Help a Guy Make His TO-BUY List

I am afraid to put down anything cause i don't think you will ever believe me again after the whole YTR scam.

Seanr7,

Wow, you have a memory like an elephant. I don't hold grudges and trust perhaps you don't either. Your opinions are appreciated.

The fact that I even "bit" on the Yellow Tail thread is a tad embarrassing, but then again I've learned a lot since then.

How many years do you want be able to lay these wines down for?

And are you looking for an average price per bottle? You could buy 20 $50 wines or one $1000 dollar wine.

Seanr7,

I should have specified. Looking for bottles no more than $100 to $150. That way I can lay down 6-7.

I'm looking to have these sleep for awhile, say 10-20.

2002 Barossa Valley Estate Shiraz E & E Black Pepper - $85 should be able to lay it down till the early 2020's

2005 Domaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume $70 for a 750ml should be able to lay down till the early 2030's

2005 Glaetzer Shiraz Amon-Ra Barossa Valley - $100 should be able to lay down till the mid 2020's

2005 Château Pontet-Canet $100 or less should be able to lay down till the 2040's maybe later with great storage.

2005 Château Rieussec $60's for a 750ml should lay down till late 2020's

I am sure others will chime in.

C2, have you tried and decided against Rhone Valley wines such as Côte Rôtie, Hermitage, Cornas and Châteauneuf-du-Pape? I don't know the Northern Rhone wines as well as I'd like, but the CdP wines still offer a good value.

Actually, that you mention it, CdP is on my radar. Suggestions for an ageable bottle would be taken with appreciation

CA Cab- Etude, Insignia, Monte Bello

If you like Syrah/ Rhone, get some of the 05 Chateauneufs...if you dont have that bug now, you will at some point..pickup 05 Clos Des Papes, Janasse (Chaupin or VV) or Pegau reservee.

Sweeties- 05 Baumard QdC or Delesvaux SGN....from Germany get a couple 05 Prum Auslese.

Syrah- Splurge and get a Grange.

Also recommend some 01 Brunellos (normal or Riservas)- frescobaldi, Fuligni, Frescobaldi...maybe an 04 Super Tuscan like Solaia or Tignanello.

Have fun!

'05 Clos des Papes CdP - $70 - '15 thru at least the mid-'20s
'05 Domaine de la Janasse CdP Vieilles Vignes - $95 - same as above
'05 M. Chapoutier CdP Barbe Rac - $70 - same as above
'05 Domaine du Pégaü CdP Cuvée Réservée - $80 - '15 thru early '20s

May I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave earlier.

Don't take offense at this question, but you did say you're fairly new to wine, so I think it needs to be asked: are you sure you like old wine?

Aged red wine is usually much different from the tannic fruit-bombs that tend to garner top scores in their youth, and often people who like the wine in its youth find it off-putting when it's old (kinda like the opposite sex, I guess).

I point this out and pose the question because I have some good friends who have been into wine for many years. They're generally quite knowledgeable and sophisticated about wine. Several years ago they bought a few cases of 1982, 1989, and 1990 Bordeaux and 1985 and 1987 Napa Cabs, all highly rated by RP. The wines have been properly stored in a refrigerated wine cellar since they were purchased. I hadn't seen these folks for about 10 years, and when we recently had dinner, I was appalled to learn that they had poured most of these treasures down the sink, believing each bottle they opened had gone "bad." I tasted one of their last bottles and found it to be very sound, complex and delicious, but much different from the young reds they love so much.

C*C: You mentioned your wine cooler is full. Do you plan to buy another one or clear out room for all of these new bottles? As for suggestions, I've been seduced by CdP. I like the vibe around them and the prices for the top wines are for the most part well under a C-note. I'll add Pierre Usseglio Mon Aieul. You don't hear much talk about them, but they are on the same top tier as the others IMO. Also, in my opinion they are made in a modern style and seem to come around earlier than some of the traditional CdP's.

RDCollins, wow, your story has me scratching my head. If they are quite knowledgeable, I'm surprised they weren't already aware, at least in theory, of what happens to wine when it gets old. I also find it shocking that they didn't seek advice from their more knowledgeable friends such as yourself. I'm sure those wines weren't cheap and shoot you could have swapped them out a case of whatever they like for their 82 and 90 bdx. I hoped you slapped one of them upside the head.

ask your liquor store wine expert if they stock a wine called ......"Octavious"....it's about $109.00 ...canadian funds anyway (which is about 85 bucks US funds)

oh ... here are some more suggestions;
1. Godolphin (Aussie)>>> $67
2. Amon-Ra (Aussie)>>> $95
3. Wolf Blass (Black Label)Aussie
4. i'll get back to u on some non-Aussie reds>>>just gotta go down to my cellar to remember my italian wines, spanish, and argentina,...and so on...

quote:

Originally posted by snipes:
RDCollins, wow, your story has me scratching my head. If they are quite knowledgeable, I'm surprised they weren't already aware, at least in theory, of what happens to wine when it gets old. I also find it shocking that they didn't seek advice from their more knowledgeable friends such as yourself. I'm sure those wines weren't cheap and shoot you could have swapped them out a case of whatever they like for their 82 and 90 bdx. I hoped you slapped one of them upside the head.

Maybe the term "knowledgeable" is a bit unjustified. Like many wine lovers, they buy good stuff but don't really known much about it beyond what they like and what's highly rated, and what goes with certain foods. I think it never occurred to them that the wine would be different at 15 or 20 years of age, and instead they assumed -- as do most people -- that wine is just gets better and better as it ages but stays fundamentally the same.

I didn't slap them -- I slapped myself for not having seen them for so long. If we had gotten together again 10 years earlier, I would gladly have relieved them of their nasty old wines. Hell, I probably would have given them what they paid for the stuff!

Wines I've had that I'd recommend for your "spree:"

2004 Ch. Leoville Poyferre. A bangup good wine, and you can find it for under 50 bucks. Just delicous, especially for the price, and definately one to store.

2002 Etude Cabernet. Firing on all cylinders, and built to get better in 5-10 years. About $80.

2004 Kilikanoon Testament Shiraz. Rich, delicous, and built to age. Crazy delicious. I like this better than Covenant, both about $35, and as well as Oracle, which is costlier.

Anything by Neal Family, esp. 2001 and 2004 Cabernets. $50-$70. Stupid good.

I love BdM, but I'd stay away, unless you know you like the style, which it seems like you may not. Not for everyone. Try a 2000 from a reputable maker to get an idea.

To sum up:
3X 2004 Neal Family Cab $150
3X 2004 Kilikanoon Testament $105
3X 2004 Ch. Leoville Poyferre $150
3X 2002 Etude Cab $240
2X 2005 CdP (defer to others) +/-$120
1X 2002 Grange (what the hell) $220

Comes to a shade under 1 large, rattle around in the cushions for tax and you're all set.

I'd go with 2005 CDP's but they are going fast already.

I'd start with 05 French wines. There are still some good value Grand Cru Burgundies out there. CDP's are starting to apear in stores now, too. And of course Bordeaux. With Sauternes, you're going to find great values.

You can pick up some '05 Schrader Cabs at retail now. They aren't at release prices, but they aren't bad....yet.

In response to RD Collins' astute observation about liking old wine, I'm glad he posed it. For my taste, I enjoy a more nuanced wine, especially one that has been allowed over time for its tannins to soften. Although I do enjoy the youthful fruit he mentioned in a young wine, the bold, biting tannins are a deal-breaker. Aging wine is a give-and-take, I understand, however without the experience of laying a few bottles down and observing their changes over time, wine for me would become less of a hobby and learning tool and more of a mundane process of simply locating what tastes great right now.

quote:

Originally posted by Berno:
I'd start with 05 French wines. There are still some good value Grand Cru Burgundies out there. CDP's are starting to apear in stores now, too. And of course Bordeaux. With Sauternes, you're going to find great values.

2005, Bordeaux and Value in the same sentence?

CDP - Pegau, Beaucastel, Vieux telegraphe, e. guigal,

Cali cabs- Shafer (Hillside Select or 1.5), Caymus (special selection or regular), Karl Lawrence, Neal, Llewelling, Dominus (my personal favorite), Dunn, Spottswoode

Brunello - Banfi, Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo, Fuligni, Poggio Antico,

Amarone - Masi Mazzano, Quintarelli, Dal Forno

Aussie Shiraz - Amon Ra, D'Arenberg Dead Arm, E&E Black Pepper, Two Hands Bella's Garden

That should get you started

Man you guys are mean. You just listed all the international equivalents of Yellow Tail.

ok, now that was funny

quote:

Originally posted by Ogopogo DUDE:
it's about $109.00 ...canadian funds anyway (which is about 85 bucks US funds)

Apparently you haven't been keeping up with exchange rates. $1CAD = $1.039USD, so $109CAD is about $113USD. Don't forget that prices in Ontario and Quebec include them (not sure about BC or elsewhere in Canada).

i love to exaggerate ...yes i know that the canadian dollar is NOW about roughly the same give or take (literally) a cent ....it has been lagging behind at usually 68cents to 75cents for years ever since 1975ish .....the canadian economy is JUST BOOMING...unlike the USA where a recession is just about to occur...
...but hey let's get back to a more important topic ---->wine !!!!...

quote:

Originally posted by futronic:

quote:

Originally posted by Ogopogo DUDE:
it's about $109.00 ...canadian funds anyway (which is about 85 bucks US funds)

Apparently you haven't been keeping up with exchange rates. $1CAD = $1.039USD, so $109CAD is about $113USD. Don't forget that prices in Ontario and Quebec include them (not sure about BC or elsewhere in Canada).

No need to expound on several good OZ, Cali, CdP, etc. already listed above. You don`t mention Spanish, however, there ARE some great values out there good for laying down. Just a few are:

2005 Flor de Pingus
2005 Clio
2005 Numanthia

04`s of these are great for sure, just unlikely whether you`d find much these days.

Also, for stickies, I didn`t see 03 or 05 La Tour Blanche mentioned. Great value, WELL worth their price.

Thanks for all the replies. I'm about to go shopping and several of your suggestions made the cut (I did a bit of prognosticating during the world series and am now able to spend more $$$ than I previously budgeted).