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2011 HOSPICE DU RHÔNE - PASO ROBLES, CA -

2011 HdR :

The 'winnah! - again!'

Some statistics on the Rhône wine auction lots held at the 18th annual Hospice du Rhône on Saturday, April 30, 2011, in Paso Robles, CA. The HdR is a two-day event featuring wine seminars, all-Rhône tastings, and a barrel auction, each with perhaps the most perfect opportunity to meet and talk with the producers who are at the forefront of the increasingly visible Rhône movement. Presenters and attendees come from all over the US - as well as France, Australia, and South Africa. Many wineries will donate a 1/4 barrel, a 1/2 barrel or even a full barrel (20 cases) of wine from their caves and cellars for this event; still others will donate rare case lots or large format bottles.

Auctioneer Todd Ventura was very effective in getting the crowd warmed up and well into the bidding, while bidders lunched on some fabulous food from chef Budi Kazali's Ballard Inn, Ballard, CA.

I've been to a few auctions and done a little on-line surfing of popular auction websites, but these lots weren't something you'd see on e-bay or winecommune. Of course, neither were the final bids for that matter. It's interesting to see how many of these lots are bought by restaurateurs. It would appear if you paid close attention to the buyers, you might indeed be able to try some of these wines on your next visit to one of these particular restaurants.

Lot
Donor
Item
Bid
1
L'Aventure Winery
4 magnums +
VIP tour and tasting for 6
$ 1,100
2
Chateauneuf du Pape
11 magnums +
CdP Book wine book
$ 6,500
3
Boulevard Restaurant
Dinner for 4 + Cellar Wines
$ 3,750
4
Domaine Yves Cuilleron
12 magnums
$ 2,600
5
the girl & fig restaurant - a Fig Weekend for 10
dinner and wines paired
$ 4,250
6
Domaine Thunevine-Calvet
1 double magnum
$ 1,100
7
Paul Lato Wines
3 - 3L bottles
$ 5,000
8
Tavel Rose Collection & Private Tour
20 - 750s
$ 2,500
9
Miner Family Vineyards
12 magnums +
24 750's
$ 2,700
10
Torbreck Vintners
3 - 3L bottles
$ 4,700
11
Wines from Denner, Epoch, Saxum, Torrin, Villa Creek
19 magnums +
2 double magnums +
dinner for 10
$ 8,600
12
Domaines Pierre Gaillard
6 magnums
$ 3,100
13
Callaghan Vnyds, Dos Cabezas, FnB Restaurant
chef's table dinner for 4 + private tours and tastings + two rooms
$ 4,000
14
Domaine du Clos des Fees 
1 - 3L
$ 900
15
Hospice du Rhone at Blackberry Farm
event admission x2 +
3 nights accomodations +
gourmet meals
$ 5,500
16
Domaine du Roc des Anges
1 magnum +
private vnyd and winery tour
$ 1,200
17
Les Vin de Vienne - Yves Cuilleron, François Villard
9 magnums
$ 1,800
18
Alban-Carroll Dinner for 4 with Wines
dinner for 4 +
cellar wines
$ 6,000
19
Saxum Vineyards
1-3L
$ 4,300
20
Domaine François Villard
12 mags
$ 4,000
21
Noon Winery - Eclipse
1 magnum +
1-750ml
$ 1,300
22
Melville Winery
1 double magnums +
3 - 750ml +
VIP tasting, tour, lunch
$ 2,400

2011 HdR : Tastings | Seminars | Auction Lots | Photo Journal


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