Wish I had enough money to just keep enough of those kinds of wines to have "test bottles" ready!

The 2007s I'm sitting on, that I guess I need to get to:

Antica
Bourassa Cab Franc (this has been ready, just been saving my last couple)
Cakebread (also not particularly holding, just haven't consumed)
Caymus Special Selection - I'm really thinking 2-4 more years on this one
Darioush Cab - awaiting an appropriate occasion
Grgich Hills Miljenko Petite Sirah - already had one, I need to drink this one
La Sirena Syrah - again not holding, just haven't drank it
Lavendi Stagecoach Vineyard - got these for $45 online, drinking very nicely right now, have a few more to go
Maybach Materium - for my 60th in several months. 99pt Parker
Opus One - For grins, I'm gonna await Opus listing it as ready
Ramey - Very good right now
Stag's Leap Artemis - been drinking it along, just want to see how it does 10 years out
Stag's Leap SLV - I'm gonna take your advice and ask them

I just checked by inventory and I don't have the number of '07's I thought I did. My Napa stuff (not much) is spread over 06 to 09 so I'm okay and will just need to remember those 07 during the next steak cookout.

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Caymus Special Selection - I'm really thinking 2-4 more years on this one

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You are insane. That might just be one of the single best wines I have ever tasted when it was first released! I wouldn't be able to keep from popping the cork on that bad boy.

Had a 2012 Paul Mas Estate Picpoul De Pinet at Justine's Brasserie tonight. Picpoul is one if those Rhone white varietals that most of you have likely never heard of. It showed the typical chalky and mineral drive, with lemon verbena and toasted hazelnut in the background. Even at $45 for restaurant price (probably $25 retail if you can find it), it had enough acid to cut through the butter and escargot, but played very well with an endive salad. There's tons of good value in Rhone whites .

I enjoy Rhone whites a lot, but quality is all over the board on the ones I've tried.

How is Justine's? I've never been.

Go. It is probably the best French food in Austin. A decently priced wine list too.

Opened a 2010 Burgess Napa Valley Triere Vineyard Merlot tonight. Blackbird and Pride used to be my favorite Merlots. This Burgess is now in the top spot. I'm ordering three more bottles tomorrow.

I actually ended up ordering half a case.

[This message has been edited by HTownAg98 (edited 5/16/2014 12:10p).]

Anyone a fan of Nebbiolos?

HTownag98. I can not merlot that you mention on the web. Is it small production wine?

http://www.burgesscellars.com

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Anyone a fan of Nebbiolos?

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Just learning.

Any recommendations?

We get Round Pond Nebbiolos that are pretty good but I like most things I get from them. I don't know enough about nebbiolo to know if that is a good representative of the variety. Now one thing I do like is the rosato that they do with their nebbiolo grapes. Great summer wine with a little bit of strawberry flavor. And it's not spelled "rose" which means a lesser man card penalty.

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We get Round Pond Nebbiolos that are pretty good but I like most things I get from them. I don't know enough about nebbiolo to know if that is a good representative of the variety. Now one thing I do like is the rosato that they do with their nebbiolo grapes. Great summer wine with a little bit of strawberry flavor. And it's not spelled "rose" which means a lesser man card penalty.

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Screw that. I drink rosé all the time in the summer when it's too hot to drink much of anything else. My man card is fully intact.

Thanks HTownAg 98. I was searching by the vineyard designation. It seems pretty reasonable compared to the other wines you mentioned. If you can get a hold an 07 reserve canoe ridge block 13 merlot, Grab a bottle. It is an great merlot for the money. I cannot recommend the later vintages . Ownership changed and the winemaker moved to stags leap.

Cecil ,The 97 and 01Poderi Colla that I opened recently were great. I have my eyes on some additional producers that I need to investigate with the Italian wine buyer at my favorite merchant. If I uncover any gems, I will post to the forum. I would love to try a Gaja one day.

So in Oct of '12 the hubs and I visited Napa/Sonoma for the first time. When we were at Opus One we decided when we hit our first big savings milestone we'd celebrate with a bottle of it. Well, we hit the milestone pretty near our 5th wedding anniversary and since our anniversary coincides with our daughter's birthday we had to delay our celebration. Last night we had a '96 Opus with bone-in ribeyes grilled on the BGE along with wild mushroom risotto (a la me). It was SPECTACULAR. I've never had an 18 year old wine before and the flavors were so complex and new. I know there are other makers out there producing better stuff than Opus but it meant something to us. Had to share.

DP

[This message has been edited by prisschris (edited 5/18/2014 8:03p).]

I am just learning, but good aged wine is truly sublime.

True, but the duds that either went too long or just didn't pan out feel like a kick to the balls.

UGH! Pott Wines is releasing their large bottle formats today. MUST. RESIST.

Can any of you seasoned pros give me some advice on sourcing a Bordeaux from France called Chataeau Montrose? My grandfather had a ridiculous collection from the 70s and 80s before he passed in the mid 80s. The Montrose wines are reported to cellar for 20 years or so before peaking. Well known French vineyard from what I can tell.

30th anniversary of his passing is coming up and I wanted to try and get a case for a family event. I'm a beginner wine enthusiast so would be grateful for any advice on trying to purchase European wines not commonly found in US retailers. Are there folks that specialize in these requests? Thanks, I'll hang up and listen.

Btw- the cline Pinot at HEB for $14 is a great drink for the price.

for the Chateau Montrose, a quick search on Wine Searcher found these results:

http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/montrose+st+estephe+medoc+bordeaux+france/1/usa


As far as getting them to ship to Texas, that is another story.

Same search on Texas stores. Looks like it shouldn't be too hard! Cool tribute, by the way...


http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/montrose+st+estephe+medoc+bordeaux+france/1/usa-tx

And for anyone who hasn't been to a Total Wine, go. Amazing wine store.

[This message has been edited by cecil77 (edited 5/21/2014 7:59a).]

how did I not search for TX??? I even noticed Total Wines in the other search and thought there were TW shops here in Texas. Back to the day job...

Total Wine bigger than the Spec's on Smith? I have never been to one

Total Wine has more labels than I've seen anywhere, including Spec's and the Gabriel's Superstore on 1604 in San Antonio. Plus their layout and presentation is outstanding.

[This message has been edited by cecil77 (edited 5/21/2014 11:09a).]

Thanks fellas. Looks like my grandfather knew how to invest in wines! For those older vintages - #sticker-shock

Edited for spelling police

[This message has been edited by dr_boogs (edited 5/21/2014 6:34p).]

Tonight I unexpectedly had a small glass of 2007 Snowden "The Ranch" Cabernet out of the eastern hills in Rutherford. My goodness this was good. I dare say it was the best sub-$50 bottle of wine I've ever had.

Edit: I just checked my files and I actually paid $35 for it (sold it to a buddy for the same price and he opened it last night when I was out his house so I'll call that a win). New vintages retail for $50.

[This message has been edited by BSD (edited 5/22/2014 8:09a).]

I need to check one out!

Dr_Boogs, you might check w/ French Country Wines in Houston, as they are very plugged in over there. Not saying they can get it for you, but if anyone could they might be the ones. Very nice people that own and run the place, and the husband is an Ag!

http://www.frenchcountrywines.com

Us And Them - The Pink Floyd Experience
http://www.usandthemband.net

My favorite sources for French Bordeaux s is K& L in Ca or macArthur liquor in DC . Both ship to VA not sure about Texas. K&L has at least a half a dozen vintages of Montrose .

Just got back from a Produttori de Barbaresco tasting . There were wines . The single vineyard Pori and Asili were sublime. The other single vineyard wines were also outstanding. They all need additional time.

If you are looking for perfectly stored older wines, verticals, of high end, well known producers and have money to spend, then La Cave in Dallas is fantastic.

Absolute sticklers for provenance and storage. But their pricing is on the higher side.

They do have occasional sales.

Ok...stupid question that may have been answered, but I'm going to ask anyway.

During our honeymoon in Napa 3 years ago, my wife and I bought some wine back with us and we still have a few bottles left. We've kept them stored in a central cabinet in our kitchen on the lower shelf since we got back (tried to keep it as cool and dark as possible). Our anniversary was this past week and she has us a room reserved this weekend at some swanky hotel in downtown Houston. I'm thinking of taking a bottle of this along with one of her favorites I just got today, but I'm not sure how long this stuff will last. Is it still good? Should I take 2 of them and plan on downing the other soon? Or will they last for a couple more years and we can drink one on our next 2 anniversaries?