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NEVERENDING ♾️ The Richmond Jake's NEVERENDING Wine Thread

TerraSapient said:
I cannot emphasize enough how worth hunting down this bottle is. If you have never tried a mourvedre, this is a great start.
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I missed this the first time around (Curtis Mourvedre), but I completely agree! We bought some to take home as well and had it for a special occasion... although now I forget what that occasion was...
 
Last night a 2001, Beaulieu Vineyard, Georges De Latour, cabernet sauvignon. A spectacular wine. The tag says I spent about $55 on that one years ago. Worth every penny.

Alas, the corks on my older wines don't seem to be doing well. We had to filter this one because I broke the cork in the bottle. I blame the cross-country trip for that issue.
 
I opened a bottle of 2000 Peter Lehmann Shiraz the other night. Excellent. Very well balanced with rich dark cherry and plum. I did a little search online and see it is still available from some sellers/cellars at about $90 per bottle. With most of my collection pre-dating 2004, I wonder how much of a nest egg I have in wine.
 
Bonny Doon

Vintner Randall Grahm, the owner and operator of Bonny Doon vinyard, is in Toledo today for a wine-tasting event. His flagship wine is Le Cagare Volant. Is this really a good wine?

Bear
 
We had a second bottle of 2008 Benzier Family, cabernet sauvignon, Sonoma County over the past weekend. Good stuff. We're paying about $16 a bottle. I recommend it.
 
Only the finest California grapes. Highly recommended.

bUpVo.jpg
 
When ZG moved the wine and wine rack yesterday so the old refrigerator could get moved out and the new one in, I remembered a double-magnum (3.0 L) bottle of Kenwood, 1988, cabernet sauvignon, Artist Series. The on-line reviews are not looking good. I may have held it too long. :'(

For that reason, I'll be opening it Sunday. Anybody interested in coming to the panhandle for a sample? :wine:

My report will posted next week.
 
Yeah, gramps, everything was better in the old days. Including the wine. Yup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xY7mBQrzXU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciR7Fq2tqJ0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExeYrdAqYNU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqlX6kbHE8c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiI25CIzSOI
 
2007, Geyser Peak, Block Collection, Walking Tree, Alexander Valley, cabernet sauvignon. This is worth attention and will age well.
Just my opinion.
 
Recent wines...

Trattore Wines, 2009, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley, zinfandel. Usually Dry Creek Valley produces exceptional zinfandel. Not this one. The taste has no resemblance to the true varietal. I blame the winemaker. :down:

Eric K. James, 2007, Carneros (Calif.), pinot noir. Bone dry. Delicious. Excellent effort. Look for this one.

Conundrum, 2011, California white wine meritage. A very nice compliment to yesterday's turkey. Don't let the screw top turn you off. I've always liked this group of wines. They never disappoint.
 
2000 St. Clement Napa Valley Merlot. Yes, I did say Merlot. This is really a very good wine, with much more complexity than normal.

"In the glass, this wine opens up beautifully to offer rich, dense and intensely flavored qualities. There are complex aromas of blueberry, spice, pepper and sweet toasted oak. On the mid-palate, the spice and cereal grain flavors from the new oak and the rich, dense blueberry/black fruit characters of fully mature fruit make this wine shine. Rich berry, cassis and black fruit flavors persist through the finish, highlighting the dense and complex character of this vintage."
 
I watched the movie Bottle Shock the other night. I'd give it a 3.8 out of 5. Great story, filmed on location in California, and it has Alan Rickman in it.

It would be fun to have a double-feature with Sideways. Cardinal's post reminded me of a great line from that movie: "If anyone orders Merlot, I'm leaving. I am NOT drinking any f****-ing Merlot!" :D
 
Mud Princess said:
I watched the movie Bottle Shock the other night. I'd give it a 3.8 out of 5. Great story, filmed on location in California, and it has Alan Rickman in it.

It would be fun to have a double-feature with Sideways. Cardinal's post reminded me of a great line from that movie: "If anyone orders Merlot, I'm leaving. I am NOT drinking any f****-ing Merlot!" :D
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As a collector of random junk... I have an original copy of the June 7, 1976 Time Magazine that has the Judgement of Paris in it... I liked Bottle Shock.
 
Hink said:
As a collector of random junk... I have an original copy of the June 7, 1976 Time Magazine that has the Judgement of Paris in it... :scissors:...
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You have aroused the sleeping giant in me. What's its condition? Interested in parting with this rare mag? I got :money:.
 
Richmond Jake said:
You have aroused the sleeping giant in me. What's its condition? Interested in parting with this rare mag? I got :money:.
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Great Condition. I have owned maybe 5 copies over time. I keep moving "up". I'm not selling this one. You can find one on Ebay every now and again... maybe $20 or so if someone doesn't know what they have. If they do you will find it more in the $80 range.

If I see one, I will surely let you know. :)
 
Just in time for the holidays....

Delivered today: a case of 2009, Sausal Winery, family old vine estate, Alexander Valley (Sonoma County CA), estate grown, zinfandel. Got a great price and free shipping. :D

Already sold six bottles to The Man.
 
Kenwood, 1989, cabernet sauvignon, artist series for my birthday dinner. Excellent condition. Great wine. At its plateau. Gets nice scores from the critics. Drink it if you got it.
 
Richmond Jake said:
Delivered today: a case of 2009, Sausal Winery, family old vine estate, Alexander Valley (Sonoma County CA), estate grown, zinfandel. Got a great price and free shipping. :D

Already sold six bottles to The Man.
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When you purchase do you do so by the case always? Unless I have tried it, I am very hesitant to spend hundreds of dollars.... do you find a bottle around your parts first then buy the case, or just go off of reviews? I am fairly sure I am going to be getting another 60 bottle rack for my cellar for Christmas, and I am already trying to figure out how to fill it :)
 
Hink said:
When you purchase do you do so by the case always? Unless I have tried it, I am very hesitant to spend hundreds of dollars.... do you find a bottle around your parts first then buy the case, or just go off of reviews? I am fairly sure I am going to be getting another 60 bottle rack for my cellar for Christmas, and I am already trying to figure out how to fill it :)
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I've purchased by the half case. Usually by the case. I also have subscriptions that provide periodic shipments: one from a favorite winery the other from a trusted California retailer. I relay on the recommendations of my sister and younger brother who live in Sonoma and Napa counties, respectively, who are bigger wine geeks than me. I also trust reviews from SFGate.com, other sources, and my past experiences with wineries.

A new 60-bottle rack? I'm impressed. :wine:
 
We are making our way through a magnum of 1994 Jordan, cabernet sauvignon, Alexander Valley (Sonoma County CA). The little tag says I paid $99.99. Cork disintegrated during its removal so we are filtering. The wine is good, great nose, perfect color, no flaws, but I think it is beyond its prime--should have opened it earlier.
 
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2010, Rodney Strong Estate Vineyards, Chaulk Hill (Sonoma County), severed with porsciutto and swiss cheese wrapped with chicken breasts and baked coated with bread crumbs.

A nice wine. Not a lot of oak but good vanilla and fruit flavors. Subtle but classic, IMHO.
 
what's the oak-iest wine around? I just want to be able to isolate that oak taste so I can recognize it elsewhere and figure that trying a super oakie wine will help with identification and palette refinement
 
Maister said:
what's the oak-iest wine around? I just want to be able to isolate that oak taste so I can recognize it elsewhere and figure that trying a super oakie wine will help with identification and palette refinement
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Try most Napa Cabs. New world Barberas. Some Russian River Chardonnays.

Have you ever used oak or another wood to smoke meat? I would argue that the oak taste in wine is really like that smell. If you took a cup of water and let the oak sit in it for a day and then drank it, it would take like the oak note. Many people do these types of tests to better be able to refine their palette. (note: I would filter the wood out of the water before you drink...)
 
Maister said:
what's the oak-iest wine around?....
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If you can afford the coin, a Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley chardonnay. I've had a couple bottles over the years. Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley chardonnay also comes to mind.

You'll know it when you taste it.
 
Richmond Jake said:
If you can afford the coin, a Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley chardonnay. I've had a couple bottles over the years. Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley chardonnay also comes to mind.

You'll know it when you taste it.
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Mmmm... Grgich. Their Violetta is one of my favorites. Frank is located just south of Geyserville. The have a chardonnay that is really worth drinking, and this comes from someone who does not like chardonnay.
 
Last night we went with a 2009, Wine Guerrilla, old vine zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County CA, by David Ciffaro Vineyards. It was paired with grilled steaks.
Label says the vines are 100-plus years old and a blend of 84% zinfandel and 16% petite sirah. A very curious wine...as expected, big and bold at the start but finishing slightly sweet. Odd but worth the effort. :wine: Cheers!!
 
2006, Laguna Ridge, Sonoma County, pinot noir. I'm not a big fan of pinot's, but this one is a find. A little deeper than most. Strangely, a nice complement to the lasagna. :thumbsup:
 
Had a nice dinner last night with my parents.

1st wine- Denner's Ditch Digger (Grenache blend) from Paso Robles.
2nd wine- Shafer's Merlot, which is from the Stag's Leap district in Napa.

Both were very enjoyable.
 
1L boxes of Bandit wine were on sale for $7 at the neighborhood liquor store. I picked up a Cabernet Sauvignon. I'm not expecting much more than a decent nightcap.

That Finger Lakes white looks good down in Florida. :)
 
Is it possible to have a well aged vintage of Rex Goliath Giant 47 Pound Rooster Pinot Noir? I found a bottle with a 2002 date on my shelf. Cracked it open, figuring that with an initial price tag of about $8 or so, it wasn't like I was breaking the seal on a '47 Cheval Blanc.
 
2009, Quivira, "Elusive" (a proprietary name), Wine Creek Ranch, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County (CA). A blend of three Rhone varietals. I'm not a big fan of Rhones, but this was attractive, balanced, dry and fruity. A nice compliment to my homemade spaghetti sauce.


EDIT: Excuse me: "Rhône"...I forgot the little thingy over the "o"
 
A local wine bar is paring wine tasting with Girl Scout cookies. Apparently:

Trefoils go well with a Chardonnay
Samoas go with a big jammy red (they used a blend)
Tagalongs go with a Cabernet Sauvignon
Thin Mints with nothing, mint and wine don't mix well they claim!
 
For those that live in a Fresh and Easy market trade area, that place has a killer deal on their house wine labeled "Big Kahuana". Unlike 2buck chuck which is primarilly grapes from the central valley of california, this stuff is vintes and imported from the Spanish wine country. Makes a great cab and what they call tamparillo. Oh so good :)
 
We snagged a 2009, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, "Karia," Napa Valley chardonnay from the clearance bin at Publix. Served it last night with baked chicken breasts. A very solid wine. Lots of fruit, crisp, light oak flavors. A sexy wine.
 
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