[Fugly M3]

One of my Faves...albeit not my fave vintage, but it's still amazing.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Fugly M3

One of my Faves...albeit not my fave vintage, but it's still amazing.

Let me flip that for you. You don't want to spill the good stuff.

[hubbahubba]

The choice for tonight. Very mild, strong on the black cherry to both Mrs H and I. Overall not memorable, but at the same time not offensive at all.

[flybigjet]

His and Hers night.

I felt like dessert wine and the Minister wanted red.

So, we compromised.

R.

[hubbahubba]

Tonight was the virtual axr tasting with winemaker Jean Hoefliger. There were 8 wines, and every single one of them were top notch. It was really cool hearing how this mad scientist concocts his blends. He really is a mad scientist! So cool. And now I have his cell number.😎👍🏼 we had 2 great hard cheese, some spicy cured meats and crackers to accompany. It was a fun 2 hours, and I have another tasting set of 8 to do again soon!

[hubbahubba]

One of the wine, one of the view. Hour and a half until ZZ Top comes on. Will be listening from right here.

[hubbahubba]

Home again.

[hubbahubba]

Yesterday Mrs H and I celebrated 34 years. We had a night out at a little boutique hotel in Paradise Valley called the Hermosa Inn. We took a couple bottles, and checked in early. Chard in the afternoon on the patio, Ne Cede Malis after dinner by the fire. It was a very pleasant evening!

[BMWGUYinCO]

I'll admit it: I'm a wine snob. It's very rare that I like a wine below the $30 price point.

But this is an exception: I was recently given a glass of the 2022 Kirkland Signature Series Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon without being told what it was...when I found out, I was blown away. I'm not saying this is indistinguishable from a $70 Stags Leap, but this will compete with some great wines in the $30 - $45 price point. And for $18!!!

So I'm recommending this for a weekday drink; pair it with sirloins or heavy appetizers. Incredible value!

[Vindicator3]

Originally Posted by Fugly M3

One of my Faves

Paloma! What a blast from the past, glad to see it here. Was a fave of mine for a long time, and I bought most vintages from 1996 to 2010 or so, including the syrah before they had to rip those vines out due to syrah decline, and the cab in years that they bottled some. Never got to meet Jim or Barbara, but finally met Sheldon a few years ago on my first trip to Napa. Great view from up there and well worth the visit.

For those looking to load up on 2021 Chianti (as I was), I found some nice offerings recently from Saratoga Wine Exchange, several of which come with free shipping on a mixed case purchase, including the Istine crus. Just a PSA.

[kscarrol]

Originally Posted by BMWGUYinCO

I'll admit it: I'm a wine snob. It's very rare that I like a wine below the $30 price point.

But this is an exception: I was recently given a glass of the 2022 Kirkland Signature Series Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon without being told what it was...when I found out, I was blown away. I'm not saying this is indistinguishable from a $70 Stags Leap, but this will compete with some great wines in the $30 - $45 price point. And for $18!!!

So I'm recommending this for a weekday drink; pair it with sirloins or heavy appetizers. Incredible value!

Was out in California some years ago at a gathering and a gentleman walked up to the bar and asked me for an Irish Whiskey. There was a bottle of Jameson on the bar so I grabbed it to pour a drink. He seemed disappointed but that was all I had at hand so he took it. The host noticed this and said he'd be right back and he came back with another bottle which he did not show to this gentleman. He poured two shots and announced he had found another bottle but he wanted to conduct a blind taste test. The Irish Whiskey connoisseur went through all the usual swirling, smelling, swishing and proudly announced the second bottle was the better whiskey. The host then presented him with the bottle of Kirkland's Irish Whiskey.

Not saying the Kirkland offerings are top of the line but for the price point they are excellent offerings.

[hubbahubba]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Was out in California some years ago at a gathering and a gentleman walked up to the bar and asked me for an Irish Whiskey. There was a bottle of Jameson on the bar so I grabbed it to pour a drink. He seemed disappointed but that was all I had at hand so he took it. The host noticed this and said he'd be right back and he came back with another bottle which he did not show to this gentleman. He poured two shots and announced he had found another bottle but he wanted to conduct a blind taste test. The Irish Whiskey connoisseur went through all the usual swirling, smelling, swishing and proudly announced the second bottle was the better whiskey. The host then presented him with the bottle of Kirkland's Irish Whiskey.

Not saying the Kirkland offerings are top of the line but for the price point they are excellent offerings.

Holds true with golf balls, too.

[hubbahubba]

Quite the haul at Total Wine today.

[Vindicator3]

No photo, but we drank the 2012 Guillaume Gilles Cornas "La Combe de Chaillot" last night. Very nice and made in the traditional style I prefer. His "lesser" bottling from a "lesser" vintage but that's part of why it's so tasty at the young age of 12. I'd say Gilles is one of those new guys to keep an eye on, but he's not that new any more. Check him out if semi-old-school Cornas is one of your things.

[cmyx6go]

hubbahubba

How is that Double Diamond? It's new on the shelves at my local liquor store. I've never seen it before. I meant to post the question last week and I forgot. Thanks.

[hubbahubba]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

hubbahubba

How is that Double Diamond? It's new on the shelves at my local liquor store. I've never seen it before. I meant to post the question last week and I forgot. Thanks.

We bought a bottle a few years ago. At the time it was rated #1 by Wine Spectator, I think? It was really good. When I saw it on the shelf, I had to grab a bottle to see if it still stacked up. This is from their website, sounds like it is worth a shot for sure:

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon stands to outshine the award-winning 2019 vintage with even deeper concentration and complexity. On the nose, the wine leaps from the glass with ripe blackberry, cassis, black cherry, and red plum, with a lovely herbaceous undertone. The palate expresses juicy red and black fruits with hints of black tea, damp earth, vanilla bean, lavender, and just a touch of flint. With fine-grained tannins and mouthwatering acidity that lingers through the long finish, this wine is ready to drink upon release but will cellar well for years to come.

95 Pts. James Moleworth "Creamy and polished, this red delivers an alluring wave of plum and boysenberry compote flavors laced with textbook Oakville notes of sweet bay, menthol and warm earth. Totally ready to go. Drink now through 2036."
- Wine Spectator, November 1, 2024

94 Pts. James Suckling "Dusky, toasty, spicy oak and dark fruit aromas lead to a broad, dense palate with super velvety tannins. Loam, tobacco leaf, graphite and cocoa notes expand and linger, along with blackcurrants and dried cherries. Best from 2028."
- James Suckling, June 1, 2024

[flybigjet]

The Minister and I did our annual pilgrimage to Paso today.

Tastings at Six Mile Bridge, Justin and L'Adventure.

My credit card wept.

R.

[RickFLM4]

Sena arrival day. I neglected to take pictures but 6 bottles each of 2018 and 2021. Need to drink some wine over the next week to make more room for 15 bottles from Realm / Scarecrow / AO arriving next week.

[Vindicator3]

Dinner tonight with great old friends who are now out of town but in for the holiday weekend. Had the '99 and '02 Chevillon Vaucrains side-by-side. The '02 was tastier tonight - more open and slightly brighter, the '99 was still brooding and grumpy.

Another member of my local dinner group was at another table and sent over tastes of three wines, the best of which was the rare treat of the '07 Pignan CdP. Just ethereal on the nose as all of Reynaud's wines are (11 out of 10), more of an 8 out of 10 on the palate but still a real treat, along with an excellent Meursault and a good Groffier Chambolle.

Pretty fine night for a Tuesday!

Then I got home and opened today's shipping arrival only to find out that 6 of the bottles were not what I had ordered - first world problems. So it goes.

[RickFLM4]

Delivery day. Too bad Alpha Omega and / or UPS couldn’t figure out how to get another box to my house. Pretty nice haul even without them though.