ESJ - It's all about product placement?

I was just flipping through the April 07 Food and Wine and came to a fold-out (pg 87) showing the "must haves for insatiable wine buffs". There you'll find a geekily attired gent seemingly ready for his onslaught to find all things pointy. The unbreakable glass dangling from the hands-free strap around his neck, the pocket vinotemp pen thermometer, toting his indestructible, FAA-approved wine carrying case.

And there on the table in front of him is a partially concealed bottle of 2003 Rocks and Gravel!

Next thing you know, we'll see JayZ slurping Pinc Froid on South Beach in his next music video.

I almost bought some '03 Rocks and Gravel at Astor yesterday but picked up 3 more '01 Wylie Fenaughty instead. Seeing it at $15 I just couldn't make myself buy anything else.

Jay, the 01 W-F is $27 here in never never land. I could do with a case at $15.

I don't know why it's so inexpensive here in NYC. I'm just rejoicing in my good fortune.

Thanks to cellar tracker I just realized ESJ is the most represented producer in my cellar, passing Cune

Even more shocking, I now have more syrah than tempranillo (by 2 bottles)!

Many ESJ are for my wedding, but that still counts...

[David M. Bueker]

ESJ is the most represented non-German producer in my cellar. If I get Steve past Helmut Donnhoff Laura will kill me.

Even more shocking, I now have more syrah than tempranillo (by 2 bottles)!

And with this last order, syrah has flown past nebbiolo for me. Riesling is still tops by a wide margin.

Jay,
You got a steal. I also saw it as CSW. I just bought some more at the regular price direct from Steve and was happy with it. Steve must have a distributor in NYC that is dumping the stuff. Good fortune to you but seems like a potential problem for Steve. ESJ syrah is a true wine geek wine as it does not drink early, develops very well and has flavors and complexity that most wine drinkers don't get. Wish Steve could become more popular but glad he exists and makes such fantastic wines. The '03 Bassatti (sp?) is supposed to be the real gem.
Walt

Jay,
You got a steal. I also saw it as CSW. I just bought some more at the regular price direct from Steve and was happy with it. Steve must have a distributor in NYC that is dumping the stuff. Good fortune to you but seems like a potential problem for Steve. ESJ syrah is a true wine geek wine as it does not drink early, develops very well and has flavors and complexity that most wine drinkers don't get. Wish Steve could become more popular but glad he exists and makes such fantastic wines. The '03 Bassatti (sp?) is supposed to be the real gem.
Walt

It was interesting talking to Greg at Astor. He said that when he opened it for the employees about 30% thought it was great and the rest just didn't understand it and thought it was mediocre wine. Your distributor theory matches mine. I don't think it's really a problem for Steve since most of it is being bought up by people who realize it's underpriced and we won't see those prices again. And what isn't will hopefully turn some new people onto his wines. I already made one convert.