Dear Oenophile,

Taxes are over, the war is over, winter is over and spring is here (at least in Napa). It's dang close to chardonnay time. We don't offer whites much, just the ones that really make an impression. Check out the Plumpjack offer below, too.

2001 NEYERS "Theriot Vineyard" Chardonnay $44 ** 94** points WS

This wine just got a **94** from Wine Spec, so I bought a few cases. Then I drank one Friday and ordered some more - this is killer stuff and worthy of the 94, I think. It's also one of the first finished wines I've had from the SUPERB 2001 vintage. AND- it's Bruce Neyers, who is a super local guy and works for Kermit Lynch, AND his winemaker is Ehren Jordan, of Turley. Production is small, it will sell out immediately, AND, we have the best price in the country! So? This wine is very complex, layered, spicy but not from tons of oak. It has good acidity, long finish, and has a wonderful tangerine-peel, rosewater kind of essence going on. I had some for Easter and it was perfect. Only 3 cases left.

2001 NEYERS Carneros Chardonnay $23 ** 91 points ** Wine Spectator

As above- excellent all around quality and a superb value.

2001 NEYERS "Hudson Vineyard" Syrah $37

This wine has consistently scored in the 90's over and over, and we believe this is his best ever, from the fantastic 2001 vintage. The Hudson vineyard produces grapes for some of the world's cultiest cults- MARCASSIN, KONGSGAARD, KISTLER, etc. Best of all, the price went down, and ours is the lowest you will find. Worth a shot, my friends.

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NEW COLLECTION - our usual eclectic cuvee' of ambrosia at untouchable prices!

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9 1999 Arns Cabernet $44
8 1998 Bryant Family Pritchard Hill Cabernet $349
1 1997 Caymus Special Selection 6 LITER $2,339
1 1995 Dalla Valle MAYA $429
4 1999 Fisher Wedding Vineyard Cabernet $125 93+ ST
24 1999 Galleron TAPLIN Vineyard Cabernet $59 excellent stuff!
4 1996 Groth Reserve Cabernet $124
8 1999 Harlan Estate Cabernet $399 !!
1 1997 Silver Oak Alexander 6 liter $799
1 1985 Marston Family Vineyard $39
9 1998 Rudd Estate Jericho Cab $69 ! (RP 95)
11 1999 Sine Qua Non ICARUS $159 !!
6 1997 Volker Eisele Cabernet 1.5 liter $69
6 1999 Volker Eisele Cabernet $36
4 1997 Wightman Tri-Leopard Cabernet $48
1 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Carter Vyd. 1996 $36.00
1 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Guadalupe Vyd. 1998 $44.00
1 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Guadalupe Vyd. 1999 $44.00
11 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Nysa - Guadalupe Vyd. 1998 $44.00
2 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Nysa Vyd. 1999 $43.00

BIG PJ OFFER (lots of '97!) - by far the lowest prices in world, too ---

This is the most PJ I've ever seen in one place (and it came direct from the winery). For those of you not familiar, these are big, bad Napa cabs with the magic touch of Nils Venge (Groth, Saddleback, Venge, and countless other micro-wineries). They are huge, sweet, extracted, oaky wines that will last for decades (think Caymus SS, Dunn, Pahlmeyer, Groth Reserve, etc.). Hard to find and just a fine operation all around, lots of great Parker scores. Get some.

23 1995 Plumpjack Mt. Eden Estate Cabernet $79
8 1996 Plumpjack Founders Reserve Cabernet $71/$115
1 1997 Plumpjack Reserve Cabernet 2 bottle pack in wood (1 cork, 1 screw cap) $329 (sells for $500 all over)
1 1997 Plumpjack Reserve Cabernet 3 LITER $699 *in wood*
1 1998 Plumpjack Reserve Cabernet 3 LITER $499 *in wood*
1 1997 Plumpjack Merlot $39 !
5 1997 Plumpjack Merlot MAGNUM $86 !!

WORLD WINES IN STOCK ---------------

17 Clinet 1996 magnum $229.00 91+ RP
12 Beaune Greves, Vougeraie 1999 $54.00
11 Bonnes Mares, Bertheau 1996 $114.00
3 Bonnes Mares, Louis Jadot 1999 $121.00 92 ST
30 Chambertin Clos De Beze, Drouhin Laroze 1998 $86.00
1 Chambertin Clos De Beze, Giroud 1996 $154.00
8 Chambolle Musigny Les Fuees, J. F. Mugnier 1999 $63.00
3 Chambolle Musigny Premier Cru, Vogue 1997 $119.00
1 Chapelle Chambertin, Jadot 1988 $113.00 93 WS
1 Clos de la Roche, Giroud 1995 $114.00
3 Clos de la Roche, Rousseau 1997 $73.00
6 Clos Vougeot Le Grand Maupertuis, A. Gros 1999 $165.00 92-94 RP
11 Clos Vougeot, Drouhin Laroze 1998 $66.00 90 BH
1 Clos Vougeot, Giroud 1990 $176.00
5 Clos Vougeot, Joseph Drouhin 1997 $94.00
1 Corton Bressandes, Tollot Beaut 1985 $108.00 90 RP
7 Corton Clos des Cortons, Faiveley 1995 $90.00
12 Echezeaux, Rouget 1998 $121.00
1 G. Chambertin Clos St. Jacques, Rousseau (WSL) 1998 magnum $168.00 92 BTI $329 (sells for $500 all over)
1 G. Chambertin Clos St. Jacques, Rousseau 1998 magnum $194.00 92 BTI
1 Gevrey Chambertin Clos De Ruchottes, Rousseau 1997 $63.00
3 Gevrey Chambertin Evocelles, Vougeraie 1999 $45.00
3 Gevrey Chambertin Les Cazetiers, LeClerc 1985 $111.00
1 Gevrey Chambertin Les Platiere, Leclerc 1985 $93.00 90 WS
3 Grands Echezeaux, Jadot 1997 $125.00 90 RP
1 Griottes Chambertin, Chezeaux (SOS) 1988 $95.00 90 WS
1 La Tache, Domaine de la Romanee Conti 1992 $426.00
2 Latricieres Chambertin, Remy 1964 $288.00
7 Mazis Chambertin, Giroud 1996 $123.00 90-93 ST
1 Morey St. Denis Les Chaffots, Magnien et Fils 1999 $78.00 92+ RP
4 Morey St. Denis Les Millandes, Magnien et Fils 1999 $78.00 92+ RP
6 Musigny Vieilles Vignes, Vogue 1993 magnum $836.00 93 WS
11 Musigny, Drouhin Laroze 1998 $199.00
11 Musigny, Vougeraie 1999 $216.00
3 Nuits St. Georges Les Chaboeufs, J. Confuron 1990 $109.00 93 RP
12 Nuits St. Georges Les Roncieres, Grivot 1998 $51.00
1 Nuits St. Georges Les St. Georges Rare, D. Laurent 1996 $85.00 90-93 ST
2 Nuits St. Georges Les St. Georges, Robert Chevillon 1989 $101.00
4 Nuits St. Georges, Rouget 1996 $78.00 90 WS
1 Nuits St.Georges Corvees Pagets 1er Cru Rare, Laurent 1996 $85.00
52 Pommard Clos des Epeneaux, Comte Armand 1998 $54.00
6 Pommard Les Vignots, Leroy 1998 $116.00 90+ RP
4 Pommard, Jadot 1996 $109.00 92 WS
3 Richebourg, Grivot 1998 $201.00 93 ST
2 Ruchottes Chambertin, C. Roumier 1988 $148.00
2 Savigny Les Beaune Grands Liards VV, Camus Bruchon 1996 $61.00
1 Savigny Les Beaune Serpentieres, Maurice Ecard 1996 $56.00 90 RP
15 Volnay Fremiets, Comte Armand 1999 $48.00
1 Volnay, Hubert de Montille 1994 $33.00
9 Vosne Romanee Les Beaux Monts, Grivot 1998 $59.00
2 Vosne Romanee Les Beaux Monts, Violland 1988 $119.00
1 Vosne Romanee, Domaine R. Arnoux 1997 $44.00
7 Vosne Romanee, Rouget 1996 $68.00
5 Vosne Romanee, Rouget 1999 $51.00
1 Vougeot Les Cras, B. Ambroise 1998 $43.00
1 Batard Montrachet, Henri Clerc 1999 $110.00
2 Batard Montrachet, J.N. Gagnard 1987 $309.00
9 Batard Montrachet, Marc Morey 1999 $181.00
11 Chassagne Montrachet Les Chaumes, Colin Deleger 1996 $68.00
3 Chassagne Montrachet Les Chaumes, Deleger 1996 magnum $144.00
4 Chassagne Montrachet Morgeot, Colin Deleger 1996 $100.00 95 WS
1 Chevalier Montrachet Clos des Chevaliers, Jean Charton 1998 $173.00
1 Chevalier Montrachet, Bouchard 1999 magnum $340.00 90 RP
1 Chevalier Montrachet, Jadot 1995 $240.00
1 Chevalier Montrachet, Leflaive 1982 $296.00
5 Meursault Charmes, Verget 1995 $96.00
12 Meursault, Coche Dury 1996 $263.00
2 Montrachet Grand Cru, Coutox 1998 $300.00
3 Montrachet, Lafon 1994 $1,221.00 94 WS
5 Puligny Montrachet Champ Gain, Girardin 1998 $40.00 90 WS
10 Puligny Montrachet Clos de la Mouchere, Boillot 1999 $55.00
90 RP 1 Puligny Montrachet Combettes, Henri Clerc 1999 $54.00
6 Puligny Montrachet Combettes, Sauzet 1999 $201.00 94 WS
1 Puligny Montrachet Ensiegnier, Verget 1998 $93.00
57 Chateauneuf du Pape La Cuvee Du Papet, Mont Olivet 1998 $126.00
95 RP 2 Cote Rotie, Clusel Roch 1989 $208.00 90 RP
6 Crozes Hermitage Les Varonnieres, Chapoutier 1997 $83.00 90 RP
5 Gigondas, Les Pallieres 2000 $31.00 90-93 RP
2 Hermitage Le Meal Rouge, Chapoutier (SL) 1997 $168.00 91-94 RP
12 Hermitage Le Meal Rouge, Chapoutier 1997 $189.00 91-94 RP
1 St. Joseph, Cave de St. Desirat 1998 $26.00
1 Hermitage Blanc Chevalier de Sterimberg, Jaboulet Aine 1994 $68.00
7 Ostertag Pinot Gris Zellberg 1999 $39.00 91 RP
11 Trimbach Pinot Gris SGN 1989 375ml $86.00 90 WS
1 Weinbach Pinot Gris Alten. Cuvee Laurence 1997 375ml $39.00 93+ RP
7 Weinbach Pinot Gris SGN 1996 375ml $90.00 94 WS
4 Weinbach Riesling Ste. Catherine 1997 $59.00 92 RP
4 Weinbach Tokay Pinot Gris VT 1995 375ml $59.00
2 Zind Humbrecht Riesling Heimbourg 1999 $48.00 90 WS
4 Zind Humbrecht Riesling Herrenweg 1999 $34.00 91 WS
6 Zind Humbrecht Riesling Turckheim 1999 $30.00 90 WS

Cheers -

Stefan Blicker
Wine Director

Benchmark Wine Group
902 Enterprise Way
Suite I
Napa, CA 94558
707.255.3500 ph.
707.255.3503 fax
stefan@benchmarkwine.com