Is everyone on FT a wine connoisseur?
Jun 25, 2017, 1:37 pm
#91
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4,216
Generally speaking, the entry fee into these sort of things is, in addition to one's equitable share of the overall expense, it's to bring one or two bottles that are as worthy as the rest. Of course, you can clear that bar by walking into a high-end wine shop and dropping a substantial amount of cash, but it's generally better if you know something about what it is you are buying.
That being said, a friend of mine recently informed me that a particular bottle of Red Burgundy: the current vintage of Domaine de la Romanee Conti La Tache, is being sold at a Costco in San Francisco for $2999.99 a bottle. If you buy THAT bottle of wine for the aforementioned tasting, I promise that we will let you in and provide all of the wine education you can handle in one evening
.
That being said, a friend of mine recently informed me that a particular bottle of Red Burgundy: the current vintage of Domaine de la Romanee Conti La Tache, is being sold at a Costco in San Francisco for $2999.99 a bottle. If you buy THAT bottle of wine for the aforementioned tasting, I promise that we will let you in and provide all of the wine education you can handle in one evening
.I don't have a problem buying nice bottles of wine. I just don't have a lot of experience. I've bought 6 bottle of wine in my life:
-A recent vintage of Caymus (was a gift, so didn't have any)
-some cheap Italian red, which I didn't like
-1995 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Rosé
-Laurent Perrier Rosé NV
-2 bottles of Chicago Cubs Championship sparkling wine, which was nasty and partly a gift.
Jun 25, 2017, 2:12 pm
#92
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 254
BTW, that DRC La Tache is being offered at a "bargain" price, so I wouldn't let it linger on the shelf if I really wanted it. Most shops that actually offered such a bottle would be selling it for more like $3500 to $3999 presently.
Also, I should add that bottle of DRC La Tache's price has an extra digit in it compared to anything I personally have ever bought, and TWO or THREE extra digits compared to about 99.5% of anything I have ever bought. Although, I have SOLD a few bottles (three, to be precise) for over $1000 (Through a broker, to Chinese collectors) after they had appreciated 15-20 fold in value while in my cellar for a couple of decades.
Also, I should add that bottle of DRC La Tache's price has an extra digit in it compared to anything I personally have ever bought, and TWO or THREE extra digits compared to about 99.5% of anything I have ever bought. Although, I have SOLD a few bottles (three, to be precise) for over $1000 (Through a broker, to Chinese collectors) after they had appreciated 15-20 fold in value while in my cellar for a couple of decades.
Last edited by DeweyCheathem; Jun 25, 2017 at 2:20 pm
Jun 25, 2017, 7:08 pm
#93
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,379
Haha, I do know about DRC! I've been reading a lot and perusing some wine auction books (it's nice having HDH here in Chicago).
I don't have a problem buying nice bottles of wine. I just don't have a lot of experience. I've bought 6 bottle of wine in my life:
-A recent vintage of Caymus (was a gift, so didn't have any)
-some cheap Italian red, which I didn't like
-1995 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Rosé
-Laurent Perrier Rosé NV
-2 bottles of Chicago Cubs Championship sparkling wine, which was nasty and partly a gift.
I don't have a problem buying nice bottles of wine. I just don't have a lot of experience. I've bought 6 bottle of wine in my life:
-A recent vintage of Caymus (was a gift, so didn't have any)
-some cheap Italian red, which I didn't like
-1995 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Rosé
-Laurent Perrier Rosé NV
-2 bottles of Chicago Cubs Championship sparkling wine, which was nasty and partly a gift.
Still trying to plot details. more when I can. First step venue confirmation. Then we will see about head count and wine list. Stay tuned.
Jun 26, 2017, 4:56 pm
#95
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: BHX
Posts: 43
Couldn't agree more ! AirNZ served bottle conditioned Moa for a while in BP , very pleasant. Sadly no more , back to boring NZ beers. So back to the wine. At least their NZ wines taste good ( especially the Otago reds ) to my non expert tastebuds ..
Jun 26, 2017, 5:32 pm
#96
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 254
Ok, so I'm interested in this event, should it come to pass. A couple of thoughts. Are we interested in wine at normal altitude where the bottle has been resting comfortably for weeks or years or is this an airline event where we are tasting at altitude with lower pressure?
The FT wine folks are no doubt vested in both realms. So, how do we deal with this conundrum?
I'm also concerned that if we travel from afar the day before and sample the wines they will not be properly rested and show poorly.
We could chip in to rent an aircraft to taste and then arrive at a destination to taste again?
Depending upon what the final event turns out to be, you can count me in. I shall bring something interesting, perhaps a 20 year old Australian Cab or a cult reserve cab from Argentina (Catena Zapata Estiba Reservada).
I agree with the person who described the 1978 Sterling Reserve. It was one of the most extraordinary wines I have ever had and remember bringing a bottle to share with the Chief Engineer of NHK at Lowry's Prime Rib in LA many years ago.
Funny how the 1978 Margaux I brought on a cruise in 2004 also had the right stuff. How about those 1978's? :-)
Your thoughts???
Cheers,
-Cyborg
The FT wine folks are no doubt vested in both realms. So, how do we deal with this conundrum?
I'm also concerned that if we travel from afar the day before and sample the wines they will not be properly rested and show poorly.
We could chip in to rent an aircraft to taste and then arrive at a destination to taste again?
Depending upon what the final event turns out to be, you can count me in. I shall bring something interesting, perhaps a 20 year old Australian Cab or a cult reserve cab from Argentina (Catena Zapata Estiba Reservada).
I agree with the person who described the 1978 Sterling Reserve. It was one of the most extraordinary wines I have ever had and remember bringing a bottle to share with the Chief Engineer of NHK at Lowry's Prime Rib in LA many years ago.
Funny how the 1978 Margaux I brought on a cruise in 2004 also had the right stuff. How about those 1978's? :-)
Your thoughts???
Cheers,
-Cyborg
Personally, I was hoping for something centered around MUCH better wines than I would ever expect to get on an airplane - not the least reason why being, I will either need to drive an entire day in each direction and/or get on a plane to attend it, and either of those journeys is not something I'd do JUST to see how the sort of wines I might find on an airplane might taste at altitude.
Jun 26, 2017, 6:39 pm
#97
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,379
:-) A good read, and well written, but....
Yeah wines on the ground as they should be.
Good, very good wines. New world vs. old with a lot of CA vs. French I imagine ;-)
You've got 8 months so bring it next time you or someone else is Bay Area bound and leave it in storage there. I think one of us must have spare storage space, I know I do.
Yeah wines on the ground as they should be.
Good, very good wines. New world vs. old with a lot of CA vs. French I imagine ;-)
You've got 8 months so bring it next time you or someone else is Bay Area bound and leave it in storage there. I think one of us must have spare storage space, I know I do.
Jun 26, 2017, 10:29 pm
#98
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SEA & RDM
Programs: UA - 1MM, DL Diamond, AS MVP75, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 8,037
If we do it in Washington I know some wineries I could get to host the event at a vineyard on Red Mountain in the Columbia Valley or at a winery near Seattle (although that might not be as fun).
Jun 27, 2017, 12:00 am
#99
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,379
Thanks for the offer. Winery dinners can be a blast. This will be a Bay Area event this time though.
Jun 27, 2017, 7:14 pm
#101
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,379
Hi DC,
mjm,
You are right, of course. This should be a simple ground based wine tasting event with pre-positioned bottles in the SF Bay Area. I also have a place to store wines (friend with a below ground cellar in Novato). Not only am I prepared to participate, but willing and able to enter something interesting from New World producers (Argentina and/or Australia) of decent age and reputation.
Cheers,
-Cyborg
mjm,
You are right, of course. This should be a simple ground based wine tasting event with pre-positioned bottles in the SF Bay Area. I also have a place to store wines (friend with a below ground cellar in Novato). Not only am I prepared to participate, but willing and able to enter something interesting from New World producers (Argentina and/or Australia) of decent age and reputation.
Cheers,
-Cyborg
Jun 28, 2017, 6:14 pm
#103
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,379
Bowing out of this. Somewhere along the line this became not fun.
I wish all wine drinkers here a wonderful experience each and every time you open a bottle.
I know a few of you personally and may reach out, but the rest, I encourage to pursue whatever wine events they wish.
I wish all wine drinkers here a wonderful experience each and every time you open a bottle.
I know a few of you personally and may reach out, but the rest, I encourage to pursue whatever wine events they wish.
Jul 16, 2017, 2:24 pm
#104
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
It was something I didn't get at all in my 20s. I'm now in my 30s and I've discovered what I like and what I don't like and how to tell the difference between plonk and palatable. Sometimes though I still 
at some of the posting from the ten minute lecture about Vouvrays types.
at some of the posting from the ten minute lecture about Vouvrays types.
Jul 18, 2017, 9:49 am
#105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,630
