the crystal decanter trophy, pictured with noted author and consultant editor Steven Spurrier. Steven Spurrier was the mastermind behind the 1976 blind tasting of French and California wines.

Try our trophy winner with this Smoky Aztec Coffee Steak and turn a cold night into a sizzling one!

Smoky Aztec Coffee Steak
Dry Rub for Steaks:
- 4 clove garlic
- 1 1/2 tbsps cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp sea salt
- 1 1/2 tsps brown sugar
- 2 tsps black pepper
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp ancho chile (pasilla) powder
- 1 1/2 tbsps espresso beans- finely ground
- 4 rib eye steaks

Directions:
- First things first, pour one or two glasses of 2002 Reserve to help get your creative chef juices flowing.
- Mince the garlic and place half in a small bowl. Add the cocoa powder, sea salt, sugar, spices, and coffee. Using a fork, mash to incorporate the minced garlic well with spices.
- Rub the spice mixture all over the steak and let stand at room temperature. Preheat grill.
- Grill steaks as desired. Let rest for 10 minutes.
- Pour another glass or two of 2002 Reserve… Bon Appetit!

Can’t wait till December to find out what your favorite Napa Valley winery scored? Well neither could I. Here’s a little sneak peak:
2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
- TOP 100 CELLAR SELECTION OF 2009
- 94 POINTS
“… this wine pours inky black, and feels softly ripe in the mouth, with pie-filling blackberries, cherries, mocha, plums, tobacco and sweet dusty spices.”
(Mmmm… I know what I’m bringing to Gramma’s Thanksgiving dinner table.)
2006 Merlot
- 92 POINTS
- EDITORS’ CHOICE AWARD *2nd year in a row
“A beautiful Merlot, noble and classic. Absolutely lovely now, with fine, brisk tannins framing flavors of cherries, herbs and sweet oak, and a lingering finish.”
(Yoo Whoo. Sounds like I can cross Uncle Jim, Aunt Diane, and Papa Joe off my Christmas list this year. And at only $15 for a half bottle I may have to fill up my own stocking with this award winner too.)