But that was just the beginning. Don, who owns Juice, came in to taste me on a couple, including an old vine Cotes du Rhone that just about blew my head off. Now, I can go either way with Cotes du Rhone, depending on where they come from in the valley. Up north, they tend to display that earthy dirtiness for which I have no fondness. But in the south, especially the Chateauneuf du Pape region, they are more fruit forward with balanced tannins – more my speed.

Don also had the Odisea Devil’s Share, a 125 case production wine that rocked, and a Walla Walla Claret that was extremely drinkable. Oh, and The Vault, an Oakville Zinfandel to rival The Prisoner (although I still think The Prisoner is better…but I can’t afford either one!).

Our dear friend Jeremy also stopped by with a nice selection, tasting us on seven new wines (and I managed to get myself in trouble for trying to bring three of them in under the radar…busted!). A Merlot and a Shiraz made it onto the shelves, but the Seghesio Zin I had to pay for and take home myself. Damn! (Just kidding…a delicious Zin, that is really f-in good!).

And then wrapped up the week with the BV Tapestry (Yum!), and the Domaine Serene Evansted Reserve Pinot Noir – what I call the Cabernet of Pinots. Wow. Oh, and then, just because, drank a bottle of Loco Tempranillo. That one was actually ordered by a customer, but he hasn’t come to pay for it yet, so we charged him a one bottle storage fee. (If you are reading this, RT, your wine is in).

The Bistro played host to a "Coffee with the Candidates" radio broadcast on "The Big Talker," which meant Joel and Shell had to be here at five in the a.m. to let them get set-up. I listened to sme of it on the radio...in bed!

We had our young guitarist back in, and he was amazing, once again. Anyone who can build a guitar, then play it like that, is pretty talented in my book. Yes, he built his own guitar. And, yes, the boy can play it.