I though for sure it would have been a real tasting note from a certain dentist with little color........
-------------------- "One may dislike carrots, spinach, beetroot, or the skin on hot milk. But not wine. It is like hating the air that one breathes, since each is equally indispensable."
Marcel Ayme`
Posts: 6957 | Location: The Left Coast | Registered: Dec 01, 2001
You can drink from your own just fine, some might find that horrifying. I was pointing out that they did not kill one of their own and got to sample the wares too boot. So, if they enjoyed it they could certainly drink from their own stock. If they learned they may want to wait they have one more bottle in the rack. That's all I was trying to say or imply.
If I waited for each wine to be at the optimum drinking window, I could very well buy it in an accident and never have tried any. Better to venture in and taste from time to time. Much like your 96 Ducru of late. Your TNs got me thinking about that one. Maybe I'll pop several of the 96's a few months before I donate a kidney to my wife. Honey..just testing that kidney out for you. Maybe she will like Cab better after she has one of mine :
Posts: 1203 | Location: Sutton, MA, USA | Registered: Jan 15, 2003
This has nothing to do with you, but it just amazes me around here how many forumites take it so personally when someone opens or tastes a wine from their collection that according to the "prudent ones" "isn't ready yet". I've yet to understand this....why would anyone care what someone else does with their own time, money, or energy. It's their choice, their wine...and, it's not really anything novel either. It kills me how so many consider "infaticide" a cardinal sin. Actually I don't even agree with the term "infaticide". A wine is an "infant" at crush and in the barrel, and a young adult on release. And it kills me how people think these young wines are not capable of showing their magic and potential at a young age. I've had plenty of old/mature wine...some good and some not so good....same goes for the young wines I've had. This is not a plea to drink wine young, but frustration for those who are narrowminded enough to not understand that there is no right or wrong, good or bad, or "best" way of experiencing this wonderful hobby. There is a wonderful experience to be had when following a wine from adolescence through it's maturity. And....great wines don't start of as 85 pt'ers and suddenly become 98 pt. wines 15 years later. A phenomenal wine is phenomenal from day one (all the way from harvest to bottling to years down the road). It may go through a dumb phase or shut down a bit, but the goods never disappear. Anyway....this is a long dead beaten horse, but I hate to see such onemindedness around here (again..not referring to you or anyone in particular...just in general).....
-DRAB
So much wine.....so little time!!!
[This message was edited by dr.darkrichandbold on Mar 07, 2003 at 01:33 AM.]
Posts: 6824 | Location: San Francisco | Registered: Jun 20, 2002
Infanticide indeed. I highly disagree with you. It bothers me so much that you try wines young that I just went and cuddled up with my sommelier doll and cried. I am going to post a 10-page argument now about why you should cellar your wines.... ha ha... not really though .
I'm funny.
LJ
God gave us things on this earth to enjoy. Do not abuse them, and do not allow them consume you.
You and I are of a simliar mind set. I don't buy one of anything anymore and always sample along the life curve. I mean the beauty of wine is that it evolves n'est pas? So why limit yourself to a one dimensional experience of drinking when it is "ready". Ready by who's standards? Hell, I'll drink right from the barrel as long as it is not shut down.
Anyway, you paid for the wine. If you want to sight in your new scope for your hunting rifle using your 82 Mouton as the target...that's entirely up to you. Well in that case I might chuckle a bit and think you are at least loaded with cash to do such a thing. Come to think of it, if you did such a thing that would be wineicide.
Posts: 1203 | Location: Sutton, MA, USA | Registered: Jan 15, 2003
I think most of us are basically of this mentality around here. I just don't understand the right wing wine "egocentrics".
I don't mind professional opinion, in fact I think it's incredibly helpful, but when it comes down to it, I'm going to speak for myself. I don't care if Parker or Tanzer or whoever says "such and such" a wine is 100 pts. If I don't like it what's the point in cellaring it! I've had both the '95 and '96 Margaux. WS gave the '95 100 pts. and Parker gave the '96 99pts. I'll take the '96 head and shoulders above the 100 pt. '95. If I just went off of ratings and waited 10 years I would have missed out on choosing the Margaux that I like best.
Anyway...there's a lot of hype, a lot of overinflated scores, and underinflated scores...it our job to be free thinking individuals with our own opinions and decide for ourselves.
-DRAB
So much wine.....so little time!!!
Posts: 6824 | Location: San Francisco | Registered: Jun 20, 2002
I look at the scores then read the TNs. I tend to read the TNs very closely and buy based on those vice the numerical (highly subjective score) quantitatve representation. I prefer the qualitative notes about the nose, taste ect. Also pay much attention to how tannic or massive the wine is and how approachable it is. It seems massive long lived wines command a premium. That's fine with me as I would rather have the early maturing wines (not getting any younger here) that typically get passed over. Example I can buy 99 Latour for $119 which according to RP rates a 94 and is very nice to drink and will last for decades (not have to wait for decades to drink). I am all over that wine, the 99 Lafite, and the 99 Margaux. Let the trophy hunters chase the hyped 100 point wines and pay $400+ that they will have to wait 15 years to even enjoy. Go read RP's notes on the 00 Mouton and see if you have the patience and remaining years to warrant that cost
[This message was edited by rmkam on Mar 07, 2003 at 08:44 PM.]
Posts: 1203 | Location: Sutton, MA, USA | Registered: Jan 15, 2003
Well, I didn't intend for this thread to evolve into a boxing matches with left and right hooks...
Since I've only been into wine for < 3 years, if I was able to secure more than 6 btls from Costco, I would open one in a year or two to see what exactly a good young bordeaux tasted like. Instead I am planning long term (since I currently prefer new world cab's) and think my taste might change, so I'd like to lay some gems down now from the stellar '00 bordeaux vintage and be very happy down the road.
RRV
What you must realize is that there is no spoon...
Posts: 804 | Location: Portland, OR | Registered: Aug 19, 2002
No boxing match here. Just clarifying opinions and how each person experiences wine and how it is an individual choice. There are no rules per se. Just the ones that work for you. Drink em young drink em old, just drink em and enjoy them....period. That's what is all about anyway.
Cheers!
Posts: 1203 | Location: Sutton, MA, USA | Registered: Jan 15, 2003
It's not that we take it personally when you drink a wine far before its time. It's that you continue to repeat your errors. Aren't human beings supposed to learn from their mistakes?
Just one more sip.
Posts: 25031 | Location: NY | Registered: Oct 18, 2001
