Oh yes Giacosa and La Spinetta have different flavor profiles, but both are so consistantly good. I tend to favor the more modern Italian producers, but love quality in all it's forms. Giacosa would be a good choice just due to the number of wines available, some good, others stunning.

quote:

Originally posted by VT2IT:

Oh yes Giacosa and La Spinetta have different flavor profiles,

Now there is an understatement.

While both options are excellent choices, neither could carry the wine bag of DRC.

But W&A DRC doesn't make a sparkling wine and Giacosa does.

quote:

Originally posted by VT2IT:
But W&A DRC doesn't make a sparkling wine and Giacosa does.

Good point!

Wow you surprised me. I would have bet that your answer would be "but it's not Champagne".

quote:

Originally posted by VT2IT:
Wow you surprised me. I would have bet that your answer would be "but it's not Champagne".

I like to keep 'em guessing.

Has Lorrie voted for her beloved K-J yet?

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by dr.darkrichandbold:

For me...if it were Champagne....it would be Salon.

Are there truly other choices?

Ahem... I believe I mentioned 2 (Krug and Billecart).

I'll readily conceed the point that Salon is the best Chmpagne out there for consistency.

However, in the context of the question, getting the Elisbeth, Blancs de Blancs, Nicolas Fracois, Grande Cuvee, and Clos Ste. Hilaire Billecarts would outweigh the one brilliant Salon I would get. And for Krug, getting the rose, vintage, Mesnil, and this new 10k Pinot would also probably be pretty cool.

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by VT2IT:

Oh yes Giacosa and La Spinetta have different flavor profiles,

Now there is an understatement.

While both options are excellent choices, neither could carry the wine bag of DRC.

I agree with all of this.

quote:

Originally posted by cdr:
Perrin - broad and deep, and affordable.

And French.

Perrin is a good choice though. As is Chapoutier and Guigal. Antinori owns a ton of wineries that would make for good quality diversity.

Okay, I've thought about this for a day and have come to the conclusion that I was way off base yesterday. Tua Rita being in Tuscany does not produce any Nebbiolo based wines, therefore they must be excluded from consideration as man can not live without Barolo. My god what was I thinking? La Spinetta it is. I can ever get my olive oil from them.

After long thought, I've decided on Guigal. I could live without champagne or pinot if I had to. I don't know if I could live without Cote Rotie or Hermitage. I thought about SQN but even I could tire of that after a few years.

Hopefully wine+art will be on a nearby island. We could either establish trade relations or I could conquer him.........

GA, I was hoping to trade some of my wine for a little female companionship, but if that does not work out...

quote:

Originally posted by steve8:
Antinori owns a ton of wineries that would make for good quality diversity.

Just looked at this post, and I think Antinori would be near the top of my list. Sparkling, whites, reds, and desserts. Pretty much fits the bill.

quote:

Originally posted by Dionysis:
Definitely Yellow Tail.

Did you know they make a shiraz, a merlot, a cab, a pinot, a cab-merlot, a shiraz-cab, a shiraz-grenache, a chard, a riesling, a pinot grigio and a rose? Plus they make a sparking, and you can add that to any of them and you a variety of bubbly (rose or blanc), and just add sugar and you have your dessert wine. I mean, I defy anyone to come up with a producer with more variety!

Wow! I didn't realize they had such a strong portfolio.