Twl: "Money comes and goes, but a great wine experience is with you always." I'm with you, clink! |
Celexa, Tramadol and Neurontin. |
T-bone, we have never had one bad bottle since we started the club. Of course, we always check the ullage and the cork. So we've been fortunate.
The best buys for any wine, we have found to be on Winebid.com It is a wine auction site, and may good buys are to be had there. For example, the 27 Y'Quem was under $300, and all the 82s we drank were under $400 each. Both of the older vintage La Conseillante were under $100 each. You can get 82 Cos all day long there for well under $100 per bottle. You do have to pay shipping though. At our local wine merchant, the 82 Pauillacs that we had all retailed at over $1000 each. So we saved 60% by buying on Winebid. They show photos of the bottle, list ullage and storage conditions, label condition, and a writeup on the wine by Parker or Wine Spectator. Thus far, it has been foolproof and money-saving for us. Money comes and goes, but a great wine experience is with you always. |
Twl, Thanks for the note. I'd had many good bottles of 96 Shiraz and some decent cabsav/merlot blends before, many from courtesy of the friend who offered the lot before he leaves the country. Indeed I bought the lot (110+ btls worth) referred to before. No Grant Burge (or Phelps), but instead a '98 Burge Family Draycott Reserve Shiraz and some '96 Penfolds Grange (looking forward to those someday), and a large number of other old vine Barossa Shirazes, mostly 96 and 98. Lots of stuff ready to drink in the next year or so as well. If you're ever in Tokyo, send me a mail and we'll crack open a bottle.
From everything I've heard - probably mostly Parker-inspired wishes - the 61 Ch.LaP is a wine to aspire to [me and 749 of my friends are looking to chip in $10 for a drop each of that one :^)]. Two questions: With these old (1940 Conseillante, 1927 Yquem) wines, does your wine club often run into bad bottles or do wines of that quality uniformly get stored well? And, where can one find an '82 Cos d'Estournel for less than (or even around) $100? (C d'E is a favorite of mine from cheaper and more recent vintages and I'd love to buy a bottle when I'm back in the States in a few months).
Thanks, Travis |
Also, the update on the 61 La Conseillante was terrific. Even better than I had expected. Really held up well, and no signs of going over the hill. I'd say it has a good 15 years left. Still looking for the 61 Ch. Latour a Pomerol that Parker says is the wine he would choose, if he could only drink one wine for the rest of his life. Must try that one before I die. As well as the 45 Lafitte. |
T-bone, I have found that Grant Burge makes a very nice Shiraz. The Barossa Valley is the place where you want to get your Shiraz from. The standard Grant Burge is only about $21/bottle and is quite good. Some of his special vintages like the Meshak are excellent. Also, the Peter Phelps Insignia is an awesome Shiraz, but almost $100 per bottle. Worth it though. I like the Shiraz, and when we're not sampling the expensive Bordeaux, the Shiraz is quite commonly found on the table. The mid 90's vintages are excellent. Recommend the 96. |
I thought edjamacted individuals drank Duff. |
Clueless, old chap -- edjamacate? That sounds tough ;) Why not just drink the wine? In vino veritas (et alia). Clink! |
Magic Hat Blind Faith, or, Magic Hat Humble Patience. Tasty microbrews from an outfit in Burlington, Vermont.
Frog's Leap Cabernet. |
Anything you're buying!
I'm a bit of a low browe here (what's new). In the winter I like Becks. In the summer, with the heat, I tend to go to a beer closer to water (anything major label domestic (US)). An aversion to hard stuff as I think I lost too many close to me to alcoholism.
I have a friend who is trying to edjamacate me re wine. You can lead a horse to water......
Cheers, |
I just now read through the whole of this thread and am struck by two things: 1) the depth of interest in whisky, and 2) the fabulously high quality of wine chosen by Twl's wine club.
One day I hope to find like-minded people as has Twl in order to try some great wines of years past. Sharing good wine with like-minded friends is a great pleasure - and much easier on the wallet than trying to drink it alone. I only got a chance to start drinking really nice wine a few years ago when to entertain clients, my boss took them out (I got to tag along) to eat good food and great French wine. My one and only bottle of Cheval Blanc (85) was in that period. Every now and then, I get the chance to drink some great French wine, mostly at the expense of brokers. The PPE (Parker Price Effect) is in full effect for French and Californian wine here in Tokyo because volume is limited enough that there is an extra middleman in the process. So we try to find things which fly under the radar (easiest with Spanish, Italian, and Australian wines).
Natalie: all the Leffes I know of (Blond, Brown, and Triple) are decent. I also recommend many of the beers brewed under the Hoegaarden brand (White, Forbidden Fruit, Grand Cru, or Julian), triples like Westmalle Trippel and Van Steenberge's Gulden Draak. Other beers worth their while (though I've never seen them in the U.S.) are Westvleteren, Moortgat Duvel, and Oud Beersel). |
jayarr great call ont the Leffe, picked up a single bottle to Sample. I am on my out to get a 6 pack. |
Any beer from Belgium such as Leffe, quaffed in an ice cold crystal stein. Crank up the tunes! Oh yeah, bliss. |
A wine question - for Twl or anyone else who might be able to help... I have the possibility to make a bulk purchase of some great Australian wines (think Grange & RWT, Torbreck Runrig, some great boutique shiraz, etc), mostly in 95-98 vintages. I have a decent idea but I'd like to check some kind of current value before laying down the bucks (it's a lot of wine). Does anyone know a good (in terms of quality, selection, and value) internet source (U.S.-based) for wines from Down Under?
As for my favorite audiophile tipple, when my wife are drinking "normal" wine, we have recently (last 2-3yrs) been able to get great Rioja at very reasonable prices. That and cognac (partial to Frapin and Ferrand).
Thanks, Travis |
Yes, Tim. With sunflower seeds, its ice tea, or a soda. |
Nil- Do any of those beverages go better with the Sunflower seeds? or when its sunflower seed time drink gets put on the back burner:) |
Plain ol' Gin and tonic or Vodka Martini, and 'thick' beer
(your brand here) , and water, one sip each at a time.... |
Unsound, Lagavulin with a tad of spring water. Room temperature for the Laga, you can chill the water. Clink! |
I like Scot(ch) whiskey, but I think Laphroig taste like iodine. Laphroig is one of the more popular malts used in blends, but it's a over the top for me. I have a friend who really likes it. My favorite really smokey (think barbecue) scotch is Lagavulin (I'm sure I misspelled it). Perfect on those icy cold winter nights. To each his own. To answer the posted question: it all depends on my mood and the seasons, and oh yeah what's available. |
Natalie, you may try it as it digestif, too... Clink |
Bishopwill thanks I will look for the laphriog on my next LCBO venture. |
Twl, the bottle, a few friends and something to nibble on (foi gras nature...) and music. I would like once to try a Chasse-Spleen '66-67.
I thoroughly agree with Bishop who means spring water, of course. |
Natalie,
The addition of perhaps a teaspoon of water to an ounce or two of single malt just files the edge off a touch and makes the sipping even more sublime. And, of course, room temperature means Scottish room temperature, not American overheated.
Talisker is a mild little eastern malt but not in the same league, smoke-wise with Laphroig. Not to say better or worse, just different.
Enjoy! |
Sambuca with 3 espresso beans...No fire. |
If smokie scotch is desired. Try Talisker, a very smokey Single malt.
Dont get me wrong I drink 90% of my scotch room temp.
When I am having a Cuban though I like it cold. But would never insult the scotch with water or Ice.
I also like 20+ year old Chianti Classico Riserva's which I have cellered and cared for. |
Gregm, my very first fine wine was a 71 Ch. Ausone. It was in 1982. It really rocked my world. Even though 71 was only a good year, this Ausone lives in my memory. The bouquet simply filled the dining area. That was when I realized what fine wine was all about. Not a bad start. I've stayed with the Bordeaux all these years, and never been disappointed. While I enjoy the wines of California, Germany, Australia, and Italy, nothing beats France for wine. And especially the Bordeaux. A fine filet mignon with Bernaise, New Potatoes Provencal, and some tender asparagus tips, with a baroque chamber ensemble in the background, a fine vintage Bordeaux, and a group of close friends at the table is pretty close to heaven, in my opinion. |
Laphroig with a tiny dribble of cool water added. |
My mouth is watering, I'm thirsty, and I have no Yquem to quench my thirst... If I may say so, that's a wine club with excellent taste-- good for you!
I remember buying Haut Brion for FFr ~18/bottle (that used to be $~3) about 20 years ago!
If memory serves, the best Cheval Blanc I've had (not that I've tasted many) was a '69, followed by '71 & '75...
Clink! |
Gregm, you should have been around during the summer when we opened up the 1927 Chateau D'Yquem! Lovely butterscotch color, and strong notes of pear and caraway. Of course, the 1940 and 1955 Ch. La Conseillante Pomerols were wonderful, and the 1966 Latour. And then we followed that up for 3 weeks in a row with the 1982 Lafitte-Rothschild, 1982 Mouton-Rothschild, and a 1982 Latour. Pauillac heaven. The Mouton was the best of that bunch. The 82 Margaux was not really up to the Pauillacs of that year in my opinion, but it wasn't bad. The 82 Cheval Blanc Saint-Emilion is the killer of the vintage in my opinion. The 82 Haut Brion is a good example of the Graves, but a bit thin. The best value of the 82's in my opinion is the 82 Cos d'Estournel Saint-Estephe. Definitely a Premier Cru wine, even though the 1855 classification doesn't include it. Well under $100.
Next week we are trying the 1961 Ch. La Conseillante. Should be a winner! We're holding the 75 Yquem for the holidays. If I ever hit the big-time, I'll have an 1811 Yquem. $45k. I don't buy all this stuff by myself. We have a small wine club that shares expenses(5 people). With the 1811 Yquem, that would be $9k per glass. Yikes! |
My favorite is still the gin martini and here's a way to mix a good one that eliminates the mess and "watering down" effect of using ice. Keep a bottle of your fave gin in the freezer (Beefeater or Bombay Sapphire recommended) and a bottle of dry vermouth in the fridge (M&R recommended). Pour three fingers (or so!) of the now thickened spirit in the tini glass and then wave the open end of the vermouth bottle over the top. Place in an olive or three. As soon as the gin settles and loses its “thickness”, a very thin layer of frost will form on the outside of the glass.....enjoy with your favorite tunes. But, after your second, restrict yourself to playing CD's so as not to inadvertently ruin that precious vinyl!
Oh, and while burning a Cuban may be in favor with some, I would heed the words of the velvet rope tender from the old Saturday Night Live shows..."Take it outside, take it outside". :-) |
Gah! I am thoroughly disgusted. How come so many a'philes seem to mess up good single malt whisky by *gak* chilling it? Cold kills the tastebuds. If you really want to taste it, keep it room temperature--otherwise you might as well drink blended. Although water is a bit more controversial, I tend to use it only when drinking cask strength whisky, 'cos otherwise its too hot.
While I seem to always have some Macallan on hand, I like some variety; recently its been Abelour A'bunadh, Springbank, and Glendronach. Unfortunately, my last bottle of cask strength 32 yo Springbank has now run dry... |
Although I only perused parts of list, there were a lot of my favorites. Being here in Vermont not that far from Canada, there is a Molson Brador you can pick up over the border that is quite nice. |
Twl, I just got up after falling over in my chair and nearly rolling into one speaker (sudden dynamics pushed me away from danger): '82 Cheval Blanc (!!!), 40 yr old Margaux...!
Those are worth more than my system!
Why do you live so far away -- life's unjust!
I'll return to my lowly Lagavulin -- a shot of which is about as much as a poor middle-european can afford nowadays. Or a Plzen (pronounced pilsen) beer... Clink!
p.s. Natalie; ok for the Mchristo. I agree with the Oban as digestif, but why chill it?? |
Any good beer, usually Bohemia or French/Belgian/German beer. And on the rarest of occasions when I can find it some Goldstar or Maccabee from Israel. |
The Psychic does *not* drink alcohol--nor smoke herbs!
¿Surprised? |
Scotch on the rocks (single malt). The type depends on the mood. My standard are the Dahlwhinnie or Aberlour 15's but some moods and the resulting music just demand something smokier! |
Way to go, Albert! That 86 Comtesse is a 100 point bottle! The last Beck's I had was an Oktoberfest Special. I think there is some still left in the stores. I haven't had a Bitburger in years. If I remember correctly the last Bitburger I had was a Weissbier, with the yeast still floating around in it. Can only drink one of them. I need to come down there and get introduced to some of that great Scotch Whisky. I've only had Glenlivet and Glenmorangie. |
My favorite is Bailey's Irish Cream with crushed ice, but it's hard to break my ice chewing habit which distracts my ears (and mind) from the music. Any advice, or should I start a new thread?!?!? |
This is easy, German Beer, French Wine or Scotch Whiskey. Preferably shared with friends who care about good music.
My favorites are Bitburger and Becks Beer, 1986 Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande Pauillac, or 15 year old Arberlour Scotch. |
Lugnut...I'm with you! I think that ANY kind of alcohol dulls the senses. Of course, my previous years of excessive boozing has biased my opionion as well! More "Mexican Lettuce", por favor! |
either vodka on the rocks, guinness, or newcastle. |
Rockhead- That's ironic-shake my martini and I will run and hide, how ever I don't mind my water being shaken. |
Ice water...shaken, not stirred. Beats the hell out of the old days when it was Tussionex, Xanax, and rum. |
I once read that a 6-pack of beer is the cheapest sound improvement to any system! |
Ok, Lugnut topped everybody. |
Gin and tonic. Or a screwdriver... or a nice glass of wine.
KF |
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I like a nice bottle of NIGHT TRAIN when I listen to my Bose setup, other than that its Glenvelit and branch water |
Last night, it was coffee. Because we finished the 1961 Brane-Cantenac margaux at dinner! I have to say that this was a wonderful Margaux from a great year, and was much more enjoyable than even the 82 Ch.Margaux I had a couple of weeks ago. The 40 years really did it good. But, if you really want a treat, definitely get a 82 Cheval-Blanc. Absolutely massive, and the benchmark of all the Bordeaux that I've experienced so far. Cheers! |
A screwdriver, fresh squeezed orange juice with Stoli. Vitamin C is good for the ears! |
