I've got 2 of these:

2005 Chateau Boswell Cab Beckstoffer/To Kalon

I'll be curious to see how they compare with the Mondavi reserves with which I am more familiar.

With the addition of a few bottles each of Chehalem Ridgecrest, Amalie Robert, Belle Pente Pinot, I am feeling better about having to open my '96 Quintessa soon.

Sic Transit.....

A regular wine do sounds a mighty fine idea to me.

+1

Somewhere up in the Bay Area perhaps?

12/15 or 2/19 would be tres cool. Failing that I will be there in March (16-19).

Wine and dine our way out of 2008?

either or works for me, i'll just be flying up from SAN most likely so i have tons of flexibility.


back on topic:
just picked up a 1996 Grange and a 2001 D.R. Stephens! i'm so excited!! those immediately go to the top of my list as stuff i can't wait to try :)

I'm happy with some of my prized, young first growth Bordeauxs and some vintage ports, but my collection pales in comparison with one of my coworkers who, if he wanted to, could run his own vertical AND horizontal tastings of the top red Burgundies and Bordeauxs from the late 70s to mid 90s. Luckily, he is a generous guy, and often brings in some interesting wines to work so we can try them together.

Sounds like you like to drink labels more than wine...especially with the USA selections. Just my two cents.

Wow. You people impress me. While I am a wine drinker, I am by no means an expert, and I don't have a wine cellar.

Some of my favorites are Jordan cabernet...HeitzCellars cabernet...Ponzi pinot noir...Au Bon Climat pinot noir...several of the German rieslings...

Now I will just go back to my pathetic little existence....lol...:p

You are the best type of expert there is, Cathy. You know what you like. That's all you need to know. I've been in the wine business for 29 years now, and I still don't consider myself an expert.

Sad thing is that most of the folks in our business tend to be the type of kids who got beat up a lot in school...geeky. :p

But I'd have to argue that being called a Wine Geek is far better than just a Geek...I don't get offended when I'm called a Wine Geek at work, by the other buyers ;)

Mmmmmm... Those two in particular are good calls for me too especially the reserve Ponzi and have a home at my home too. :) With taste like that Seems like you know a fair amount, or at least some of the really important stuff.

I'm by no means an expert, just a fan of wine...

Disclaimer: I don't have vintage years on a lot of them. I'm too danged lazy to look. My top 5 favorites are in Bold.

Mine are all US Wines (majority of them NW Wines) but here's what I've got in my collection right now:

Duck Pond Cellars in Dundee, OR:

Syrah
Gewurtzaminer
Sangiovese
2006 Riesling
2006 Chardonnay
2004 Cabernet Sauvignon
2006 Pinot Noir, St. Jory Vineyard (Reserve Collection)

Desert Wind Cellars (part of Duck Pond Cellars):

Ruah
Cabernet Merlot
"Bare Naked" Semillon

Hoodsport Winery in Hoodsport, WA:

Raspberry
Blackberry
Pear
Apple
Chardonnay
Cabernet Merlot
Rhubarb
Lemberger Cabernet

Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville, WA:

Riesling

JM Cellars in Woodinville, WA:

Syrah
Bramble Bump Red

Cathedral Ridge in Hood River, OR:

Merlot
Cabernet
Riesling
Pinot Noir
Rose
Syrah
Cabernet Merlot

Pepperwood Grove in Napa Valley, CA

Syrah

Red Letter Diaries, CA

2005 Tempanrillo

Chateau Luciere, unknown place

2006 Bordeaux

Petanque, CA

2005 Le Pointeur

Barefoot Cellars, CA

Merlot

Of what I DON'T have in my collection, I like the Pinot Gris from Duck Pond, the Zinfandel from Cathedral Ridge and...well, for cheap stuff, I like the White Merlot from Sutter Home.

California-
Probably the Magnum of 2000 Silver Oak?
The '98 Mondavi private reserve(unfiltered-bought at the winery) is probably up there.
The 95-2000 Opi(if that is the plural of Opus :D )Including a Magnum of the 98

French.
95 Latour and 98 Lafite(case of each)
a few cases of 78 Ch. Gloria

Lots of realllllllllly old stuff (from the 60s/70s)that would either be fabulous or very expensive vinagar.Including Heitz,Berringer and Mondavi.Needs a professional to open and evaluate.
Most of a case of Tat. Comte de Cham. rose 74.Still nice but faded.
Ports from 67/72.

Just drank my two best bottles:

Paolo Bea Sagrantino Di Montefalco Pagliaro Secco 2003
Delas Hermitage Bessards 2004

Now, I'd have to say that my 1994 Dow's Vintage Port is at the top, also I bought a case of the Ciavolich Aries Pecorino 2007 which has proved to be fantastic.

$21.99/bottle here with free shipping on 4 or more bottles.

These deals typically only last a few hours.

I like JC Le Roux from South Africa. It's a really nice sparkling wine!

recent additions to my personal cellar....
 

Im focusing on large formats....

Bodega Chacra - Treinta y Dos 2007 (1500ml magnum)
Bodega Chacra - Cincuenta y Cinco 2007 (1500ml magnum)
Bodega Chacra - Barda 2007 (1500ml magnum)

Benegas Lynch Meritage 2005 (1500ml magnum)
Benegas Lynch Cabernet Franc 2005 (1500ml magnum)

Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino 2004 (6000ml Imperial)

Carlos Pulenta Vistalba Corte A 2004 (3000ml Double Magnum)

Noemia Malbec 2005 (1500ml magnum)
Noemia J. Alberto 2006 (1500ml magnum)

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Just added.....

Achaval Ferrer Finca Altamira 2007
1500ml magnum

Nice addition! I have the 2005/2006 in the 750ml size. ^

I have to ask, what would posses you to have an imperial.... of anything?? I hope you host some incredibly large parties.

I'm on a tight wine budget (too many other expensive hobbies!) so my nicest bottle is an 05 Ladera Cab that I picked up at the winery last year.

As an interesting experiment, do any of you guys use Cellar Tracker to keep track of your cellars? They have a "buddy" system now - might be fun to link up and compare notes on there too.

According to Cellar Tracker:

IWC top rated wines I own:

750ml $37.76 1 2007 Carlisle Syrah Rosella's Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands) 2009-2015 IWC94
750ml $38.06 1 2007 Carlisle Zinfandel Montafi Ranch (USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley) 2009-2014 IWC93, CT93
750ml $69.14 1 2006 Snowden Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (USA, California, Napa Valley) 2011-2036 IWC93, CT91.5
750ml $71.88 1 2005 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Ten (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills) 2009-2014 IWC93, GV92+, CT92.7
750ml $49.63 1 2005 Kaesler Shiraz The Bogan (Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley) 2007-2018 IWC93, CT91.5
750ml $38.47 1 2006 Carlisle Syrah Cardiac Hill (USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley) 2009-2019 IWC93, CT91.9
750ml $60.28 1 2001 Seavey Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley) 2011-2022 IWC93, CT92.1
750ml $57.62 1 2006 Saxum James Berry Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles) 2009-2017 IWC93, CT92.9
750ml $33.78 1 2006 Herman Story Syrah Nuts and Bolts (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County) 2009-2015 IWC92, GV88+, CT91.7
750ml $27.80 2 2007 Oliverhill Winery Shiraz Jimmy Section (Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale) set... IWC92, MY91
750ml $81.14 1 2006 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Ten (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills) 2009-2014 IWC92, CT92.5
750ml $53.54 1 2006 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Southing (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills) 2009-2013 IWC92, CT90.8
750ml $61.67 1 2006 Robert Foley Petite Sirah Muscle Man (USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District) 2008-2019 IWC92, CT93
750ml $50.54 2 1996 Lanson Champagne Gold Label Brut (France, Champagne) 2008-2016 IWC92(+?), CT90.3
750ml $103.26 1 2004 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Laurence (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape) 2012-2030 IWC92, CT93.3
750ml $21.23 3 2007 Carlisle Syrah Russian River Valley (USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley) 2010-2016 IWC92, CT90.4
750ml $35.27 2 2007 Carlisle Zinfandel Rossi Ranch (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley) 2008-2014 IWC92, CT93
750ml $28.40 1 2007 Carlisle Syrah Dry Creek Valley (USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley) 2010-2018 IWC92, CT91
750ml $38.17 2 2007 Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block (USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley) 2008-2014 IWC92, CT95
750ml $32.49 1 2005 Kilikanoon Shiraz Covenant (Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley) 2008-2013 IWC92, MY87, CT91.1

===============================================

Based on CT numbers, it's slightly different:

750ml $38.17 2 2007 Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block (USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley) 2008-2014 IWC92, CT95
750ml $61.16 1 2002 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Éloge (USA, California, Napa Valley) 2006-2018 CT93.5
750ml $50.36 2 2005 Shirvington Shiraz (Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale) 2008-2013 CT93.4
750ml $29.75 1 2007 Carlisle Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley (USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley) 2008-2012 IWC91, CT93.3
750ml $103.26 1 2004 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Laurence (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape) 2012-2030 IWC92, CT93.3
750ml $38.06 1 2007 Carlisle Zinfandel Montafi Ranch (USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley) 2009-2014 IWC93, CT93
750ml $61.67 1 2006 Robert Foley Petite Sirah Muscle Man (USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District) 2008-2019 IWC92, CT93
750ml $30.39 2 2005 Cascabel Shiraz (Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu) 2007-2017 IWC91, CT93
750ml $35.27 2 2007 Carlisle Zinfandel Rossi Ranch (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley) 2008-2014 IWC92, CT93
750ml $66.96 1 2003 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Éloge (USA, California, Napa Valley) 2008-2018 CT92.9
750ml $57.62 1 2006 Saxum James Berry Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles) 2009-2017 IWC93, CT92.9
750ml $71.88 1 2005 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Ten (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills) 2009-2014 IWC93, GV92+, CT92.7
375ml $22.54 1 2005 Château Doisy-Védrines (France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac) 2013-2024 IWC90(+?), GV99, CT92.7
750ml $81.14 1 2006 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Ten (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills) 2009-2014 IWC92, CT92.5
375ml $26.71 2 2005 Château La Tour Blanche Sauternes (France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes) 2012-2029 IWC91, CT92.3
750ml $34.17 1 2006 Carlisle Syrah Pelkan Ranch (USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley) 2009-2020 CT92.1
750ml $60.28 1 2001 Seavey Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley) 2011-2022 IWC93, CT92.1

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I opened 3 imperials to celebrate my 40th.... twas quite a party... :D

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Dan... you a fan of Amon-Ra Shiraz...?

Top Port Wines
 

1963 Vintage Port Novais
1971 Vintage Port Croft
1981 Vintage Port Barros

Dan seemed to hugely enjoy the one we had in June at the Wine Do. ^

Mule. ;)

This was awesome. ^

I'm already thinking about what to show next year! I love the Wine Do's

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2001 D'Yquem

Mi Amigo. If you send one up, I promise to guard it with my life. :cool:
I'm sure you can someone that's trustworthy at the Labor Day DO. :p

Top Portuguese Wine
 

Barca Velha ( Douro ) 1964 - One of the best Portuguese Wines

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Sorry mi amigo... slim chance thats gonna happen... :D

I will be flipping most of (95%) of the 2001 DYQ in my cellar...

Economics 101.... :p

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nice... :D ^

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12194372-post16.html
http://www.kazbar.net/Wine_list_2-09-1.pdf


Gaucho100K, if you like bond, you might check out harlan

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Harlan.... I love the stuff, except for the price... Bond is good stuff, but is in another category.

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new addition:

Mainque Merlot 2007

(made by Sassicaia's Piero Incisa)

Patagonia, Argentina

Speaking of imperials, I have an imperial of '78 Sterling Reserve Cab. Mainly because it was so cheap relative to the quality - I paid around $300 for it about 15 years ago. I consider the '78 Sterling Reserve to be comparable in quality to the best Bordeaux 1st growths of the 1970s - it was Ric Forman's last wine at Sterling, and, IMHO, his best. I had thrown a magnum of the wine into a tasting of First Growth Bordeaux in 1997 as a ringer, and out of 40+ wines, it was one of the consensus top 3 wines in the tasting (along with '83 Margaux and '82 Latour).

I just opened my last 750ml of the Sterling a few months ago and it was still kicking. I have just 2 magnums and the Imperial left.

Mostly, though, I prefer Burgundies, Rhones/Syrahs and Argentine Malbecs. And on that note, Achaval Ferrer '05 Quimera, and Colome '06 are superb stuff - even more so in light of the fact that they can be bought for under $25 a bottle.

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Have you tried any high end Malbecs...?

I've had the Achaval Ferrer single vineyard wines - I actually slightly prefer the Quimera - but I think that I had the single vineyard wines too young for them to show their best - but this was not so much that I didn't think that the Fincas were superb, just that I was knocked over by the Quimera which was showing spectacularly at the same tasting.

I've had the Vistalba Corte A which I very much enjoyed - but again, I think I had it too young to really appreciate it.

I've had the Cobos Bramare '06, and I suspect I got an off bottle, as I definitely caught a whiff of VA.

I've not been overwhelmed by any of the high-end Catena Alta wines, but I suspect that I'm biased against the winery because I thought that they were extremely arrogant during my visit there.

I've had the '05 Mendel Unus - that's some rollicking good stuff, but I'd be hard pressed to say that it was better than the Quimera '05 or the Colome Estate '06, both of which I thought were spectacular.

I've never had a Malbec that was more than 4 years old, so clearly, I can't speak to how well that they will age relative to Bordeaux, or California Cabs.

Yes... Catena are not the best hosts... its a shame they do this to their image because they certainly do make fine wines.

Top quality Malbec ages... and will age very well and for a long time... but one must pick the right labels and the right vintages.

Sorry for the slightly OT post, but this article should be interesting for FT Wine lovers that perhaps dont have much experience with this 'strange' grape...?

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...d=a_NEz6W.zPvE

(duplicate post)

updating this outdated list of mine...

00/04/07 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape
96/99 Delas Hermitage Les Bessards
96 Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas
03 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino
94 Dow Vintage Porto
00 Gaja Langhe Darmagi
01 E. Guigal Hermitage Ex-Voto
03 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
05 Château Léoville Poyferré