On expensive older stuff, just email WineBid. They're very well respected because they offer pretty clear communication re: the source and storage of those wines. Again, I only use to it backfill or order wines for special events, to be sure.
I've been looking for realm to kalon and for kata for forever so finding that website last week has been cool. I will probably buy every single bottle of kata that ever appears on there.
Sometimes I just wonder the accuracy because it’s pretty much boiler plate and I know they don’t check it out like an auction house because it’s odd lots instead of full cellars where they are sampling random bottles.
I'm pretty sure they do take on full cellars in addition to consignment lots. Their minimum is $2k per appraisal so it's not like one off bottles. Quite frankly, I have had far better experiences with their service and the wines themselves than Acker and Zachys. HDH is such a pain in the ass now that it's not worth the trouble either.
Interesting. I thought you could sell cases/mixed cases through there. I didn’t realize it was a $2k minimum. Thanks.
When you get to a point in your wine buying/collecting, it's too costly *not* to spend the coin to store your wine properly. Everyone's situation is different with what they can fit at home, obviously, but off-site storage is the most reliable way to make sure all the thousands of dollars you spend on your wines don't go to waste because of poor storage. I pay $270/quarter for my locker at Domaine NY and have one EuroCave at home (and a small CuisineArt fridge we were gifted). That's a lot of $$ obviously, but it's not something you can cut corners on.
Gallant Knight last bottle has 2016 Mondavi To Kalon for $100/bottle. W/ free shipping looks to be a good deal.
I've seen it discussed in the thread but I can't find the posts. What's generally the best wine fridge other than Euro Cave? We want to store 170-180 or so and spend $3500 - $4000. Seems like the Euro Caves are closer to $6000 for that capacity.
I recently purchased the Artevino through Costco... supposedly Eurocave's entry-level/value brand. Seems to have a decent reputation for the price. https://www.costco.com/artevino-iii...lar-with-display-shelf.product.100432410.html It was delivered last week but I haven't started the process of transitioning stuff from my off-site yet (bastards raised their prices over 50% the last two years). Seems solid, obviously can't speak to longevity. Hoping I can get at least 150 in it.
I had an Avanti that I bought from somebody that was moving out of state. I never had an issue with it in the 3-4 years I had it. We built a cellar in our basement in 2016 and I gave it to a friend. From what I know it still works but I haven’t seen them since pre-COVID.
Its that time of the year: Last Bottle Marathon Madness and theDKALife's shameless plug: https://www.lastbottlewines.com/invite/0ef87805e60e7b636626.html Thank you for supporting my alcohol habit. Looking forward to sharing some gets tomorrow. Cheers!
Let's just hope this marathon is better than the last two. Uncharacteristically underwhelming IMO. I'll be locked in today though, particularly for daily drinkers.
Grabbed two bottles of Vincent Paris Cornas La Geynale 2012. Tough vintage, but the Vincent Paris wines are particularly good.
Picked up a few Sandhi pinots and Betz syrahs/red blends last time (or two ago). Haven’t really been monitoring this one. Sounds like I’m not missing out.
I just got one crummy bottle of Penner Ash 2016 Pinot Noir so far bc I thought I remembered someone recommended it once on here. sigh.
Shipment season. Andremily, Horsepower and No Girls the last 2 days. I have Domaine Drouhin Oregon coming tomorrow.
I think I have Rotie Cellars, Gramercy, Chappellet and Continuum coming next week. Saxum was the prior week and is already put away. I don’t think I’m far off over the 3 week period. MN is typically the back end of winery shipping windows. Some wont even ship until April so I’m waiting on Full Pull and others.
Wouldn't you know it, they didn't specify in my confirmation email. Sigh, I need some cheap rioja's to cheer me up.
This is the third shipment this week and we have another two to go. I am running out of space and my wife is getting annoyed.
Fwiw-I really like Palmer Creek. If no vineyard is given its more likely an AVA. Dundee Hills is my wheelhouse (tart red cherry flavor profile). Penner-Ash is solid though so I’m sure you will like whatever you get.
My last few remaining cases have been arriving at our new house and it reminded me of my push last year to beef up my Nebbiolo and Sangiovese stock. Particularly relative to France and Napa, the value you get for the best of the best in Italy is usually unmatched. Obviously I don't have any Conterno in here, but these are all premier producers that you can (other than Le Pergole Torte) find for under $75.
Dumb question, but I could use some education on Italian wines. How do you know what vinyards are good? Trial and error?
Most italian wines, much like new world wines, will either be blends of multiple vineyards or from a small enough producer where they bottle only one vineyard so you don't need to filter between them. In the case of single vineyard wines, yeah it's basically trial and error. I guess to help, here are some of my favorite producers that new Italian wine drinkers should seek out as they start looking for what they like: Piedmont: Vallana Giacomo Fenocchio Sottimano Tuscany: Fontodi Isole e olena Tons more outside of those obviously...but that's a good place to start.
this is the guess on a message board any guesses on the rose? I"m guessing it's the Drake one "Mod" 98 tasting panel, etchings, huge box, and retails at $400