WineSearcher: Blinky Talks To Randall

The sale of BonnyDoon is old hat now. But BlinkyGray has an interesting interview with Randall:
Blinky:Randall

Tom

Thanks for the pointer, Tom. I hadn't known that Grahm sold Bonny Doon. The passing of an era. I bought some of his Marc de Cigare brandy when I visited the tasting room back when Bonny Doon was still in Bonny Doon. It was way better than other marc I've tried. One side label that the site didn't mention was Ca' del Solo, his line of Italianesque wines. The label style was a clever and extremely accurate parody of the engravings that Vietti was using on their labels. So accurate that when they first appeared in my wine shop, I walked by the Ca' del Solo wines several times before I realized they weren't Vietti.

-Paul W.

Thanks for the pointer, Tom. I hadn't known that Grahm sold Bonny Doon. The passing of an era. I bought some of his Marc de Cigare brandy when I visited the tasting room back when Bonny Doon was still in Bonny Doon. It was way better than other marc I've tried. One side label that the site didn't mention was Ca' del Solo, his line of Italianesque wines. The label style was a clever and extremely accurate parody of the engravings that Vietti was using on their labels. So accurate that when they first appeared in my wine shop, I walked by the Ca' del Solo wines several times before I realized they weren't Vietti.
-Paul W.

Yeah, Paul. I rather liked those Ca'da Solo wines. I particularly liked the Freisa and sad that it was pulled.
First Freisa in Calif. The recent Harrington Freisa was outstanding.
Tom

[Jenise]

I didn't know it had sold either. So this is why the Cigare Volant is showing up around here at $12 less than we've ever seen it before.

Thanks, Tom

Interesting interview.

The sadly defunct UK wine shop chain OddBins* used to sell several Randal Grahm wines with labels by cartoonist Ralph Steadman including Cardinal Zin and Ptomaine de Blageurs (made by Randal in France from Syrah co-fermented with Viognier) plus le Cigare Volant and Ca de Solo Il Piscatore.


*The name has since been used by different owners

[David M. Bueker]

I didn't know it had sold either. So this is why the Cigare Volant is showing up around here at $12 less than we've ever seen it before.

Yes.

I snagged two cases of Cigare Volant in 375ml for $9/bottle.

Thanks, Tom

Interesting interview.

The sadly defunct UK wine shop chain OddBins* used to sell several Randal Grahm wines with labels by cartoonist Ralph Steadman including Cardinal Zin and Ptomaine de Blageurs (made by Randal in France from Syrah co-fermented with Viognier) plus le Cigare Volant and Ca de Solo Il Piscatore.


*The name has since been used by different owners

Yeah, Peter...I used to like those RalphSteadman labels. Forgot about the Ptomaine label. I think it was a label
he did only for OddBins and it was banned in the US, where it was Domaine de Blageurs.
Tom

The takeover also explains why Vin Gris de Cigare was discontinued. It was one of my favorite pink wines.

-Paul W.