How was the Lokoya tasting? I've always wanted to make it up there.

Chipotlemonger said:

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How was the Lokoya tasting? I've always wanted to make it up there.

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We had a great experience. Tasted all 4 mountain Cabs. Highly recommend. Although, their wines are pricey.

Cecil is correct. There is phenomenal wine made all over the world, so don't get hung up on allocated Napa cabs. IMO they trade as much on hype as anything else, and there are much more interesting varietals out there. If you have the means, traveling to wine regions is the best way I've found to gain an appreciation for different wines.

Trying the wines with the local food is hard to replicate without being there. When "what grows together goes together" clicks, it can open up a whole world of experiences.

I love wine, but I'm a little late to the collecting game so I'll probably never experience some of Napa's heavy hitters.

But I've found a lot of Spanish wines that I really like. They are way more affordable so it's easier to experiment.

If you are in southwest Houston -- or don't mind a drive -- Brandani's Restaurant and Wine Bar in Missouri City hosts a wine tasing on the first Tuesday of every month. For $25 a person, you get to sample six or seven wines from one of their distributors, along with light bites. You can also purchase any you like for pickup later.

https://www.brandanis.com/index.html

EclipseAg said:

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I love wine, but I'm a little late to the collecting game so I'll probably never experience some of Napa's heavy hitters.

But I've found a lot of Spanish wines that I really like. They are way more affordable so it's easier to experiment.

If you are in southwest Houston -- or don't mind a drive -- Brandani's Restaurant and Wine Bar in Missouri City hosts a wine tasing on the first Tuesday of every month. For $25 a person, you get to sample six or seven wines from one of their distributors, along with light bites. You can also purchase any you like for pickup later.

https://www.brandanis.com/index.html

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Spain is a great way to get into collecting. There's of ton of great wines made in the $50-$100 range that are age-worthy.

Back at ya...

jh0400 said:

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Saturday night burgundy

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Haven't had this, so did a copy/paste into ChatGPT. Results are below:

The wine shown in your image is a 2018 Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Les Vergelesses. Here's an overview of the type of wine, its history, and an estimate of its price:

Type of Wine:

Varietal: This is a red wine made from Pinot Noir, which is the primary grape used in red wines from the Burgundy region of France.
Appellation: Pernand-Vergelesses is a village in the Cte de Beaune subregion of Burgundy, and Les Vergelesses is a premier cru vineyard within this appellation. Premier cru (1er Cru) indicates that the wine is from a vineyard of high quality, though not quite at the level of a grand cru vineyard.
Style: Like most Pinot Noir from Burgundy, this wine would likely exhibit flavors of red fruit (like cherry or raspberry), earthiness, and minerality, along with more subtle notes of spice and oak, especially as it ages.

History:

Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret: This winery has a long tradition in Burgundy, with winemaking roots dating back to the 17th century. The Mongeard family has been cultivating vines for generations, and they have become well-regarded producers, especially known for wines from prestigious vineyards in the Cte de Nuits and Cte de Beaune.
Pernand-Vergelesses: This village is known for producing both red and white wines, and while it may be somewhat overshadowed by neighboring appellations like Corton or Beaune, it is recognized for offering excellent quality at more accessible prices. The vineyard Les Vergelesses is considered one of the best sites in Pernand-Vergelesses, particularly noted for producing elegant, structured Pinot Noir.

Estimated Price:

The price of a bottle of 2018 Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Les Vergelesses typically ranges between $65 to $100 per bottle, depending on the region where it's being sold, the wine retailer, and any variations in supply and demand for that specific vintage.

This wine would generally be seen as an excellent example of Burgundy's elegance and finesse, offering good value for a premier cru Burgundy Pinot Noir. It's suitable for aging, meaning it should develop more complex flavors over time.

Worldwide hard times in the wine industry.

Quote:

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Meanwhile, in Portugal, we learned that cork producer Amorim was eyeing alternative uses for its product in the light of failing global demand for its main customer (the wine industry), including insulation products, umbrella handles and shoes.

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Rioja drowning in excess wine

I am loving composite corks like DIAM even more. Just seems to deliver a more consistent product. Nothing worse than opening a nice corked wine.

Friday night at Lotus of Siam wine

That's my jam!!!!

I asked earlier but I think it was lost. We stoped at the castle in Calistoga (Castello di Amarosa). I know this place gets overrated because it in Instagrammable and people with low wine IQ flood the place but even with that I liked it.

I actually thought it was a fun tasting and enjoyed the wine but wasn't sure if it was the experience biasing my taste buds. Brought some back. But curious what others think here if they have had it.

Where do you go for accurate wine ratings and reviews. I know cellar tracker is big here but often I don't find anything on the wines I look up or know how to decipher all the notes. Vivino is not to be trusted (Belle Glos is super high rated) but sometimes is at least a data point. Wine Spectator and the other wine rating services - just not sure what to think about them.


Most of the time I trust my own taste and my own intuition but sometimes it would be nice to have a trusted source of info besides Texags.

I think that a combination of sources is best, unless you find a wine writer with which you share a ton of taste buds and preferences with. In that case, just stick to that wine writer/rater.

Vivino, like you said, is not a one size fit all. But it can be a nice barometer for a large amount of wines.

I don't think their wine is bad, and some has 90+pt scores. If you can get a deal, it's worth it

For the 2022 vintage, I'm not a dime over $1399.

Yes. I got it too. Ridiculous

That's just stupid.

And yet, they'll sell some. Not to me.

Undoubtedly. It's crazy as I just bought a 6pk owc of their 2010 for $895/bottle. Why would I spend 50% more for the 2022?!

Nm

Any thoughts on todays last bottle? I generally like Beau Vigne wines at about $35-$40 but I have not seen this one before and the nerdy details indicate 36 months in oak. I am not sure I have ever tasted wine that spent that much time in oak before.

https://www.lastbottlewines.com/

BSD said:

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I've said it before and I'll say it again, aged DV is some of my favorite juice!

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Agree, it was awesome. Btw, got to try a 2008 Tusk the other day. Amazing

Happy Sunday

I need recommendations on where to buy corporate wine gifts this year. Every year I send about 50-60 bottles as gifts ranging from $100 - $400 per bottle depending on the relationship. Most end up being in the $100-$150 range with 10+/- in the $300-$400 range.

Last year I purchased from Alpha Omega and am looking to try a different vineyard this year. Right now I am leaning toward Hoopes but would love to hear suggestions on others.