Dierberg and Star Lane?

An acquaintance has asked me if I am interested in buying a mixed half case of Dierberg and Star Lane wines. Three bottles are Dierberg "Steven" Pinot and three bottles are Star Lane "Astral" Cabernet. From the web it appears that he is offering them for a little bit over half retail price. At $275 it's still more than I want to risk on a blind guess and I am completely unfamiliar with the wines. If anyone has experience with them please let me know. I have to make a decision by tonight.

An acquaintance has asked me if I am interested in buying a mixed half case of Dierberg and Star Lane wines. Three bottles are Dierberg "Steven" Pinot and three bottles are Star Lane "Astral" Cabernet. From the web it appears that he is offering them for a little bit over half retail price. At $275 it's still more than I want to risk on a blind guess and I am completely unfamiliar with the wines. If anyone has experience with them please let me know. I have to make a decision by tonight.

I've visited the winery, Sam. They are one of the more restrained wineries in the Santa Rita Hills. Dierberg is the label for Santa Maria/SRH fruit; Star Lanes for Santa Ynez fruit. I found their Pinots OK, but a bit too extracted for my tastes, and their Syrahs to be good examples of Santa Barbara County Syrah. They certainly go easy on the new oak, and make "smaller" wines than many of their neighbors. That being said, I only bought a Dierberg Syrah and a Star Lanes Pinot Noir (which was only so-so when opened last year).

Mark Lipton

Thanks Mark. Not receiving or finding ringing endorsements on line I opted out of the offer. Your post confirms my decision. I may be willing to take a flier for a hundred bucks or so, but $275 is beyond my risk tolerance. Besides, I already have stuff showing up on my doorstep that I have no memory of ordering. I have no real need for more wine at present.

[Jenise]

Sam, I realize it's too late, and I agree that $275 is a lot to take a chance on (seems high for the wines at "little over half", but hey). I've had one Dierberg pinot and several chardonnays, as well as several wines made from the fruit of both vineyards by Arcadian. I like what I've had, and unlike Mark's experience, the single Dierberg pinot wasn't what I'd call 'extracted', not for the area. But they possibly have had different winemakers, and vintages can vary.

Also too late to the aprty but I think Joe Davis at Arcadian did a better job with Dierberg fruit than the home team does.

[Jenise]

Also too late to the aprty but I think Joe Davis at Arcadian did a better job with Dierberg fruit than the home team does.

Agreed: but then wouldn't you also say Joe Davis does better nearly-everything than the home teams do?

Jenise: Wdn't argue with your re what Joe does but I don't have too much experience in that regard..ie, tasting what the home team did..For example, I love Joe's Sleepy Hollow offerings..No clue what the home team did , however..

Update: I have now been offered the Dierberg/Star Lane half case in exchange for a single bottle of Cayuse Bionic Frog. Were it not for the fact that I only have the one bottle of BF I might accept what seems to be a reasonable offer. I'm going to turn him down again.

I have wondered if I could take a Barter Kings (television show) approach to wine trading - start with a bottle of Yellow Tail and through a series of trades end up with a DRC?! Probably not.

The Star Lane cab I tried was thin and unpleasantly green. And this is from someone who likes a distinct green note in his cabs!