“Wax On, Wax Off”
Sonoma, California USA
Wine Style: New World
Average Price: $$$
Overall Rating: 96 points
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Château or Vineyard Owner:
Robert Mark Kamen
Winemaker:
Mark Herold
Viticulturist:
Phil Coturri
What the heck does “wax on, wax off” have to do with Kamen Estates Wines? That sounds like something you do on a Saturday to your car, not about wine, except in this case for those people who are 35 and older, you will remember the original Karate Kid movie, where a young boy from New York, gets bullied and beaten up by the kids at his school. Therefore, he seeks knowledge from a Japanese maintenance man at his apartment complex to teach him karate. The first lesson was for the kid to wax the man’s car all day long in a clockwise and counter-clockwise motion. Days 2 and three has him painting the man’s fence and house. Little does he know that he has learned how to block every punch or kick that comes his way. Wax on, Wax off!
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| Kamen Wines / Tasting |
Now that I have brought you back down memory lane to the films of the 1980s, “What does this have to do with wine? Well, my friends are all part of the story. Because if it was not for the Karate Kid, and an earlier screenplay’s like “The Crossings” about Afghanistan, then there would not be a Kamen Estate Vineyard or wines. Robert Mark Kamen started his winery because he wrote the screenplay to the Karate Kid, and used the money to buy the property.
Wine and Grape:
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Nose (Bouquet):
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Palate Experience:
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Sauvignon Blanc
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Winemaker Notes:
vibrant and focused wine bursting with layers of fresh white peach, nectarine, kaffir lime, wildflower, citrus oil, and crushed stone
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Winemaker Notes:
possessing layered aromatics, the rich texture is balanced by a racy acidity that creates a lengthy, complex finish. 13.5% ABV
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Cabernet Sauvignon
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Winemaker Notes:
Extremely aromatic, with hints of anise, black currants, sweet black plum, graphite and new suede with a subtle perfumed aroma of violets cherry and crème de cassis
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Winemaker Notes:
This wine possesses lively, clean, and focused flavors. The tannins are firm without being aggressive and are in perfect balance with the fruit intensity, with a concentrated firm finish. 14.3% ABV
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Syrah
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Winemaker Notes:
Dark red fruits, tart plums, mesquite, tar, exotic spice box, savory game, and roasted chestnuts. Elegant aromas of crushed lavender and a stony minerality complete this layered and complex wine
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Winemaker Notes:
Expressively layered with a depth of character and a bold personality, an elegant expression of mountain-grown Syrah, medium to full body, framed by supple, structured tannins and a long, bright finish. Enjoy this wine now and over the next 10–15 years. 14.6% ABV
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Rhone Blend
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Winemaker Notes:
deep spice, red fruits, and a very elegant aroma
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Winemaker Notes:
A big, beefy wine, with moderate tannins, structure, with a long finish.
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Writers Block
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Winemaker Notes:
aromas of blue fruit, sweet black cherries, anise, and wet stone
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Winemaker Notes:
Layered with notes of juicy blackberries, powdered cocoa, and subtle sweet oak. The Petite Sirah on the property is a very old Heritage clone that gives this wine a rich, firm texture and structure
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Kashmir
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Winemaker Notes:
Rich freshness, powerful aromatic elements of roasted black fruits, graphite, leather and blueberry jam backed by layered notes of violets, sage, Raspberry, and wet stone
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Winemaker Notes:
Structured, a lush mouthfeel of rich, concentrated blue fruit and chocolate possessing an opulent mid-palate. The tannins are seamless and sing through an expansive finish showcasing the purity of this terroir-driven wine, smooth finish, excellent structure, and very savory. 14.8% ABV.
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Robert’s Story:
Acquiring the Land:
Growing up in a city housing project in the Bronx and earning a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, Robert Mark Kamen believed that everything happens for a reason, and yet nothing in his life was ever planned. His screenwriting career started quickly with the unexpected sale of his first. In 1980, Robert came to Sonoma to celebrate the sale of the screenplay with friends. While hiking the rugged hillsides of the Southern Maya Camas Mountains, Robert came upon a piece of property with breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay. Remote, rugged, and without roads, water or electricity, the 280 acres had an immediate visceral impact on Robert. After falling in love with the view, he decided to purchase, and a week later the property was his. From the beginning, Robert had a clear concept of what he intended for his property. Primarily was the desire to plant the highest quality mountain grown Cabernet Sauvignon, while holding true to the pristine spirit of the land.
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| Kamen Wines / Estate |
From Grape Grower to Wine Grower:
Initially, the fruit grown at Kamen Estate was sold to premium Sonoma wineries. In 1996, a devastating fire tore through the property destroying half of the vines along with Robert's home. Where others would see this as a tremendous setback, Robert's credo, "Everything happens for a reason,” held sway. The fire forced him to focus not on what had been lost, but on what could be gained. Out of the experience, he decided to stop selling grapes and began to make his own wines. Major replanting began as soon as the ground cooled. Innovative viticultural techniques were employed, new selections of Cabernet clones were chosen, and different rootstocks were used. The first release of Kamen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon was in 1999.
Robert has enjoyed an uninterrupted film career with over twenty of his screenplays becoming major motion pictures, among them: Taps, The Karate Kid series, Fifth Element, The Professional, Transporter series, A Walk in the Clouds, Lethal Weapon III, and the Taken series. When he is not occupying seat 6A of American Airlines traveling for his films or the wines he produces, visitors often find him at his desk in Sonoma working on future film scripts or worrying about the weather.
My Story of Kamen wines:
I first met Robert in 2008 while I was working at an Atlanta Restaurant in the Virginia Highlands called Food 101. Since then Chef Ron Eyester bought it out from 101 Concepts and has renamed it to Rosebud. The Restaurant would do wine dinners on a monthly basis, creating five and six-course meals around a specific vineyard, then having all courses paired with a different wine from that vineyard. The most memorable of the tasting was, of course, Kamen Estates and Jerry Garcia’s wines. Robert was touring the South promoting his wine when 101 Concepts arranged to have him host the dinner. It was there we all learned that besides making great wine, he was also the screenwriter for movies such as the Karate Kid, Lethal Weapon 3, and a new theatrical release at the time called Taken. Among his list of films also included the Fifth Element, which made me remember the wines and the winemaker for years to come because I remember watching that movie a few days before meeting Robert. Even though I was working, I still tried his wines, and it was the Syrah that first attracted me, since my other tastings of Syrah in the past were awful, and this was the opposite. The restaurant owners put both the Syrah and the Cabernet Sauvignon on the menu, and from time to time, I would buy a bottle to take home and enjoy.
I joined Roberts wine club in 2013, by which time I had already spent nearly five years working in Afghanistan for the DOD, preparing food for the Soldiers. On leave, I would come home and enjoy the latest wines being offered, one of which was at the time, his latest release of Cabernet from 2009. At that point, I knew that on my next leave I was going to California and Napa Valley anyway, so I decided to swing over to Sonoma and visit the vineyard. I set up all tastings in advance, then met with the Hospitality Manager Marisol, at the Kamen Tasting Room, then from there a short ride up the mountain to the actual vineyard. The property was beautiful surrounded by hills and old lava rocks, at the base was an organic garden that a local restaurant called Harvest Moon Café used on their daily menus. Organic was the key, since Kamen is completely CCOF Certified organic, and is certified yearly by the government when they come out to inspect his property. The vines grow along the slopes of hills facing mainly west, keeping the grapes cool in the morning, as the sun rises, then hit by the sun in the afternoon, and continuing to get that light as the sun sets into the Pacific Ocean. On a clear day, you can see San Francisco, the Bay, and Mount Tamapolis in the distance to the South.
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| Kamen Wines / Estate Vineyards |
Marisol set up the wines to be tasted at a picnic table that overlooked the vineyard and the views to the South. The wines being tasted included the Sauvignon Blanc, the Syrah. In addition, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, which I had at my house. The other selections included the just released 2010 Cabernet, which nocks the socks off of 2009. This is a keeper, a little young, but it will age well. Most wines from California are said to be young and to drink them in a few years. This wine you can keep for 5, 10, hell 15 years and it will only get better. Then we tried Roberts reserve wine the Kashmir Cabernet that was just heavenly. Finally and very surprisingly, I tried the Rhone-style blend, which I liked just as much as the Cabernet 2010, but like Robert, I am very fond of the Côtes du Rhône wines. He is so found that he orders a case of every Chateau every year. His main problem, he is running out of the room, with over 800 bottles in his collection, and he still has not received the 2010 and 2011 vintages yet. God if I only had such problems, I would be a happy man.
As I tasted, Robert came out of his house, casually walking up the small hill to join us at the table. We caught up on the conversation, mainly about a pet bat that disappeared a few days before and my five years in Afghanistan that really got the conversation started. Back in the 1970s, Robert spent three years in Western Asia, most of that time traveling across Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Kashmir region. So we talked about how things changed since he was there. When he traveled that region, it was before the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and even before the Russian invasion, so it was peaceful. Robert was saddened to hear some of the stories that I told about what it was like today. Robert was also happy on this day because he was just finishing up the last touches to his latest screenplay, and I will give you a hint, the movie will star Liam Neeson, and a famous line “I will find you, and I will kill you.”
Another project that Robert is working on is a film about wine country in California, so folks, buy his wine, and sell him out so he can raise more funding for that project. After the tasting Marisol drove me around on an ATV to look at the entire property, to include a new growth area where Robert is going to be producing 100% Cabernet Franc, the first in California to do so. I met up with Robert the following evening while dining at the Harvest Moon restaurant that he supplies his organic vegetables to, which is also one of his regular hangouts. Overall it was a fantastic experience, so I thank you, Robert, for the wonderful visit to your vineyard, and I will see you and the group again when I come back through on leave.
Final notes, review basics, and observations:
*** NOTE TO THE READER ***
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about.
To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
I refer to myself as an oenophile though, oenophilia is defined as “a disciplined devotion to wine, accompanying strict traditions of consumption and appreciation.” In a general sense, oenophilia also refers to the enjoyment of wine, often by a layman — which I am, and not qualified as a professional. I just enjoy drinking it, so my rating is based on enjoyment and the overall experience, not the science of an expert, and thus subjective, not objective. See the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ on how I arrived at the rating percentage below:
Overall Star Rating For Kamen Estates Wine:
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5 of 5 Stars:
An Extraordinary Tasting Experience
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93/100
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90/100
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87/100
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Wines Produced
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Red: Meritage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Rhone Blends
White: Sauvignon Blanc
Other: Olive oil
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Grape Blends
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Red:
Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet
White:
Sauvignon blanc,
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Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.” - David Auerbach
United States:
California:
RRVW: Russian River AVA
Other Sonoma wines, winery (Château’s), or food articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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Primitivo vs Zinfandel
Sonoma, California
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Farm-to-fork new American fare
Sonoma, California
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Napa and Sonoma wines owned by Silver Oak
Healdsburg, California
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
A Few New World Favorites:
Blackbird Vineyards Wine Tasting An ultra-premium terroir in Napa, California
De Trafford Winery Elevation 393 tasting in Stellenbosch, South Africa
FOCUS Wines A blend of Napa/Sonoma with a percentage donated to a children's foundation. Cape May, New Jersey
Napa - A Sip and Taste in Wine County A 3-day tour of wineries and fine dining restaurants
Yarra Yering Winemakers of the year by James Halliday famous battle named blocks in Gruyere, Yarra Valley
Some Old World Favorites:
Bordeaux - A Sip and Taste Wine tours and restaurants in Bordeaux, France
Château Mont-Redon A Châteauneuf-du-Pape producer in the Côtes du Rhône, France
Clos de Vougeot The vineyard of Cistercian monks at the Cîteaux Abbey in Burgundy, France
Jordan River Wines The Haddad Family Vineyards, and a 2000 year history of wine, Amman, Jordan
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
ARE YOU ENJOYING THIS ARTICLE ON KAMEN ESTATES SO FAR? PLEASE CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING TO RECEIVE NEW POSTS OR SHARING ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA!!
Bottle Prices
(excluding taxes)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major wine countries and connoisseur’s**
Currency rates in the top wine producing & wine purchasing countries:
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Price Chart :
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Sauvignon Blanc (750 ml)
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$
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Australian Dollar (AUS)
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$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€
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New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
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$$
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South African Rand (ZAR)
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RRR
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2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (750 ml)
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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££
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European Union (EUR)
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€€
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Syrah (750 ml)
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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££
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European Union (EUR)
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€€
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Rhône Blend (750 ml)
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£
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European Union (EUR)
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€
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Kashmir (750 ml)
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£££
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European Union (EUR)
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€€€
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Cost of wine tasting (p/p):
Signature Flight: $20.00
Premier flight: $35.00
Vineyard Tasting $60.00
Kamen Estates:
Tasting Room:
111 B East Napa Street
Sonoma, California 95476
Tasting Room Information:
Website:
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Tasting room:
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+01 707 938 7292
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Email:
Website contact:
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Tasting Room hours:
Pacific Standard Time (GMT, Zulu, or UTC-8:00)
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Monday - Sunday:
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
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Social Media
And
Accolades for Kamen Estate Wines:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Vibrant Downtown & relaxed coastal cuisine
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
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A Parisian style bistro rendez-vous
Monte-Carlo, Monaco
|
Modern Gastro Whole Animal Cookery
Buckhead, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Other Kamen Estate Pictures:
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| Kamen Wines / Cheese Platter |
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| Kamen Wines / Advertising for Kamen in Antarctica |
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| Kamen Wines / Tasting Room |
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.”
- David Auerbach
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
