Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) Had this at a restaurant last week: Winery: Siduri Score: 87 Wine: Pinot Noir Sonoma County 2004 Price: $19 Country: California Region: Sonoma Issue: Dec 15, 2005 Lots of ripe, up-front juicy fruit, with pretty plum, black cherry and blackberry flavors that are rich and fleshy, ending with a dash of nutmeg. Drink now. 1,393 cases made. (JL) I was having a steak and my 3 companions were all going with seafood. I just can't go white with a Ribeye, so I settle for a Pinot. I'm not a huge fan usually. This was good stuff. Siduri knows it's way with this grape. It's single vineyard bottlings are always rated highly (and expensive), but this Sonoma blend shows they can do well with some "bulk stuff" as well. Definately pick up a bottle at $19...I was at a restaurant...paid slightly more
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) Wine Spectator's Sips & Tips: May 22, 2006 BENTON-LANE Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2004 (90 points, $22) Light and immensely appealing for its delicacy and suppleness, offering pretty raspberry and strawberry flavors that pick up hints of white pepper and fresh mushroom as the finish sails on. Drink now through 2009. 12,054 cases made. From Oregon. Thx, Jay!
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) 2001 Zaca Mesa "Z Cuvee" - Rhone-style blend. Flowery upon first opening. Better balanced after a day sitting in the bottle, so it could use some more age. Discounted to $8.00 - a steal. 2003 Summers Charbono - a nice full bodied red. Perhaps overpriced at $24, but an unusual varietal. The winery is a neat little one to visit, all that way at the top of Napa Valley next to the "Old Faithful of California" geyser.
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) Wine Spectator's Sips & Tips: May 30, 2006 MEZZACORONA Chardonnay Vigneti delle Dolomiti 2005 (87 points, $8) A Chardonnay with pretty ripe apple and light caramel character. Full, round and delicious. Drink now. 100,000 cases made. From Italy This sounds interesting. And I normally don't drink the Chard... Thx, Jay!
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) Wine Spectator's Sips & Tips: June 5, 2006 CHÂTEAU DE PARAZA Minervois Cuvée Spéciale 2004 (88 points, $9) Mineral and red fruit flavors are the hallmarks of this well-structured, elegant red. Extremely fresh and balanced, this finishes with lovely notes of cherry and spice. Drink now through 2008. 10,000 cases made. From France. Thx, Jay!
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) One month later... Now that the World Cup is ending... Wine Spectator's Sips & Tips: June 12, 2006 FEUDO ARANCIO Chardonnay Sicilia 2005 (87 points, $9) Apple with hints of cream and toasted oak. Medium- to full-bodied, with lovely acidity and a medium finish. Delicious. Drink now. 70,000 cases made. From Italy. Wine Spectator's Sips & Tips: June 19, 2006 JACOB'S CREEK Shiraz South Australia Reserve 2003 (91 points, $13) Thick, with a layer of black pepper over a mouthfilling gob of black cherry and licorice that cries out for grilled red meat. Drinkable now, better with some age. Best from 2008 through 2013. 61,000 cases imported. From Australia. Wine Spectator's Sips & Tips: June 26, 2006 ROCK RABBIT Sauvignon Blanc Central Coast 2005 (86 points, $10) Richly flavored, with a fleshy midpalate and hint of sweet pink grapefruit, lemon blossom, fig and sweet pea. Drink now. 35,000 cases made. From California. Wine Spectator's Sips & Tips: July 5, 2006 ELK COVE Pinot Gris Willamette Valley 2005 (90 points, $18) Lithe, supple and immensely appealing for its creamy texture and almond-scented pear and peach flavors. It all lingers beautifully, too. Drink now. 11,100 cases made. From Oregon. Thx, Jay!
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) Wine Spectator's Sips & Tips: July 12, 2006 LES JAMELLES Merlot Vin de Pays d'Oc 2004 (85 points, $8) Juicy, quaffable red, with concentrated red cherry and spice flavors. Medium-bodied, with a lingering finish of sandalwood and maple. Drink now. 12,000 cases imported. From France. Thx, Jay!
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) Wine Spectator's Sips & Tips: July 17, 2006 BODEGAS RAMÓN BILBAO Tempranillo Rioja Crianza 2003 (88 points, $10) This plush red brims with ripe blackberry and black cherry fruit, accented with cocoa and fresh tobacco. It's balanced and fresh, in the modern style. Drink now through 2008. 70,000 cases made. From Spain. Thx, Jay!
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) We get both here in the states (at least in the northeast). I've seen the Penfolds 2003 run anywhere from US $18 and US $26.
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) I've seen the 389 for about $16 on sale at a place around me. I like the 28, which is around the same price.
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) I lost last weeks. Little help? Wine Spectator's Sips & Tips: July 31, 2006 YALUMBA Viognier South Australia The Y Series 2005 (89 points, $11) Bright and round, with a coconut edge to the pear and tropical fruit flavors, lingering nicely on the polished finish. Drink now. 30,000 cases imported. From Australia. I don't like Viognier, but my wife liked this one. Thx, Jay!
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) Wine Spectator's Sips & Tips: August 7, 2006 GREG NORMAN ESTATES Cabernet-Merlot Limestone Coast 2003 (91 points, $15) Lively, juicy and graceful. A smooth red with currant and plum flavors wrapped harmoniously around the finish, with overtones of toast and cedar. Drink now through 2012. 90,000 cases imported. From Australia. Wine Spectator's Sips & Tips: August 14, 2006 THE HESS COLLECTION Chardonnay Napa Valley 2004 (93 points, $20) Intense, concentrated and tightly focused, with a creamy mouthfeel to the lively layers of citrus, green apple, melon and herb scents. Shows a hint of mineral and spice on the aftertaste. Great length and persistence. Drink now through 2010. 28,000 cases made. Anyone drinking wine anymore, or should we just let this thread die? Thx, Jay!
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) Bought two bottles a couple months back. Opened one last week. Thought the nose was a little weak, but the description above is pretty accurate. For the price, it's a worthwhile buy.
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) Split a bottle of Haut-Brion '92 today. Quality stuff.
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) Secured my order today of a case of Schild Estate Shiraz 2004 at $22/bottle. WS Score: 96 - "Gorgeous stuff, it practically radiates a range of aromas and flavors, balancing its ripe cherry, blackberry and plum fruit with hints of minerals and sweet spices that make the finish sing for days. Tempting to drink, but just wait. Best from 2008 through 2020. 5,200 cases made"
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) Never really got into Shiraz or Malbec, to be honest. Was in Argentina and it was good, and I brought some nice bottles back, but........I dunno. I like my cab the most - and thus the left bank. Quality drinkin'.
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) Yeah, I hear ya. But except for a handful of '88s and '90s, nearly all of my bordeaux has to sit for a while before I can have at it.
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) This vintage was supposedly the greatest thing since sliced bread, so I got a couple of cases of futures......but I hear you. The 92 bottle of Haut Brion that I picked up was reasonably priced, surprisingly, but I'm not opening up my 99s or 01s any time soon. Its a good thing I much prefer the left bank - I can't imagine paying the insane amounts futures of Petrus are going for. Jebus.
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) I'm not buying any futures this year. I don't care how good they are. Also, I loaded up on 2000, 2003 and 2004 because I had kids born in all those years, so I can sit it out for a while.
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) They've really come into their own in the last few years. The malbecs I've tried from South American have improved dramatically, but are still a little rough. Now if you want some fantastic shiraz, Australia and little less so, New Zealand, are fantastic. If you're interested, I think I've got a list of some great Shiraz' from Austrailia (some are good deals, some are a little pricey).
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) agree that SA Malbecs are often rough, but they go great with pizzas and grilled foods where that roughness reminds you that you're still drinking wine with dinner.
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) Yeah, when I was in Bordeaux, I was asked a couple of times what my birth year was. '79 wasn't a great year (and I don't like the Mouton artist that year), so I didn't bother buying anything. And I have no kids. Although I did almost buy a bottle of '67 Pichon Baron (which is my favorite chateau). You're lucky to have a kid born in 2000, btw - good year. Sure - I'm always interested in picking up a few new things. They'll have to sit for a year or so (no ********ing way am I paying duty into the UK and then into the US), but I figure I can wait.
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) I just had a bottle of a South African Chardonnay, Indaba. It was quite delicious, dry and crisp with a smooth citrus finish.
Re: Your favorite Wine? (AKA, the Wine? thread, part 2) Had 3 (shared) bottles tonight of 2004 Domaine Alfred Pinot Noir, Edna Valley Chamisal Vinyard (Wine Spectator rating: 93). Very nice.