1995 Martin Ray Saratoga Cuvee California

[EPICURUS]

From the price mentioned it must be the Saratoga Cuvee (the Diamond Mt. etc go for close to $100).

The famous name was purchased from the Ray family by two very savvy Bakersfield raised brothers who used the name recognition in the first few years of its resurrection (10 years ago) to help hype what was a virtual winery (no equipment, grapes purchased on the open market, etc). The multi talented Greg Graziano was brought in from Mendocino to make the wine.

Then the brothers went to town on their other label, Blackstone, which eventually grew to 600.000 cases annually. They also purchased the Mark West label when the Associated Vintage Group went down in flames as well as AVG's custom crush facility in Graton (Sonoma County). Just last week Blackstone/Codera Wine Group (which they used to market negociant wines) was sold for a cool $140 million.

The sale did not include Martin Ray which from the resources now behind it will only get better and better.