Audio and Wine?

Good to see all my fellow AgoN members who also have a passion for wine. My wife and I just got back from a quick get-a-way up north (I live in Los Angeles) and spent some time in one of my favorite wine regions ...Paso Robles. I agree w/ Angela100 the BoonnyDoon Big House Red as well as their Barbera are outstanding for the money. I am a member of their wine club and am very seldom disapointed. Another great wine in the price v. value department is Navarro (Mendincino). Their current edition 7 of their Red Table Wine "Navarougue is an absolute winner....it sold out in a month (bought 2 cases)....great every day wine. ......and yes I am a Reidel owner as well, but since I have broken too many I am going to have to switch back to the Crate and Barrel $4.00 faux edition and break out the Reidel's (no pun intended) for special occasions.

FYI....Below are some of the "hot" Paso Robles wines I discovered on my trip or have been drinking lately:

L'Aventure 1999 Zin and 2000 Syrah and if you can find it L'Aventure "Optimus" 52% Syrah, 44% Cab Sav, 4% Zin.

Garretson 2002 Viognier, Fralich Vineyard and Aisling Syrah....Awesome!

Saxum Syrah....haven't tried it...available in Sept...but according to everyone I talked to in Paso this is the hottest Syrah produced to date in the region.

Dover Canyon 2000 Cujo Zin...gretat Zin @$18.00...also try theri Rhone blend.

Anything by Turley, Dark Star, Adelaida, Norman, Eberle, Tobin James, and Justin are high quality as well.

Also try the Alban Vineyards Estate Viognier and "Riva Estate Syrah" These wines are crafted and grown in the Edna Valley (inland from San Luis Obispo) and John Alban is known as the father of California Rhone varietals in the state.

Also.....thought I should let everyone know that I am under 40 as well.....31.....good to see the youger generation enjoying fine wine and fine audio. Who says the hobby is dying and not engaging the younger generation!

Jond, after being invloved in technology for the last several years (worked for UUNET which was aquired by WorldCom...enough said) I would like to take a crack at that the wine business....any advice?

Viridian, I'll bet you put an umbrella in your wine just like Steve Martin did in "The Jerk"

By the way, is your dog Lucky the one I saw the photo of? Three legs, torn ear, blind in one eye, neutered shortly after birth?

My honest truth opinion? After 3 glasses of wine ALL audio systems sound pretty good, it's whatever the music inspires you that takes over. Louis Armstrong's "What a beautifull world" sound much better on a cheapie boom-box than an Englebert Humperdinck sleeper playing on Sim Audio W-5. I know. When I blew a fuse, muting my amp for the rest of the evening, in came the cheapie cd-box to the rescue. After 30 min or so, I said to myself, holy cow, this ain't that bad!!!