http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse....cgi?u=sideways

My two favorites this year were:

1997 Banfi Brunello di Montalcino -- you can't go wrong with almost any '97 Brunello, but this one is outstanding!!! The '99 isn't bad either, but no comparison. Had TWO bottles at the Ritz Carlton Cancun Grill (prior to the hurricane devastation) in June!

2002 Turley Zinfandel -- had some at Aureole in Las Vegas with some colleagues and all I can say is OH MY! It was the spiciest bouquet that I have ever encountered and worth every penny that I overpaid for it!

If you like Turley then you should check out some of the rosenblum zin's.
I'm very partial to several of the rosenblum zin's.

Got any specific recommendations? I am happy to try them out! ^

Try the rosenblum Annettes vineyard reserve. Bevmo.com has 6 of them in stock at $25.
I bought a case of the anette's and they are really nice (and the price is excellent imho).
http://www.bevmo.com/productinfo.asp...bhcp=1&Ntk=All

I also liked the carla's vineyard (and it's a little less at $19). Really nice zin.

If you get a chance i'd plug the Niebaum-Coppola directors reserve zin. I think it's excellent. In fact i like all red wines from niebaum-coppola's directors reserve and estate lines. The zin is $27 and worth it imho.
http://store.niebaum-coppola.com/

Here's a good source for all the info you could ever want on Port. Roy Hersch is the expert. For the 2003, I hope your not retiring for a long time. :)

[URL=http://www.fortheloveofport.com/newsletter.htm]

The 1985 Fonseca and Grahams are approachable now and can be bought for about the same price as current vintages (so you don't have to wait for retirement to enjoy them).

Cheers!

Thanks for the link, BogeyMan! Sounds like he's pretty excited about the 2003 vintage, too. And that tour he had planned for last month sounds awesome, too.

As I have yet to find a sugar daddy, and I'm about to take on a big fat mortgage, I think it will be a while before I retire.... :eek:

Hardy's is an Australian producer that is selling a 3 liter box of Shiraz. It is drinkable. I won't bring it as a gift to any Christmas parties, but will drink it at home :)

fduvall

Coteaux Du Languedoc
 

http://www.coteaux-languedoc.com/

I dined at Le Verjus in Toulouse and had an very good '98 Domaine De L'Hortus. Great unknown wines in this region of France.

Turley's Zins are very good, and quite reasonable if you can find them at retail (I paid $380 for a mixed case of 2002 Turley Zins). They also do a very good Charbono and one unusual white (called Turley White Coat, naturally).

Its not easy to find Turley in the store, but at least in the SF Bay Area there are a couple of places that get an allocation every year, so its worth hunting for.

Bob

Forgive me if I'm out of line, but I can't resist the opportunity to plug my own product: www.starrynightwinery.com.

We are a small, sub-6000 case production house focused primarily on Zinfandels from the Sonoma, Russian River, Lake County and Lodi appellations (although we also make a Chardonnay, a Syrah and a Rhone blend).

Based in CA with distribution in 19 other states. Look for us at your favorite wine shop or restaurant!

Most great Port ports take 20-30 years to come around. but there are exceptions. S&W '95 Madalena (single vineyard) vintage port is quite ready now, and very fine. It is usually made in "non-declared" years. They did an '01 that will probably also be ready in 10-15 years.

OZ port is ready at a very young age, by comparison. Many 10 year old OZ ports are ready now, and very good.

If you are doing the under-counter thing. I presume you are doing it to chill and keep cold, rather than to store for long periods. Go buy a good looking inexpensive fridge with glass door from a discounter. I have a Hejer HEC from Sam's club. Has all the bells and whistles. Glass door, darkened glass, lock, red/white wine storage choice. Temp adjustment, etc, etc. I keep it on white wine setting. It will only adjust to 45f. However, 45F is about 40 at the top, and 35 at the bottom. Every time we get a power hit, it reverts to red wine and about 55F. setting. Stores 30 bottles, plenty to keep the party goers out of my celler.

Just finished a 1981 Chateau Romer du Hayot Sauternes.

Heaven.

Not to hijack the thread by any means at all, but Home Deopt has the Magic Chef wine coolers in stock again.

Holds 50 bottles, in our local store they are $102 or something. An incredible deal. I bought three last year, they have not given me any problems at all, picked up another one yesterday.

$2 a bottle storage for temperature control is very hard to beat, and I understand lots of people get them for cigars too. They come and go fast, last year we had to go to several to get them all.

Until we build the center, they keep our collection at a nicely constant temperature and humidity.

Thanks for the heads up, cordelli! I don't see a 50 bottle Magic Chef on their website, but perhaps this will be my excuse to go check out their newish Manhattan store.

Last night's wine class was fortified wines, so the tasting was 3 sherries (a manzanilla, an oloroso, and a PX), 2 ports (one 10-yr. tawny and one vintage), and a Madeira. Just the smell coming off the six glasses was overwhelming, and I actually like the stuff!

Was reading a few yrs ago that since there was an over abundance of grapes the box wines were making a revival. The wineries were using the extra grapes and blending 3-4 varietals. Article talked about a "Black Box" wine that was good. I looked but never did find it! Maybe someone knows about it? :confused:

Thanks for the info about Magic Chef. I saw it at Home Depot and was surprised at the price. Shame we don't need a cooler for our fine Santa Barbara syrah's and pinot's. Try Flying Goat pinot. It's tremendous.

Regarding "box" wines, the Aussie's are doing a great job. Surprisingly good quality, and great price.

Never mind Canadian boxed wines, what about our excellent regular wines!! Beacuse of the favorable exchange rate , Canadian wines are not only world class, but Very reasonably priced! Its too bad you can't find them on the shelf anywhere in a mainstream outlet in the U.S.. Give one of the Niagara or Okanagan, B.C. Chards or Rieslings a try- you'll find them every bit as good as California or Washington state whites. the only Canadian red I would recommend wouyld be a Pinot Noir. Our climate unfortunately doesnt lend itself to reds very well.
Also try our Niagara icewines- World class, and affordable in U.S. $$!

Bob

Time for a New Year's bump
 

What didn't I drink last night? :o

Fortunately my friends are insane enough to print out menus for their dinner parties--believe me, I wouldn't remember.

1990 Dom Perignon
2003 Chateau St. Jean Estate Viognier
a Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc that didn't make it on the menu (I think this one is a great value, although not for the screwcap-phobic)
1994 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon
1994 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
1990 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (this was pretty wonderful, and it was great to be able to compare it to the 1994)
1977 Graham Port

accompanied by a fabulous meal that didn't finish until 2:30am, followed by copious amounts of water and Ranitidine on my return home. :cool:

As I am a relative newcomer to South Palm Beach County, I did not know where to find all of our regular stuff but my neighbor helped supply some really top shelf wines:

1 - Dom Perignon '85
2 - Dom '88
3 - Perrier-Jouet NV
4 - Roederer Cristal (and I failed to take note of the vintage)
5 - and to close off the night, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Coppola which, at 3AM, tasted rich and sweet after all the bubbly.

I will now go firmly on record that Champagne is the beverage of choice with blue cheese chicken wings and smoked salmon hors d'oeuvres, which was all that I ate before the sweets at the end of the party.

south fl store:

Crown (liquor, wine & spirits, etc) in boynton, delray, and palm have a decent collection of current vintages. They also have fantastic tastings.

Chile
 

My biggest find of 2005 was great Chilean wines... from some fine Carmeners to Merlots, Cabenets and a few wonderful Syrah's.

I sampled several vinatges of Almaviva (all wonderful); Casa Lapostolle (superb); Sena (a 97); Dominus Aurea (01) -- all good super-premiums

Concha y Toro's broad range is suprising.. from the great Don Melchor (CS); the Terrunyo range; Marques CS -- below that --> the mid to low end I'll pass on

My pick of the year for a Winery has to be MONTES. If you find Montes Folly (Syrah) or Purple Angel (Carmenere) DO NOT hesitate to buy it - what great wines !! Alpha M is good.... but the mid-rabge Alpha CS, Merlot and Syrahs are GREAT value for money

Crown on N Fed in Boca is right around the corner from us and was the first place that I tried. Not a really wide selection there but I sure will now keep an eye out for their tastings. Thanks for the headsup.

I've had better luck with Casa Lapostolle (Clos Apalta) than Sena, which I have found to be "green/grassy"

Wines
 

Rombauer Chardonnay :)

Since the New Year we've been in inventory depletion mode, to make room for new purchases. So, here's what we've been opening at home:

1996 Henriot Millesime Champagne,
NV Duval-Leroy Rose Champagne,
2000 Kistler Vine Hill Chardonnay (to celebrate buying the '03's this week),
2003 Hansel "Cahill Lane" Chardonnay,
1975 Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Spatelese Riesling ( :cool: )
1999 Sportoletti Rosso
2000 Quilceda Creek Cabernet (again, to celebrate a new vintage being released),
1999 d'Arenberg "Dead Arm" Shiraz,
1995 Hess Collection Cab,
1996 Hess Collection Cab (bleh),
NV Bullers Muscat (dessert wine), and
NV Chambers Tokay (dessert wine)


In case you're wondering, I like raiding the wine cellar. ;)

Doing a little dinner with a few friends at a rsaturant in town where the chef who is a frind also cooks a special menu for the list I send. Do these about 4 times a year. The list this time is:

Caymus Conundrum 2003
Seresin Sauvignon Blanc 2004
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Beaulieu Vineyard Reserve Tapestry 1996
Cain Concept 2002

Ain't wine a grand invention? :)

Mike

Besides mileage runs, good wine is one of the small pleasures of life.
So are friends. :cool:

Wondered if you would see this thread. :)

Best wine I had in a restaurant in 2005, which was just before the new year ... 1990 Banfi Brunello di Montalcino at the Osteria via Stato in Chicago. Delicious -- and my first Brunello experience. A very happy one.

A good wine at a good restaurant! And nice to have a Brunello with some years on it, huh?

In my opinion- all of Coppola's wines are outstanding. On that note- I don't know if the winery is producing this blend anymore- but if you can get your hands on a bottle of Coppola's "Claret"- any vintage- don't pass on it. It's a treat- like layered silk.

Another treasure off the beaten path- a rich Italian red- Cignale 98' Castello di Quercieto. It's phenomenal.

I recently returned from Israel with a case of different wines:
Flam Classico 2002
Amphorae Rhyton Red 2003
The Cave 2002
Petit Castel 2002
Domaine du Castel 2001
I think they are great, and more importantly, a great value. They are pretty rich, and especially the Flam and Castel are very Bordeaux-like. I'm a big fan of the boutique Israeli wines, the larger production ones aren't so great, but these are!

I'm not sure where to find them around here, but if you're in Israel you should certainly pick up a couple!

Speaking of middle eastern wines- ever tried Chateau Musar? Its a big Lebanese red wine. Some vintage years are better than others-but I have found it comparable to some of the best French Rhone wines I have ever had. If you can find it- I highly recommend trying it.

I am not familiar with the Israeli wines you brought back- but I will look for them- and will certainly try one if I can!!!!

Nope, is it possible to find on the west coast? if so, or if there is a web place to get it, I'd be interested in trying it. The climate is probably similar to the Golan wines and the French influence would probably be good. (and which vintages are the best?)

As far as I can tell, and i'm not an expert, but the Israeli wines I listed are all <$30 and are damn good. Because they are not "well known" in the west, they don't vastly overcharge for the location like most of the california ones, so the price/performance ratio tends to be much much better!

Try using www.wine-searcher.com . It depends on the underlying stores having accurate inventory systems, which they don't always, but searching for "musar" in California shows a few places in the San Francisco area that have it. I tried it in a wine class and didn't love it (particularly for the price, it's not inexpensive), but some of my classmates did.

So nice to find a wine with real age on it -- I hate going into places and not being able to find anything but current vintages or anything prior to, say, 1999. Of course, the 1997s were completely gone ... but they wouldn't be ready anyway.

And I definitely have to give Osteria via Stato a BIG ^ ^ for being just a top-quality place. It's a new favorite.

I had an '82 Sauternes about a month ago. Of course it was from my cave. If it was in a restaurant I would have had to take out a loan to buy it.

And right now a '53 Armangnac, bought relatively cheap at an auction.