Wine Thread

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by Rabid, Apr 8, 2015.

  1. Menelaus

    Menelaus The Red-Haired King
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    Enjoying a 2015 Heitz Cellars Grignolino with Chicken and Wild Rice casserole tonight. Really dig this wine.
     
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  2. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    I'm looking at getting a Coravin. Does anybody have one and have an opinion on Model 1 vs. Model 2. They're both newer models than the original and it appears the primary differences are quality of materials used. I like the look of model 2 more but appearance alone doesn't justify the premium price so I'm trying to get an idea how different they are otherwise.
     
  3. DistantFactor

    DistantFactor Sesquipedalian
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    A couple of my wine clubs have ones to let us taste the older wines as club members. Not sure which one they have though other than it is awesome.
     
  4. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    They basically claimed they made the Model 1 for millennials at a more approachable price point and because they like variety. They can get fucked for that mindset, but the thing is still awesome. I'm very much Team Model 2 and the stainless steel one if I was getting one though (haven't talked myself into it yet, though I've been debating for about 2 years).

    I continue to find myself at the contention that if I've got a bottle worth using a Coravin for, I better be opening it for the right reasons, and the right reasons involve not me drinking it by myself over a few days, but rather with folks who will appreciate it and help properly finish the bottle.
     
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  5. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    The gist of this is that it’s my birthday soon. We have a 3 year old and my pregnant wife wants to do something nice and sees the difficulty in me enjoying/sharing nice wine. I agree with everything you said but it’s a tough window of time for fine wine drinking and even after our daughter is born it won’t get much easier.

    I was a bit turned off on the approachable for millennials commentary as well. But, I’m torn with thinking “I will use it but will I use it enough to justify the premium price?” Because cheaper materials really just means shorter longevity which might be well worth it on a newer technology that is still developing as well as what will probably be a short timeframe for it’s primary usage.
     
    #1105 Rabid, Apr 5, 2018
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2018
  6. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    I've got an eight year old, so if it helps for context, we still drink plenty of wine. I'm with you on the materials, that's why I would go with the stainless if I were to do one, but I reached the same problem with the price of the thing as-is. Am I gonna drop $300 for a thing I use how often and may be obsolete in 2 years considering how long the Model 2 has been out?

    But it is your birthday, and that and Christmas are really the only times I can justify it to myself.

    You need to introduce your kid to other kids with parents who really enjoy wine, scotch, etc haha
     
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  7. Yung/Embree

    Yung/Embree Well-Known Member
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    I love my coravin (model 2) but give these a look: https://www.repour.com/

    They're cheap as shit, don't take *nearly* the upkeep that a corvin does, and I've tested bottles that have been open up to 8 weeks with no noticeable difference.
     
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  8. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    After playing with them at a local store, definitely the model 2. The Model 1 felt really cheap.
     
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  9. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    45F4A9E9-2E7C-4EE9-A033-BCF493E9D859.jpeg Steak au Poivre and risotto with a 2005 Hillside Select.

    My 3-year old exclaimed “you made a yucky dinner.”
     
  10. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    Holy fuck Rabid you sly dawg. The 2005 too. Serious FOMO.
     
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  11. Vito Corleone

    Vito Corleone Deluxe Member
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    Is that worth the price point it's selling at now?
     
  12. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    It’s really good. I don’t think I would pay $300. I bought this for $180 6 years ago. It’s my first taste of Hillside Select and I’m glad I bought this.

    I use my birthday (yesterday) as an open that bottle night.
     
  13. pperc

    pperc Well-Known Member
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    Anyone heard of Sylvie Estate?
     
  14. Yung/Embree

    Yung/Embree Well-Known Member
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    IMG_3989.jpeg

    Wife is out of town until Tuesday so figured I'd treat myself tonight. Depends on the market, but '09s are lights out at the moment and are generally pretty reasonable price wise.
     
  15. wes tegg

    wes tegg I'm a Guy's guy, guys.
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    Has anybody done any tastings/tours in Salinas Valley? I'm planning a trip to Monterey/Carmel and would like to spend a day there (or two if it's worth it).
     
  16. wes tegg

    wes tegg I'm a Guy's guy, guys.
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    Picked this up at Whole Foods on a whim. Really, really good for a relatively young Barbaresco. In a couple of years, it’s going to be fire. I’m going to go back and grab 3 or 4 bottles to lay down.
     
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  17. wes tegg

    wes tegg I'm a Guy's guy, guys.
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  18. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
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  19. Yung/Embree

    Yung/Embree Well-Known Member
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    Dinner at Popina in Brooklyn last night. One of the most reasonably priced wine lists in town. Both of these were under $90...
     

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  20. wes tegg

    wes tegg I'm a Guy's guy, guys.
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    You mean the cabinetry? I kind of like it. :idk:
     
  21. SmoochieWallace

    SmoochieWallace Ipse dixit
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    Picked up an unused Model 2 on Craigslist for $85 today.
    :getmoneyfuckbitches:
     
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  22. stexraider

    stexraider Fire Everybody
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    I don't think I've ever posted in here before so this should serve as a good tag of the thread as well.

    Wife and I just returned from 5 days in Napa (stayed in the Rutherford area) and will mention a few makers here that I hope you guys would enjoy.

    First - highly recommend Perata Wine Tours if you want to do 3 to 4 tastings in a day - not just to drive you but they really listen to the types of wines you like and find wineries that match up to that and can expose you to places that are fun visits but also feature great wines.

    Here's a few of the ones we did that I think you guys should profit from:

    In Coombsville - Parker Family Wines - they make a Chardonnay because folks asked them to but they're primarily a red wine maker - very cool tour - their top end reds are legit - their Rose is super good. Tour is super casual and the property allows you to see all the way to Calistoga on a clear day from the top of the hill. The owner worked for IBM and was the inventor of the 3.5" "floppy disk" :chan:

    At the top of Pritchard Hill is David Arthur - if you want to drink a lot of wine and have a great time with amazing views - this is for you. Cabs from Pritchard Hill are pretty legendary and neighboring wineries are world famous and feature >$800 bottles on the reg - Chappalett, Ovid, Continuum, Colgin, etc... wines are less expensive than these and maybe just as good - they're also making a Nebbiolo that I love so much

    Also a good visit was Azur Wines - wine maker Julien Fayard (seen on Decanted) has his own label and he's making a few wines in his own style - a very mineral and acidic Sav Blanc and since Julien loves Rose (if you watch Decanted he's seen in a long scene hauling rose bottles around) his Rose is the best in town.

    We went to Grigich Hills because we love the story and have been a wine club member for years - they still make some of the best whites so consistently and their top end reds are pretty awesome. One thing to note is that the actual wine making education done on their personal tour was very good.

    Can't wait to go back - we have a shit ton of wine heading this way in the next few days - it's gonna be like wino Christmas and I'm pretty excited.
     
  23. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    I <3 Pritchard Hill. I’ve ordered Continuum every year since 2008 vintage (my wife and I drank the 2008 at our wedding), a Chappellet club member since 2009 vintage and Bryant Family since 2010 (although I’m only buying DB4 now because of the pricing on their flagship wine has gotten out of hand). I was on the Colgin waitlist and now receive offers but $1200 for 3 bottles seemed too steep.
     
    #1123 Rabid, Apr 28, 2018
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2018
  24. MB123

    MB123 Well-Known Member
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    Sounds like a great trip!

    That Grgich hills tour really smashes through some wines in a short amount of time. Love their barrel rack system.

    Big fan of Julien’s wines and he’s an awesome person. Where did you go to taste the Azur wines?

    Any food highlights from your trip?
     
    #1124 MB123, Apr 29, 2018
    Last edited: Apr 29, 2018
  25. stexraider

    stexraider Fire Everybody
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    I'm not exactly sure where it was (address is 2238 First Ave, it's the one on their website) because Perata was driving, but it was the home of Julien and Elan - their home is at the front of the property and at the back is a barn they remodeled and is now their tasting room/patio... it overlooks a cool neighboring winery and ravine

    Food? Sure - Restaurant at Meadowood was our final stop and it was amazing. Foievocado - amazing. We were staying at Auberge and both the Bistro (Duck Taquitos) and the restaurant (Kampachi crudo) were of course incredible - even their pancakes were maybe the best pancakes I've ever had.... Bottega was great - although the gnocchi were disappointing but the risotto and fish dishes were fantastic... Farmstead was a great lunch although I really wanted to go to Gotts - but the crowd was so crazy that day and I was just flat out starving so we headed across the street to Farmstead and it was really good and they got me an app out quickly so I didn't die on the spot. I ordered a burger there because that's what I was hungry for - but that was a bad order - they don't make burgers like Gotts or anywhere else makes a burger - they're super lean (boooo) and since tomatoes weren't available yet on the farm they didn't have any to put on the burger - so that was a fucked up little fact I didn't learn until I took a bite of the thing. But all was good because I just ordered another app and all was good again. We went into Napa for lunch on tasting day and ate at Zuzu because my wife and I love Spanish food and the food there was seriously outstanding - I wish we had something like that in our little town but that's too high end for us - I have to go into Houston or San Antonio for that stuff... highly recommend it - all the standards were on the menu and they had some cool stuff like duck empanadas and rockfish... the only disappointment really was a dinner we had in Napa at an Italian place called Ca'Momi - we were hoping for a chill little Italian homestyle place and it's some sort of hybrid of the gigantic portions of Maggianos, a modern bar (which was actually very cool and good, just not what were were looking for after a long day of tasting wine), and waiters straight out of Fridays. Food was okay, but when you're ordering Fried Chicken at an Italian place you know the place is off.
     
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  26. buy_dont_lease

    buy_dont_lease Ha ha ha. What a story, Mark.
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  27. H/T

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    Enjoyed a 2016 Pinot Rose from Montinore Estate and a 2016 Pinot Noir from Pali Wine Co tonight. Both out of Willamette Valley and very good.
     
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  28. Nole0515

    Nole0515 Well-Known Member
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    I’ll be in that area this weekend. If we do any tours I’ll give you a rundown
     
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  29. stexraider

    stexraider Fire Everybody
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    throw a dart at Pinots from Willamette... haven't had a bad one yet. Certainly prefer some to others (love Haden Fig) but if it's a Pinot and Willamette - I'm in
     
  30. Nole0515

    Nole0515 Well-Known Member
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    had a 2015 Ponzi Tavola Pinot this past weekend that was great. it was almost like a cab
     
  31. Nole0515

    Nole0515 Well-Known Member
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    wes tegg didnt go to Salinas but went to Big Sur which I highly rec for the hiking and the views. Did one tasting at Holmans Ranch in Carmel. Mostly Pinots, 2 Rose and a Chard on the tasting menu. Was pretty good and one of the servers went to Auburn. Also traveling through there wants me to win the Lotto and move there
     
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  32. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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    Sunday was an absolutely perfect weather day in Portland and lucky enough we had scheduled another wine tour in the Willamette Valley. We did one through Backcountry Wine Tours two years ago and I set one up with them again for the group of 8 this time and I can't recommend them enough. We started the day at Soter Vineyards which was a perfect start as their whole tasting was paired with foods made right on site. Next we went to L'Angolo Estate which was awesome. It's a very new vineyard so the 2015 Pinot was their first estate vintage. The second pic is taken from their patio and you can just see Mt. Hood peaking up through the trees. A bit more pricey wines here but looking forward to letting these get some time on them. Last stop was J. Christopher Wines (first pic attached). Again some very good wines here. Last two pics were taken at a random turn off on the drive home, featuring Mt. Hood in pic 3 and St. Helens in pic 4

    IMG_6859.JPG IMG_6857.JPG IMG_6865.JPG IMG_6864.JPG
     
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  33. hawkeyeOUTeast

    hawkeyeOUTeast Well-Known Member
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    How many wineries did you go to and how long at each? Always curious how those tours are.
     
  34. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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    On this tour we went to three places but that was mostly due to being with a big group (half women) who were mostly talking instead of keeping up with the tasting pace. We were at the first stop for nearly two hours, probably close to the same at the second stop but this included eating lunch, then the last place maybe an hour and a half. The first time we did this tour we went to four stops. They are very flexible with how you want the Tour to go; the guide was telling us she's taken some people out and they were mostly wanting to buy wine so they hit 6-7 places. I think we went about as slow as she would allow. Tours like that can also get you into some smaller boutique places that are private or appointment only so they're way less crowded and you might get more time with the actual winemaker, this happened for us a couple years back and that was really awesome
     
  35. DistantFactor

    DistantFactor Sesquipedalian
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    I happen to be enjoying a willamette valley Pinot right now, 2011 Bergstrom from the Temperance Hill vineyard. Had a killer 2010 Brunello Di Montalcino this weekend as well.
     
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  36. DistantFactor

    DistantFactor Sesquipedalian
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    I got vintage notes from my wineries that all lined up and will post later tonight, but if you have 2012 from Willamette Valley cellaring it’s time to pull it and drink. That hot year isn’t going to get any better with age.
     
  37. DistantFactor

    DistantFactor Sesquipedalian
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    For those who have cellars far better than mine this goes back to 1999. This is general guidelines for Willamette Valley Pinots.

    1999 - Drink now
    2000-3 - drink now or hold 1-3 Years
    2004-7 - Drink now
    2008 - Drink now or hold 1-3 years
    2009- Drink now
    2010-11 - Drink now or hold 2-5 years
    2012 - Drink now
    2013 - Now through 2023
    2014 - Now through 2025
    2015 - Hold, Drink 2019-2030
    2016 - 2019-2025
     
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  38. Menelaus

    Menelaus The Red-Haired King
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    Speaking of Williamette Valley - Picked up a few bottles of 2014 J Christopher Pinot. Damned good for the price. Think I might keep the other bottle and drink a year from now.
     
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  39. Fancy

    Fancy thanks, i hate it
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    Hi everyone.

    Staying in Napa and looking for recs for one or two wineries to see. <3
     
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  40. hawkeyeOUTeast

    hawkeyeOUTeast Well-Known Member
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    There’s so many and a lot of great ones, but a lot of touristy/turnstiles as well. The only one I’d recommend that stood out to me was Cade. I enjoyed the small intimate tour/pairing setting and the views are arguable the best in the valley. You’ll need a reservation.
     
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  41. Vito Corleone

    Vito Corleone Deluxe Member
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    Going to Napa and maybe Sonoma with about 6-7 people next month. Group decision to just do a tour. Going to go to 5 wineries in a day. Here is the list to choose from. Would appreciate some insight. I definitely don't want the turnstyle feel where they push you in and out if you aren't going to buy a case or a membership. Probably looking for a couple that are very scenic. I'll be the snobbiest drinker more than likely. Caymus and Peju are two I'm going to do unless someone warns me otherwise.

    Frogs Leap
    Jacuzzi
    Domaine Carneros
    Gloria Ferrer
    V. Sattui Winery
    Peju
    Castellio Di Amarosa
    Caymus
    Nickel and Nickel
    Andrettu Winery
    Stag's Leap
    Opus One Winery
    Paraduxx
    Chimney Rock Winery
    Ram's Gate
    Del Dotto
    Far Niente
    Sterling Winery
    Cline Cellars
    Gundlach and Bundschu
    Ledson
    Benzinger


    Thanks,
    Vito
     
  42. Vito Corleone

    Vito Corleone Deluxe Member
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    In addition, it'll be on a Friday. I'm not obsessed with trying the Cult Wine, but if the tasting at like Stag's Leap, Caymus, or Opus One is worth it and not too pretentious, I'd probably like to do one
     
  43. pperc

    pperc Well-Known Member
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    Can I throw in two that aren't on there that you should ask about? Pride Mountain Vineyards and Boich Family Cellars. Both have incredible wines and views.
     
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  44. BrickTamland

    BrickTamland You're not Ron...
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    Sup winos.

    What are some good options through which to gift wine and have it delivered?
     
  45. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    Are you tied to doing 5? That seems like a lot. I feel like less is more, particularly if you want something personal instead of a turnstyle. I know most of the wineries on your list but I haven’t actually toured them. I’ve heard Frog’s Leap can be a fun tour and not overly serious so with how you describe the group I would probably do that.
     
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  46. hawkeyeOUTeast

    hawkeyeOUTeast Well-Known Member
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    I enjoyed Peju. I despised Opus One (glasses only, no tastings). I understand it’s great, expensive wine but the people are pretentious as hell. Donald Trump could walk in and they’d probably treat him like some poor who can’t afford their product.
     
  47. Vito Corleone

    Vito Corleone Deluxe Member
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    I agree, not my decision unfortunately. I wanted to spend an overnight, but others just wanted to make a long day of it. I think many of the others want to do the more is better approach, that I know is wrong. We will at least have a shuttle and should be there when they start opening.

    Right now, this is the list. Have to cut one. Decided the first two can be the touristy kind. Hoping for a bit more interaction with the others. I'll probably venture away from the group and ask questions myself about their process and region.

    Caymus
    Castillo de Amarosa
    Del Dotto
    Frog's Leap
    Peju
    Nickel and Nickel
     
  48. Menelaus

    Menelaus The Red-Haired King
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    Larchmead is pretty sweet
     
  49. Vito Corleone

    Vito Corleone Deluxe Member
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    That is everything I don't want. I originally was like yeah, I know that bottle goes for 300+ at many restaurants, let's do that. I can get real cunty real quick about my wine, but I don't ever want to. That's the inner Iowan in me. Give me the best bang for your buck.

    I get the best bang for your buck wine perhaps in the world in WA. I really just want to try some different styles and methods from a different place. I don't need to brag about it on IG
     
  50. Vito Corleone

    Vito Corleone Deluxe Member
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    Like a bottle, subscription, or membership?