Avenue Vine: Judd’s Hill Wine & Maikai Gents Concert at Copia a REPORT &:

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June 19, 2007

Judd’s Hill Wine & Maikai Gents Concert at Copia a REPORT &:

A couple of Thursday evenings ago, May 31, 2007, I attended the Maikai Gents Concert and Judd’s Hill wine tasting evening at Copia--The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts, in Napa, CA.

Before the tasting and concert I spent some time wondering around Copia, as it had been some time since I’d been there. They’ve moved the comfy couches again, now they’re in the room just off the bar–near Julia’s Kitchen, a great place to relax and let the road rash wear off while quaffing a glass of tasty wine.

Light Jazz playing on the surround sound; Iron Chef flashing on the overhead plasma; mellow and quiet not the usual weekend wine tasting affair, Copia all a bustle with vistiors, members and staff..

I made mental note that the wait staff has rolled over again–new faces and names to get aquainted with. The rules and timing of special diners at Julia’s have been modified: the ‘Locals' Night” special has been moved from Thursday night to Wednesday nights, thus changing the traditional “Dinner and a Concert” to Live Jazz at Julia's and a meal...

Thursday nights, Julia's Kitchen will offer their “regular menu,” along with Live Jazz in the Lounge, from 5:30 to 8:30pm. They’ve also added a Happy Hour, 4:00 to 7:00pm. Which, to me, has changed the whole flavor of the Outdoor Summer Concert Season for this year...

"It’s just so quiet in here in the evening! You can easily perceive the enormity of this place": Copia. Quiet, though not for long...

Enough of my muse! On to the evening’s script.

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THE LOCAL VINTNER’S HAWAIIAN BAND...

Before the Concert I was able to enjoy the complimentary tasting of wines from Judd’s Hill Winery. Three wines were being poured by Judd’s Hill staff member Pat in the loby area of the Copia indoor theater.

First up:
2005 JUDD’S HILL NAPA VALLEY ESTATE PINOT NOIR: Brilliant light redish purple; oak and ripe strawberries on entry; moderately full evolving, expanding as it shows great balance on kind tannins–multidirectional tropical fruits kiwi, cherry and raspberries, on a long lightly spicy and very clean finish.

I’d like to get to know more about this vineyard someday...

Food Pairing: Would be great with chicken pizza or an elegant grilled whole fish, or a fresh roast vegatable salid

2003 JUDD’S HILL NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON: Brilliant deep dark purple; ripe plum, dried current, black berry, hints of cedar, oak; superb fruit laced with luscious tannins; with a long, laden, fruit flavored finish revealing a very good NV Cabernet Sauvignon.

Vineyards: Finkelstein Vineyards Hillside Estate, Napa Valley; Steltzner Vineyard, Stag’s Leap
District; Nemerever Vineyard, Oakville Appellation; Juliana Vineyards, Pope Valley
Composition: 88% Cab Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 5%Cab Franc.

Food Pairing: Would be great with grilled meats, savory buck stew, barbequed chicken, and aged cheddar cheese. I’d like this with a juicy hamburger and this Cabernet would be a great compliment to any rich meal..

Judd’s was also pouring a delightful, 2003 JUDD’S HILL NAPA VALLEY SAUVIGNON BLANC, this night–brilliant with a tint of greenish yellow; on entry green grass, tree fruits and ample citrus on both nose and palate; superb balance, crisp clean acidity, layered luscious fruit–fig, ripe yellow melon and apple; a lingering finish with citrus, lemon-line tanginess.

Food Pairing: All I could think about while tasting this wine was oysters, grilled fish–even chowder and lobster...

Enough about wine–on to the event of the night:

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The Maikai Gents, featuring the Mysterious Miss Mauna Loa--Wow! And could she dance, too! The Maikai Gents transported us back to the golden yesteryears of the Hawaiian Islands with captivating hula dancing and vintage songs played on traditional instruments. Their lilting melodies and romantic croonings evoked the shimmering shores of Hawaii -- I could of swore I was on a secluded beach beside gently lapping waves, sheltered by a swaying palm tree under a bright moon.

Wait a minute–I found myself thinking about the small nightclubs up of the strip, over near the river, in good ole’ Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, or was it in one of the hotels on Kauai? Had I been transported to the late sixties? Did I miss the boat for the Grateful Dead Concert? No, I was spending a wonderful evening of good wines and superbly played Luau and South Sea Islands music.

Lulled into melancholia, wrapped in the strings of the band on stage, my mind raced to times gone by. Time spent enjoying the ambiance of the Islands glistening to the music and moonlight as I walked along the beach, past the club hotels, wrappen in the warm cool brazes of the mid-Pacific sea.

What more can I say? You should have been there, maybe!...

You and I must join these folks at Copia much more often–there’s wonderful wines and good times to be had there at the American Center for Wine Food and the Arts: Copia...

NOTE: Be sure and check out the JUDD’S HILL WINERY website–(left click here). There’s a great video of the band and that Lovely Dancing Lady–ENJOY!

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And while you are visiting Copia or the wine country of Napa and Sonoma--make the Meritage Resort your place to stay!

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CURRENT CONCERT SCHEDULE FOR SUMMER 2007 @ COPIA:

Summer Outdoor Concert Tickets on sale now! Join us for a summer of sizzling sounds under the night sky on COPIA's beautiful River Concert Terrace.

Outdoor Concert: Pride and Joy, June 21, 2007 - 7:30pm
You know it's summer because - Pride and Joy is back at COPIA! The most popular party band on the Bay Area music scene, Pride & Joy's COPIA concerts have been a Napa Valley tradition for the past three years. This group is the Pride of Bay Area and a Joy to anyone who loves to dance - presenting timeless pop/soul music in an electrifying high-style show that pulls the audience directly into the heart of their performance