Found two Pinots I really like that I'm going to add to my rotation: Sonoma Cutrer Russian River Valley Vanduzer Willamette Valley
Shipping season. The most glorious time of the year. I've had 2 cases and a 6-pack delivered in the last two days and I have another case coming Monday. We are working on getting a cellar built but I clearly need to work harder.
Same feeling, except I get to go out and pick them all up which means tastings and picking up a couple more cases of my favorites.
If you have Costco membership they have Vanduzer for $10 cheaper than I can get at my local wine store.
Another value spot for California wine drinkers: Sierra Foothills. One of the only AVAs (though it's fucking huge) to have a large amount of limestone soil deposits, so do your research and find wineries that have vines in those areas and you'll get awesome quality for a bargain compared to just about anywhere else outside of Santa Lucia Highlands.
Just came back from a weekend in Paso Robles. This region doesn't get enough recognition for the quality wines they're producing. Opolo Zinfandel, Daou, Proulx, Justin, J Lohr, etc
Opolo is fantastic, glad you liked it. Lone Madrone (Neil Collins, from Tablas Creek, his side project) is fantastic as well.
I've been a wine club member of Opolo for over 10 years now. I've enjoyed all their wines, really fantastic stuff. I haven't tried Lone Madrone but will keep an eye out for that. Tablas is really great as well.
Doing a tasting dinner at (what looks to be) a decent byo place. Looking for 2 bottles to have before and with dinner, I'd like to spend about 75 total. No idea what exactly I'm eating, but prefer red wine. So something versatile would be good. Heading to a decent area wine store today...any good options that are fairly widely distributed that I could find in MI and are ready to drink now? Figured I'd probably spend 50 on one bottle and 25 on the other. Thanks!
Pinot Noir is going to be as food friendly of a red as you will find. Burgundy and Oregon moreso than California which definitely has food friendly but also a lot of fruit bombs that taste like vodka with Kool-Aid and those aren't food friendly at all.
Annual trip to Bandon coming up and I am bringing the wine again. 10/12 are partaking in the wine purchase, and need it for two dinners. Planning on 9 bottles available, although only planning on 7 nice bottles per night. Went with 4 bottles for 7 people per night last year and it as woefully short. Current Plan is: 2 2012 Margo Pinot from Colene Clemens 2 2012 Adrianne Pinot from Colene Clemens 2 2012 Bergstrom Le Pre De Col Pinot 2 2012 Shea Estate Pinot from Shea 3 2011 Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cab 3 2011 Joseph Phelps Cab 2 2012 Angel Vine Hellion Syrah 2 2012 Penner Ash Rubeo Syrah/Pinot Blend My body is ready.
Also in consideration for the novelty alone is purchasing a Methusaleh of 2011 Duckhorn Cab for one of the evenings which is currently on the wine list. That's a favorite of several of the people on the trip, and at $1K it's not a horrible price. For those that don't know a Methusaleh is also known as an imperial format, or 8 bottles in 1. Not sure how we golf the next day since 10 people would be trying to drink it, and we don't have a lot of heavy drinkers, but would make it a fun challenge for the evening.
Ended up with: Cristom Jessie Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013 Domaine le grand vallat Côte du ventoux 2011 Some $12 Malbec
Teach me how to wine. Two problems, I don't like warm drinks, and I don't like strong tasting drinks. Prefer something smooth. So far the only thing I like is mascato.
It looks like we're going to do a remodeling project in our basement that will include a wine cellar. I've got at least 100 bottles down there right now, some in boxes and some in a cabinet. It looks like I'm going to have to start drinking because I'm sure it will all have to be moved and the project could start as early as mid-December. I'd love to get rid of the 40 or so bottles that aren't in boxes so that I don't have to figure out a way to move all of them. TMB wine party in Minneapolis?
I'll bring the moonshine. I recently got turned on to Evodia. It's a Grenache from Spain and the wife and I really like. At only $10/bottle, it won't break the bank, either.
I've bought that before. I used to live by Surdyk's where it is only $7.99 during their fall wine sale.
Have you looked into wine storage facilities during the remodel? I had all of mine housed at a local wine shop where I had 24/7 access and it was only $50 or so a month.
It is an option. We're going to live in the house while remodeling the basement so I still want access to most of what I have down there. I do have some bottles stored offsite ($2/per case/month) but it is a hassle to get it there, get it out, etc so it isn't ideal for short-term storage. I'm thinking I will probably take the boxes up to an empty bedroom so I'm mostly concerned about the single bottles and how much of an inconvenience they will be.
the wife and I buying more oregon pinots just to try a bunch and figure out what we like we're just super cheap so basically all sub $20 and even more sub $15
My first bottle, been eying it for a while. Certainly not going to be a weekly bottle, but I've passed it on the shelf for months and couldn't keep eye fucking it. So damn smooth.
the wife and I always liked the Conundrum white table wine - it's a bit pricey but I still recommend it this weekend we learned that they started making a Red blend table wine - for how long, I don't know but we just saw it - it's a great wine in the $20 area - would also recommend for those that ask - the brand is the Caymus "knockoff" - all the grapes not good enough to make actual Caymus goes into Conundrum
The cheapest bottle of Oregon Pinot I like is Underwood. It's like the Bud Light of wine for me because before I know it the whole bottle is gone. But at the same time it actually tastes good.
legit had a bottle the other day, had it in a can a while back, it's pretty one note but it is very smooth like $9 a bottle too
There are definitely values out there in that range (especially in Washington) but it is a minefield. Pinot isn't cheap to produce so there are even more mines for that grape. My philosophy is that the best $10 you spend on wine is the second $10. I'm rarely disappointed at the $20 price point.
I don't doubt it...but it's just so hard when a lot of places don't have a huge selection of them to begin with...really just time to stop buying cheap wine from the grocery store
non-cunty opinion time when hosting large groups, my current go-to table wine with finger foods is a bota box
by way of explanation, I'll say that I used to try pretty hard to break out impressive wines at parties. it gets drunk too quickly by too many people who don't pay any attention. the boxes are easy, voluminous, affordable, and-- actually-- not half bad
Seven devils pinot at Costco is $15 in Portland area and guy learned from Ken Wright. One of the best values
I finally procured my wine for Bandon. List includes Coleen Clemens adriane pinot 4 Stag hollow yamhill-carlton reserve 4 Magnum of 2009 Betz red blend Magnum of 2000 north star merlot Carriage house 2009 cab 3 And 4 quality but cheaper wines
Completely understand this view point, I typically have my super value wines I get for events . Will give a couple a tatste to see what I might like. If it's in a decanter when they show up it must be nice right.
It's one of my wine clubs for last couple years. I had drank several cases of 2012 Margo before it showed up in the 60s on wine spectators top 100 this year.
I've got 2014 Truchard Roussane, 2010 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru, and some killer Grower Champagne lined up. Should be a fun night.
I'm a big Cabernet Sauvignon fan and am a member of the Hall winery out of Napa. Lucky enough to get a bottle of their 100 point 2010 Exzellenz...Ill be sitting on that bad boy for a while. I've been trying to get into white wines, but struggle finding anything I like. Not a big fan of the overly fruity whites. Any suggestions?