Good info. Thanks, everyone.

A big but balanced pinot noir. This is a Dave Phinney project.

Cellar wine night.

I think I have a '96 Messina Hof from my junior year at A&M that ought to be ready to be opened about now.

Oddly enough opened a '15 MH Merlot earlier this week. Was surprised that it was still good given the fact that I haven't experienced many of their wines to last more than 7-8 years. I'd say that '96 is probably deaddd

When I worked there in '17-'19 we had a customer come in for one of our tours asking what the oldest wine we had was. It was like an '83 or '84 red blend in the library case that was more for sale as a novelty than anything. He bought it and asked that I open and pour it for everyone on the tour. I don't remember it being bad but I do remember it not being my cup of tea.

Objective Aggie said:

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Aaron Potts Blackbird.

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I've got two bottles waiting to be shipped! How was it?

EclipseAg said:

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Objective Aggie said:

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Aaron Potts Blackbird.

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I've got two bottles waiting to be shipped! How was it?

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Really stellar.

blackberry, black plum. Tons of depth and complexity. Intense fruit.

Objective Aggie said:

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Aaron Potts Blackbird.

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Many years ago De Negoce had a deal on Blackbird labeled wines and I got a case of the different labels for like $20/bottle or thereabouts. Wish I would have bought 10 cases as it was great and unbearable value.

If you're not familiar with this guy's schtick, his whole account is making fun of anything that isn't about football in the southeast.

It gets old after awhile. But still, this made me laugh.

Just kicked a player off my youth football team because I found out his parents hosted a “wine tasting”

— Three Year Letterman (@3YearLetterman) August 10, 2026

Objective Aggie said:

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EclipseAg said:

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Objective Aggie said:

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Aaron Potts Blackbird.

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I've got two bottles waiting to be shipped! How was it?

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Really stellar.

blackberry, black plum. Tons of depth and complexity. Intense fruit.

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Fantastic ... thanks. I'm ready for cooler weather so I can start getting shipments again.

Came home from being out of town a few days to find a big mess in and around our wine fridge caused by this guy. Anyone else ever had this happen?

Is that a crack that we are looking at? Hard to tell.

Yeah, need a description. It is possible for the entire bottom of the bottom to delaminate and separate (seen it twice) but that doesn't look like it.

It's a small hole, maybe the size of the fingernail on my pinky finger.

aggiecive said:

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It's a small hole, maybe the size of the fingernail on my pinky finger.

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Do you have a double deep chiller? I've done that ramming in the front bottle too hard.

That's a pretty deep looking punt. Was it sparkling? Or just an over the top bottle?

Not sparkling, it was a red blend from Aperture in Sonoma. It wasn't caused by hitting or jamming into the wine cellar. It had been a minimum of 24 hours since I even opened the door. Not really sure since I was out of town when it actually occurred.

That is very strange!

Wow, yeah that's bizarre. Mayne a sudden temperature change but that didn't happen.

Opened a corked bottle of 2013 Cain Five tonight.

Same thing happened to me the other night

Hoping the 2006 isn't bad as well

If you got it from last bottle in the last 6 months I think they will refund you or replace it. I'd email them.

Anyone have experience with Chave Hermitage? Hosting a wine pairing dinner next week (Rack of Lamb) and the local shop has both the 2021 and 2022 vintages available of their Selection Farconnet. Wondering if the 22 is going to be fruitier or if the 21 will be better.

Mine was bad too. Opened it on Saturday. Basically a drain pour. It was my first go at it so I just thought "man, I really must not like spring mountain wines"

I can't help you with that. But thanks for the tip about last bottle. Part of me feels like a corked bottle is just part of the game, but if they are willing to make it right I guess I should contact them.

ATL Aggie said:

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Opened a corked bottle of 2013 Cain Five tonight.

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That sucks, I got an email recently from Last Bottle about one of those "mystery" bottles I purchased some months ago. They wanted to sell me more of them, so I ordered a couple more. Haven't opened the original, and now, I may be stuck with more bad bottles.

I really haven't run across a bad wine bottle before. What is the best indication of one that has gone bad? Is it pretty subtle, or massive vinegar? I enjoy occasional wine, but I am no expert.

Ones you've experienced a few it's easier. Until then trust yourself and don't rear asking or saying. Most flaws are pretty subtle at first. Corked and Brett are two that are most common and you'll know "something isn't right", so j st go from there.