Wine Thread

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

  1. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    I have a large unit from Avanti that I found on Craigslist and bought for about $600. It has been very reliable and would recommend the brand.

    I would avoid Vinotemp.
     
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  2. Iron Mickey

    Iron Mickey a guy who posted here like five years ago hates me
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    :heythere:
     
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  3. DistantFactor

    DistantFactor Sesquipedalian
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    Thanks for the fantastic post, it's really helpful. I love the Walter Clore and just bought an imperial format H3 red blend and Cab for $50 each at Costco.

    Haven't tried grammercy or spring valley yet so will need to find those to try out. Had an 2009 Betz red blend recently and loved it . I'll keep my eye out for Walla Walla producers.
     
  4. DistantFactor

    DistantFactor Sesquipedalian
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    There are about 5 right off 26 near the 217 interchange. If you are trying to score some quality Oregon Pinot see Steve at the Bales Thriftway, it's a grocery store, on Cornell and Saltzman. The wine guy there has an in with just about every Oregon and Washington producer, great selection of local wines at wine club level prices.

    It's where I buy all my wine from if I'm not at the wineries. About 5 minutes off 26. PM me if you need more details.
     
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  5. DistantFactor

    DistantFactor Sesquipedalian
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    BTW the 2012 Colene Clemens Margo pinot just made the wine spectator 100, #63 I believe. That was the one when it first released that i tasted and made me sign up for their wine club. $35 retail, $31.50 at bales, and an exceptional value.

    MODEVIL if you go to bales they are one of a small numbet of places with Shea produced wine at $42 a bottle. Buy at least one and try it, fantastic bottle.
     
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  6. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    I absolutely love Gramercy Cellars. I have more of that and Rotie Cellars than anything else from WA. I also have a lot of Rasa which makes fuller bodied, super supple textured wines. The cabs are $60+ but some (Rhone varietals) are in that range.
     
    #206 Rabid, Dec 28, 2015
    Last edited: Dec 28, 2015
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  7. DistantFactor

    DistantFactor Sesquipedalian
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    My man Steve usually has some lying around for the $50-$60 price range.
     
  8. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    I'm not normally a Petit Verdot as a single varietal fan but their Petit Verdot is killer.
     
    #208 Rabid, Dec 28, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2016
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  9. FriendsofJtyler

    FriendsofJtyler I strenuously object
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    Really solid Spanish red blend called Locations for under $20 bucks. Created by Dave Phinney at Orin Swift (the same guy that created the Prisoner before he sold it for a whole bunch of money). Robert Parker gave it 93 points, not bad at all for the price point.


    [​IMG]
     
  10. Bert Handsome

    Bert Handsome I'm sorry, the card says Moops
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    I just picked up a bottle of L'ecole 2012 cab that was on sale at the warehouse wine store by me for $26. I think it was usually $35.

    Another one from Washington I used to drink a lot is at a lower price point is Chateau Smith. Nothing special but a decent value and widely available.
     
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  11. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    I opened a 2011 Oregon Pinot (DePonte Cellars Dundee Hills) for the first time in more than a year. It was fantastic. The sharp, biting acidity has rounded out nicely. I'm convinced 2011 is the new 2007.
     
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  12. DistantFactor

    DistantFactor Sesquipedalian
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    I haven't turned around on the 10s myself but the 11s are great and can usually be found for below retail price. One of the worst kept secrets in the industry right now.

    Id wait on any 13s but 12s are good to go and 14 will be like an 09/12 combo with how hot for how long it was.
     
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  13. John McGuirk

    John McGuirk member of the blue tiger club
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    The vivino wine app is pretty great
     
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  14. FriendsofJtyler

    FriendsofJtyler I strenuously object
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    I use it to track all my wine too. It's pretty sweet.
     
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  15. M'ark Pepperonio

    M'ark Pepperonio Free mahi mahi! Free mahi mahi!
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    Better than cellar tracker?
     
  16. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    For my purposes, Cellartracker is king. One nice thing with Vivino though is that if you use the CT app, it is integrated with Vivino to take pictures and find the wine.
     
  17. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    might be going to napa valley end of February since wifes sister flaked on us

    likely staying outside St Helena in some small town that has a neat Airbnb, tiny town has like 7 wineries
     
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  18. Futureman

    Futureman Check you later kemosabe
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    Hey lets talk, I'm literally planning a trip for me and the wife for the exact same time (end of february) and was looking at some cottages on Airbnb. Trying to decide between Napa, Calistoga and Sonoma. I have stayed in St. Helena before so trying to look at other places. Any recommendations? The only time I went was for a wedding and I was 25 and dumb about wine.
     
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  19. OZ

    OZ Old balls

    The Dundee Hills are one of my favorite places on earth (and DePonte is among about 10 wineries in my favorite spots among those hills, haven't been their yet : ( will go now) Gorgeous views of the Cascades, the rolling openness of the hills with the wineries mixed in, and the little small farming communities that remind me of Nebraska while clearly being in Oregon.

    Sitting on the decks of some of the wineries in those locations sipping a pinot is one of the most relaxing experiences of my 30 years. Doesn't hurt that you could throw a dead cat and hit 10 wineries in Dundee as well.

    Places I've been that I would recommend in the area (been to several others but these stick out immediately).

    - Sokol Blosser (great wines and gorgeous tasting room)
    - White Rose (probably the best wine I've had in Oregon from bottle-to-bottle). A bit pricey, but amazing. Also best tasting room (it literally reminds me of a lord of the rings hobbit dwelling, no windows with huge slanted roofs) I've been to and the best views of the cascades in Oregon (for wine drinkers).
     
  20. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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  21. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    What kind of wine do you like?
     
  22. Futureman

    Futureman Check you later kemosabe
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    I like cabs and my wife likes wine
     
  23. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    Hard to make an argument for you going all the way to Sonoma unless you're here more than a weekend then. At that point it's really about how much you want to explore and what you're willing to pay.
     
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  24. Bert Handsome

    Bert Handsome I'm sorry, the card says Moops
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    If I want to make sure I give Sonoma a fair shake, what wines should I be buying? I feel like when I buy Cab, I mostly buy Napa, when I buy Pinot, I mostly buy Oregon, and most the rest I buy is international.
     
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  25. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    I did my honeymoon there last year and we're poor so didn't go too crazy on wine side, v sattui, 20 barrels. Food wise I write a huge post about but likely lost in the crash. We stayed at an awesome air bnb on main but it's booked up for months.
     
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  26. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    I liked the vibe at Sokol Blosser but I felt like they let the wines get a little too ripe (hot 2009 vintage so it may have been an outlier) for my liking when we visited. We visited White Rose too. It was very masculine (big body and tannic) expression of Oregon Pinot. The winemaker was there when we visited so we had him sign the bottle we purchased but we haven't opened it yet (it is set aside to open soon).

    If you like those, check out Domaine Drouhin Oregon (DDO). I think it is the best wine on the hill. :twocents:

    Domaine Serene is a beautiful scene in the fall with red leaves along the driveway as you approach the winery too. The wines are good but you definitely pay a premium for it and the tasting room feels a little snooty to me.

    Archery Summit falls in to that camp of good wines but huge premium too. I don't begrudge them for doing it but I tend to buy others where I feel like the quality is comparable and the price is far less.
     
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  27. OZ

    OZ Old balls

    Will have to try Domaine, might even make a day trip this weekend.
     
  28. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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    I like hearing all these. Girlfriend and I are planning a trip up to Portland for Memorial Day and looking at doing a day tour in the Willamette Valley
     
  29. OZ

    OZ Old balls

    I would highly recommend the dundee hills, only about a 45 minute drive from where you will be and the views will be amazing when you go (likely a clear day at that time of year). I can even recommend a good place to eat in Dundee. Hell, while your at it, I would keep following the road and hit the coast and work your way back around.
     
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  30. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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    I think we're both pretty interesting in doing a tour with one of these companies http://willamettewines.com/plan-your-visit/touring-companies/ we're only planning on renting a car for the one day we decide to go out east to the gorge and see stuff further that way, and it'd just be really convenient having someone drive us all over. I think they typically do a lot of the planning but base it off personal preferences and what not, so I think if I mentioned some ideas they could make it work to hit up vineyards in that area
     
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  31. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    Zins, Sauv Blancs, Carneros and Sonoma Coast Pinots. Higher end stuff in the Alexander valley - Cabs and Pinots specifically.

    There's lots of good value in the Russian River Valley and Dry Creek valley with a full range from Bordeaux varietals to blanc and Chardonnays. I always recommend starting there and branching out once you find out what you like.
     
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  32. pperc

    pperc Well-Known Member
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    Pride Mountain in Napa was one of the best wine tours I've ever been on. Ended up splitting a 27 bottle a year allocation with friends. For context, Parker just gave their 2012 Reserve Cab 100 points.
     
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  33. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    I have a bottle of that so that is good to know.
     
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  34. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    Did they pour their Cab Franc for you? If so, thoughts?
     
    #234 Patface, Jan 22, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2016
  35. pperc

    pperc Well-Known Member
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    They did not - they don't make much so it's not available for tasting. I did get 3 bottles in the allocation, so I'll let you know. I've heard others rave about it.
     
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  36. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    I've found some of their 2007 online for around $70/bottle, and I've been damn tempted to pick some up.
     
  37. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    Do it. 2007 was a great vintage. I opened a 2007 Pride Cab last year and it was delicious.

    fwiw-My co-worker has been on their list for years. He has been sharing his allocation with me since the 2009 vintage so I pick up a few bottles here and there to round out his shipments.
     
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  38. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    Bruh, 2007 is bae. Anything that says 2007 and "Cabernet" on it I have no problem gambling on from CA.

    But now my wine fridge is full and I've gotta be more picky #1stworld :feelsbadman:
     
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  39. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    Look at the brightside, 2007 is drinking well now. You don't need the wine fridge for it because you don't need to continue storing it.
     
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  40. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    :warn:
     
  41. pockets

    pockets Lesser-Known Member
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    I have the allocation too. Fantastic wine.
     
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  42. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    So true. But tasting notes on the Franc list the guessed sweet spot in 2years.. :lick:

    But very true.
     
  43. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    I'm drinking 2010 Ridge Lytton Springs tonight. Delicious. Note to self, I should be buying more Ridge.
     
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  44. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    They're on the barrel tasting winery list in March, and I'll absolutely be going.
     
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  45. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    We drank a 2008 Caymus Special Select last night. Caymus can sometimes come off as too ripe or sweet to me but that bottle was damn good.
     
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  46. FriendsofJtyler

    FriendsofJtyler I strenuously object
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    Busting out the big guns tonight. I'm in love.

    [​IMG]
     
  47. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    I like the countertop & backsplash combo (sorry, in remodel mode...it is all I notice).

    I'm drinking this tonight:
    [​IMG]

    It was from the first vacation my wife and I took together, two months after we met.
     
  48. pperc

    pperc Well-Known Member
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    Any have a KoolR wine cabinet?
     
  49. Iron Mickey

    Iron Mickey a guy who posted here like five years ago hates me
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    spending 5/11-7/9 in Spain and France

    any must-visit vineyards/wineries?
     
  50. Rabid

    Rabid Fan of: DQ Treats
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    Where in France?

    Rioja is all that I know in Spain. I really like La Rioja Alta. I have no idea about touring.
     
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