What wine are you drinking? Spring 2012

[Clavius]

I did a search and didn't see a current wine thread. So here we go! What wine are you drinking?

Tonight for me, as a change from bourbon, I'm drinking a 2008 bottle of Maison Louis Latour Domaine de Valmoissine Pinot Noir. Nothing fancy and it was on clearance at my local store. That's the main reason I bought it as I'm not a huge pinot fan. It's ok, kind of one dimensional IMHO. I really prefer big, bold cabernets.

[dridge11]

Had a little 2006 Pride Cabernet Franc with friends last night. Now I'm sipping on 1997 Salon Le Mesnil while I finish up some work at the office.

[Tico]

salon at work = win!

just got a nice shipment from rhys and copain this week so I may crack one while playing with my new ipad 3 tonight :cool:

[bigtoys]

Last bottles were The Hattrick, a Napa Blend (Cab Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc) from Miner (with international hockey star Igol Larionov) and Maple Lane 2008, another Napa Cab. The ML was great; unfortunately it's sold out and we only bought 2 bottles.

Just bought another bottle of Cakebread Dancing Bear Ranch, another Napa blend we like. To keep the other 600+ bottles company in the basement. Like we needed it.

[Restaurant man]

Last bottles were The Hattrick, a Napa Blend (Cab Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc) from Miner (with international hockey star Igol Larionov) and Maple Lane 2008, another Napa Cab. The ML was great; unfortunately it's sold out and we only bought 2 bottles.

Just bought another bottle of Cakebread Dancing Bear Ranch, another Napa blend we like. To keep the other 600+ bottles company in the basement. Like we needed it.

I've seen the maple lane on wtso.com

If your not familiar with the site, then u need to get familiar. It is insanely good.

[hilega]

2010 Babcock Deja Vu Pinot Noir

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[Parkersback]

I know almost nothing about wine, but I would love to hear any suggestions from the board about a "house" red, an everyday drinker, not too dry, under $10.

[Dramiel McHinson]

Just broke into a 2007 V. Sattui off dry reisling. Really nice and fruity with A crisp finish.

[bigtoys]

I've seen the maple lane on wtso.com

If your not familiar with the site, then u need to get familiar. It is insanely good.

thanks for the tip. registered. interesting concept, selling one wine at a time.

opened a half bottle of Rubicon Estate 2006 Cask Cabernet, a consistently good Napa Cab. Very smooth, little tannins.

Originally known as Inglenook when established by Gustave Niebaum in 1879, Francis Ford Coppola bought it in 1975 and it became Niebaum-Coppola. It was renamed Rubicon Estate in 2006, but in 2011, FFC bought back the Inglenook name and it's now known as Inglenook again.

[camduncan]

I don't drink much wine, but my wife loves it..... Since trying it in Hawaii, she's become a give fan of Callifornian White Zinfandel. Until this year we've never been able to find one on the Aussie market, but it looks like the Gallo Family Vinyard variety is now permanently available.

Otherwise, she's working her way through the enormous range of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc's that are available here.

[Clavius]

Otherwise, she's working her way through the enormous range of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc's that are available here.

There are some GREAT New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc's out there! I bet you're able to get the best of them being so close.

[camduncan]

There are some GREAT New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc's out there! I bet you're able to get the best of them being so close.

We get a very large selection here, and are quite spoilt if NZ wines are to your taste.... but it's nothing compared to what we get when we visit the South Island of NZ.. The stuff there is amazing!

[Tico]

Polished off a bottle of 2006 Gibourg Vosne Romanee tonight with the wife, no bourbon tonight.

[camduncan]

Does Port count? I've been enjoying a glass or two of Rumbalara Tawny port from Rumbalara Wines (a local place a few hours drive from here)

[sutton]

On Sunday, A 2006 Mt. Eden Vineyards Santa Cruz Mtn. Chardonnay and 2002 Chateau Montelena Estate Cab with the Easter lamb ... very nice.

[Clavius]

and 2002 Chateau Montelena Estate Cab with the Easter lamb ... very nice.

Awesome. Never had Chateau Montelena but I hear it's very good.

[sutton]

Awesome. Never had Chateau Montelena but I hear it's very good.

I've always found it to be excellent - they also make a Chardonnay that I don't believe (or at least rarely) goes through malolactic fermentation - a great pairing with oysters. I also love their Zin ...

[Dramiel McHinson]

Popped the cork on a 2006 Peju Provence. This is a blended red from the Napa area. Really delightful wine. Nice earthy fruit taste with a hint of chocolate and cinnamon.

[Max Power]

Not enough of them. Marques de Caceres Rioja was the last one I had...and it is wonderful.

[T Comp]

On Sunday, A 2006 Mt. Eden Vineyards Santa Cruz Mtn. Chardonnay and 2002 Chateau Montelena Estate Cab with the Easter lamb ... very nice.

Awesome. Never had Chateau Montelena but I hear it's very good.

I've always found it to be excellent - they also make a Chardonnay that I don't believe (or at least rarely) goes through malolactic fermentation - a great pairing with oysters. I also love their Zin ...

Always loved and preferred the Montelena cabs over their old school competitors. The '02 Napa vintage was awfully special so that was some good drinking for sutton. I had bunkered a few of their non estate '02 cabs but they're gone now :cry:. For those whiskey drinkers that don't know it was their Chardonnay that was famous for taking first in in the 1976 Judgment in Paris competition and resulted in a great book and bad movie.

I've now fallen so hard for whiskey that budget wine is just fine to get me through dinner (and onto whiskey :grin: ) so that I rarely spend more than $10 for a bottle.

[Tico]

On Sunday, A 2006 Mt. Eden Vineyards Santa Cruz Mtn. Chardonnay and 2002 Chateau Montelena Estate Cab with the Easter lamb ... very nice.

Both of those wines are very good. Last time I had the 06 Mt. Eden it was shut down pretty hard and seemed like it needed a few more years to unwind.

[sutton]

Both of those wines are very good. Last time I had the 06 Mt. Eden it was shut down pretty hard and seemed like it needed a few more years to unwind.

Agree, it did open up over time - I opened it at cellar temp. (which right now is about 52 degrees), and it improved as it warmed a bit.

On your other point, I too have cut back substantially on the wine purchases. I find it interesting that wine (at least for some of the "more famous/sought after" names) can easily run $50-$75/bottle - and substantialy more if chasing cult Cabs, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Brunello, Barolo etc. They are also gone in one meal - but a $75 purchase for a bottle of straight bourbon or rye gets you something pretty amazing that lasts significantly longer and can last with significant empty space in the bottle with no ill effects.

We've been drinking down the cellar and making more of our own wine each year - my wine purchases focus now on the lesser known regions where you can still find value, but eventually even these will rise in price (look at Oregon Pinot Noir over the last 10-15 yrs). Lesson for the bourbon lover - prices can only go up as more discover the value hidden in these whiskeys.

(I also find it a bit odd that everything I prefer to drink starts with a "B" :grin: )

[Clavius]

Going cheap tonight! 2010 Sterling Vintner's Collection Central Coast Chardonnay.

[White Dog]

Great thread! (Just found, as I rarely visit this area.)

Over the weekend had many great bottles. Sinskey 2011 Vin Gris is much better than last year's, which was also good. Paired well with BBQ Chicken. Paul Achs 2009 St. Laurent was great with spaghetti of all things. And a Selbach 2009 Zelt. Himm. Kab. Halbtrocken was great all by itself.

[Tico]

Went over to my in-laws last night for dinner. Had a bottle of 2001 Arcadian Garys's Vineyard Pinot and a bottle of 1990 Beringer Private Reserve Cab.

The pinot was killer, probably drinking at peak or close to it. The Beringer seemed like it could use a few more years in the cellar.