Don & Sons Lucky 7
$99.99 (Normally $209.95) 52% off List Price
2010 B Side Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2009 Aquinas Philosopher's Blend, Napa Valley
2010 B Side Blend, Napa Valley
2011 The Crusher, Clarksburg Petite Sirah
2010 Don & Sons Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
2010 Project Paso Blend
2005 Used Automobile Parts Dessert 375ml
CT links above

Winery website

The Crusher is awesome. Just one of the best-made $12-17 PS out there. More accessible and darker fruit out of the bottle than Concannon, more structure and way less oak and jam than PSPS. Not the most cellarable PS, but one of my go-tos for parties, BBQs, and larger gatherings. Also, one of the wines I'd use to introduce people to PS. Highly recommended.

Now this is interesting. Had the Project Paso 2009 from World Market on sale for ~$8, and went back to get more @ ~$10. New world style, plenty of fruit but a very pleasant bottle.

Just tried some 2010 PS @ $11 also from World Market, good QPR. Not the most complex but well worth the price.

Sipping on UAP as I type, yummy, and wouldn't mind adding some more.

Bring back the Orange!

Tasted a whole lot of these at the Hallowoot tasting party. So let's go through them:

2010 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir: Nose was clean and plummy with that cola-ish type of aroma. No heat. Palate was cherry, a hint of oak, and the nice mushroom/earthy flavours I so enjoy in a good Sonoma Coast PN even though it had more the nose of a Russian River Valley PN. Nicely balanced and it improved with more air and tasting.

2010 B Side Red Blend: Initially smelled to me like a big Napa fruit bomb. Nothing much else that was distinguishing about it, though. It's a great table wine with great structure and acidity. Reminded me enough of a Ty Caton-styled wine to make a note on it.

2010 B Side Cabernet Sauvignon: Similar to the B Side Blend - very ripe Napa Cab, great balance, seemed acidulated (in a good way) and would happily vanish on any night of the week.

I feel like the mystery PS was perhaps the Crusher. I recall it smelling like a PS but tasting nothing like one to me if that was the case.

That's all folks! We've got at least two nice relatively ripe, big daily drinkers and a fairly true to varietal Sonoma Coast Pinot. Looks like a good deal for the price overall, especially if you mentally allocate $15-20 to the PN.

I also tried some of these wines at the Hallowoot tasting.

In addition to Klezman's notes above, the Sonoma coast Pinot has a solid structure and firm tannins. This is a fuller bodied pinot that is drinking well now, but can probably hold up 5+ more years. The B Side Cabernet has a blueberry, blackberry and green pepper profile. The B Side Blend has lots of sweet, lush, dark fruit on the nose and palate; some parsley in there as well.

Overall, I thought these were very drinkable wines and a good QPR.

klezman wrote:
Looks like a good deal for the price overall, especially if you mentally allocate $15-20 to the PN.

With shipping the bottle average is $15, so even allocating $20 to the Crusher doesn't make the other wines much cheaper. And rjquillan mentioned finding some of these at World Market in the $10-11 range. This doesn't seem like such a great deal to me.

So do we have an estimated date when VA will be back in the ship to list? Seems like I'm wasting my time checking every day.

Cesare wrote:Don & Sons Lucky 7
$99.99 (Normally $209.95) 52% off List Price
2010 B Side Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2009 Aquinas Philosopher's Blend, Napa Valley
2010 B Side Blend, Napa Valley
2011 The Crusher, Clarksburg Petite Sirah
2010 Don & Sons Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
2010 Project Paso Blend
2005 Used Automobile Parts Dessert 375ml
CT links above

Winery website

tradinick wrote:So do we have an estimated date when VA will be back in the ship to list? Seems like I'm wasting my time checking every day.

I think that until VA fixes the law that it broke, you are wasting your time checking every day.

Borealis wrote:With shipping the bottle average is $15, so even allocating $20 to the Crusher doesn't make the other wines much cheaper. And rjquillan mentioned finding some of these at World Market in the $10-11 range. This doesn't seem like such a great deal to me.

The Crusher is the PS, not the PN. That said, I've seen SOME of these wine in the $10-$15 range (like the PS, which is quite good), but most retail for much more. Just that half-bottle of port retails for around $50. A lot of the others are in the $30 range.
If I wasn't about to pack up and move across the county, I would definitely be mashing that "I Want One" button

Here's a linkie to Wine Enthusiast's article naming Don & Sons their 2005 American Winery of the Year. It's an older article, but at gives some nice background on the winery.

klezman wrote:Looks like a good deal for the price overall, especially if you mentally allocate $15-20 to the PN.

You also have to remember to allocate $25 for the UAP dessert bottle that drinks very well. Two for $50 and five more for $10 each. Not screaming, but a solid deal, delivered.

Winery Retail Price: $183.95
Average Shipping: $24.00
Average Tax: $7.00
Woot Shipping: (-$5.00)
Total MSRP: $209.95

Trying to figure out where woot came up with the retail price.

Pase Blend - $15
B-Side Cab - $30
B-Side Blend - $30
UAW - $45
PS - $18

This Aquinas is not listed, but four other Aquinas wines are all listed at $22 so we will go with that.

That leaves $23.95 to allocate to the PN. Nothing on their website is listed with cents, so I think woot is just wrong here, for what its worth.

Judge for yourself on the value here. The UAP has been on woot several times at $25. Someone said they got the Paso blend for $10 and the PS for $11, which appear like good prices. That leaves $54 to allocate between the PN, Aquinas and two B-Side's, which would be $13.50 per bottle and seems pretty solid.

Not to mention you will probably never see all 7 of these wines offered in the same place at the same time again (maybe not even if you walked in the winery). Too bad I am on a SIWBM.

Crap. I'm in old timey Pennsylvania. I would love to get my hands on this, particularly the B-Side.

Wait... You've always been able to ship to VA. Now you can't? What's up?

I double checked -- No laws have changed.

gooberfishbowl wrote:Wait... You've always been able to ship to VA. Now you can't? What's up?

I double checked -- No laws have changed.

This thread is relevant to your interests.

If I were buying wine, I'd be in. This is a pretty awesome pack. A little bit of everything. And while some of the bottles are available, running around and finding them = time/gas/not worth it.

Knoxjj007 wrote:Crap. I'm in old timey Pennsylvania. I would love to get my hands on this, particularly the B-Side.

What part of PA? Can't find someone in a nearby state (say, NY) to wootleg? I'm in Buffalo, if it helps.

kylemittskus wrote:If I were buying wine, I'd be in. This is a pretty awesome pack. A little bit of everything. And while some of the bottles are available, running around and finding them = time/gas/not worth it.

Good point. Some of us that live in rural areas would find it next to impossible to drive around and locate all these wines. I'm in.

I love The Crusher. Good PS that a wine bar I frequent has fairly often. Alas, Ohio isn't on the list and I have that Wellington case coming. Otherwise, I'd be in for this deal. Maybe next time.

Greetings from the Don & Sons winery to all wooters. Sorry I hoped to jump in last night but the movie The Campaign beckoned.

Please trust me this is a great lot and I am equally proud to offer it and upset that the price is too low.

Like raindrops on kittens, these are a few of my favorite things. Personally, the top of the list is the B Side red blend. Not widely available, so you may not have tried it yet. Very drinkable tannins. It has very ripe fruit but unusual Old-World like "structure"... nice pencil-lead like aromas that remind me of petit chateaux in Bordeaux.

Ill be checking in throughout the rest of the day...

Also... totally unrelated... The Crusher 2012 Big Orange is ageing nicely and will be coming to a woot near you soon!

donnysebas wrote:Also... totally unrelated... The Crusher 2012 Big Orange is ageing nicely and will be coming to a woot near you soon!

Yes! I missed it last time.

donnysebas wrote:Also... totally unrelated... The Crusher 2012 Big Orange is ageing nicely and will be coming to a woot near you soon!

Will that ship to Ohio again this year or we officially black-listed from direct sales since you guys are over the 500,000 gallon production limit? (not sure if it is 500,000 per winery or per label?)

donnysebas wrote:Also... totally unrelated... The Crusher 2012 Big Orange is ageing nicely and will be coming to a woot near you soon!

Ooooo how soon?

Also, did you up production on that this year after we mauled your entire production in a single day last year? I know that most people who went in for one last year will be in for 2 or 3 sets this year.

donnysebas wrote:Greetings from the Don & Sons winery to all wooters. Sorry I hoped to jump in last night but the movie The Campaign beckoned.

Please trust me this is a great lot and I am equally proud to offer it and upset that the price is too low.

Like raindrops on kittens, these are a few of my favorite things. Personally, the top of the list is the B Side red blend. Not widely available, so you may not have tried it yet. Very drinkable tannins. It has very ripe fruit but unusual Old-World like "structure"... nice pencil-lead like aromas that remind me of petit chateaux in Bordeaux.

Ill be checking in throughout the rest of the day...

Great to have you! What would you say the drinking windows are for these wines?

donnysebas wrote:Also... totally unrelated... The Crusher 2012 Big Orange is ageing nicely and will be coming to a woot near you soon!

Better allocate a bigger lot for the upcoming woot! offering. Got in on the last one, but barely.

donnysebas wrote:Greetings from the Don & Sons winery to all wooters.
Please trust me this is a great lot and I am equally proud to offer it and upset that the price is too low.
Ill be checking in throughout the rest of the day...

Regarding the Crusher PS, could you compare the 2010 I drank earlier this week to this 2011?

North316 wrote:Will that ship to Ohio again this year or we officially black-listed from direct sales since you guys are over the 500,000 gallon production limit? (not sure if it is 500,000 per winery or per label?)

Can't say at this time. We are always trying to open new direct-ship markets. Won't know until the Big Orange sale in 2013...

rjquillin wrote:Regarding the Crusher PS, could you compare the 2010 I drank earlier this week to this 2011?

Same grape/vineyard sourcing but a different vintage. 2011 was a difficult vintage with unusual weather patterns. Just tasted a few different lots 2011 syrah 2 wks ago and they were consistent with my memory of the 2011. Dark, dark, and dark. Meaty and savory aromas. Good PS always has a bit of cab-like olive aromas too, and this is no different.

Winedavid39 wrote:not that soon. think 2013.

Bummer. Was hoping to have it around during Christmas break again.

cmaldoon wrote:Ooooo how soon?

Also, did you up production on that this year after we mauled your entire production in a single day last year? I know that most people who went in for one last year will be in for 2 or 3 sets this year.

Yes we bumped production a BIT. Only a bit. But quantities are still limited.

trifecta wrote:Bummer. Was hoping to have it around during Christmas break again.

Sorry! If you are looking for something truly unique - the UAP old world dessert wine is very cool. No one else will bring that to the Christmas party. And how often do you have an exciting bottle of wine to open and enjoy AFTER dinner?!

Synos10 wrote:Great to have you! What would you say the drinking windows are for these wines?

Whoa. Big question. First of all, ALL of our wines are ready to drink now. If they were not ready, we would not release them. But yes within the seven there are varying horizons. The longest window is certainly the UAP dessert wine. That will age well - even after opening for many years. Fortified wines are great that way. Next up would be the B Side Red Blend. That wine has a great tannin and acid backbone that will support long bottle ageing. Do you have a specific question about any one of the wines?

ajrod27 wrote:I also tried some of these wines at the Hallowoot tasting.

In addition to Klezman's notes above, the Sonoma coast Pinot has a solid structure and firm tannins. This is a fuller bodied pinot that is drinking well now, but can probably hold up 5+ more years. The B Side Cabernet has a blueberry, blackberry and green pepper profile. The B Side Blend has lots of sweet, lush, dark fruit on the nose and palate; some parsley in there as well.

Overall, I thought these were very drinkable wines and a good QPR.

Thanks for the nice words.

donnysebas wrote:Whoa. Big question. First of all, ALL of our wines are ready to drink now. If they were not ready, we would not release them. But yes within the seven there are varying horizons. The longest window is certainly the UAP dessert wine. That will age well - even after opening for many years. Fortified wines are great that way. Next up would be the B Side Red Blend. That wine has a great tannin and acid backbone that will support long bottle ageing. Do you have a specific question about any one of the wines?

I was most curious about the B Side 2010 Cab, 2009 Aquinas Blend and the B Side Blend. Seems like those three out of the seven may best stand for a little aging.

And now that you mention it, how long in your opinion would the UAP stay prime for drinking after opening?

Synos10 wrote:I was most curious about the B Side 2010 Cab, 2009 Aquinas Blend and the B Side Blend. Seems like those three out of the seven may best stand for a little aging.

And now that you mention it, how long in your opinion would the UAP stay prime for drinking after opening?

I am not a fortified dessert wine specialist, but at least several months. One of the byproducts of ageing after opening is evaporation of water which will actually make the wine denser and flavors more acute and intense.

The three Napa reds are indeed the most ageworthy table wines of this group. Each is different and will evolve differently. The B Sides are structurally BIGGER wines, but will show finesse with age. And no I am not talking about WineDavid39's basketball skills, but that does also apply. The Aquinas is more finesse-ish now, but that does not mean less ageworthy. I actually find the more fruit-forward and big the wines, sometimes they will actually age less well. They dont have the acid "backbone" to survive...

donnysebas wrote:

And no I am not talking about WineDavid39's basketball skills, but that does also apply.

Hmmm... So, when is the next WCC wine tasting and basketball tournament?

WD may indeed have the skills. Good wine, good skills, totally unfair! And on top of it all he has the lovely WineFarm!


Back to the wine, I saw that the B-side cab got some excellent press for WIne Enthusiast a couple months back did it not? (For those who like ratings). From my tasting of it it was pretty decent and had some structure. Do you recommend a pop and pour or a longer decant? I think the bottle we had was open for 3 hours beforehand.

ddeuddeg wrote:What part of PA? Can't find someone in a nearby state (say, NY) to wootleg? I'm in Buffalo, if it helps.

Pittsburgh. I have a few woot homies in Ohio, but no shipping there, either!

Also, I love the term wootleg.

I'm kind of a newb to the woot forum, but have wooted several times.