Wine Berserkers - international wine social media, online community, and discussion

Unlike Anton some would say I'm in a rut and don't prefer much variety - after all I've been married 37 years. Zin is my go to wine - it's what got me started on my enjoyment of wine back in the early 1980s and I can always find one to enjoy with or without food. But I do taste a lot and find other ...

It comes out the Thursday before Thanksgiving - 11/21 this year.

Upon release, Prima in Walnut Creek usually has a tasting of three or four different ones - each year I've tasted, I preferred a different one.

A friend sent this to me with some nice pictures of the vineyards and restaurants: Recently had a chance to visit the Guadalupe valley in Mexico, an up and coming wine region. It is due east of Ensenada and so they get fog coming in through a gap in the coastal mountains that cools things off at nig...

While there are a number of wineries in the Corralitos area of the mountains near Santa Cruz, Windy Oaks wins the prize for being the most out of the way.

Very nice pinot noirs and a short walk with your glass up to the top of their vineyard with a view of the ocean.

For us there is one direct relationship we have noticed. As a producer increases the amount of petite Syrah in their Zinfandel the less we like the zin. This is particularly the case when that ps is super ripe. Hmm..the 2017 Ridge Lytton Springs has 15% petite syrah. The 2012 has 21%. But the 2014,...

I've been drinking zinfandels since I discovered a 1979 Lytton Springs (before Ridge) that I opened in 1983.

Occasionally after drinking too much zin I'll switch to a pinor noir for something different. (Cabernet flavor profile is too similar.)

But, I always go back to zins.

Kirkland Champagne $19.99 - I picked up a bottle and shared it with my wife who loves champagne. She said she didn't care for it, that it didn't have much going on. I liked it a little better but it wasn't distinctive at all. Just smooth and bubbly. Much prefer the Roederer Estate or the Schramsbur...

Jeff, the area where this “Kincaid” fire started is DESOLATE. Even a experienced hiker would have trouble hiking to the area where this fire started no less have brush cleared. The problem is with 60 MPH winds the fire goes from desolate to populated pretty damn quick. Tom So they can't allow cows ...

Kirkland Champagne $19.99 - I picked up a bottle and shared it with my wife who loves champagne. She said she didn't care for it, that it didn't have much going on. I liked it a little better but it wasn't distinctive at all. Just smooth and bubbly. Much prefer the Roederer Estate or the Schramsburg...

Hey, 2017 was a difficult growing year.

It would be incredible if it were like the 2016.

Wait for the 2018. It should be better than the 2016.

Moral of the story -> more expensive area/town you live in, better (?) more expensive wine selections at local costco I could have told you that. I live in between the Danville Costco (very high end) and the Concord one (not so much). Danville has about twice the wine selection and much more good s...

I was making beef braised in red wine tonight and needed some red. A friend had given us a bottle of 'Freakshow' which I'd kept in the kitchen for a purpose like this. Afterwards I had a glass, and its pretty 'freakish' indeed. So that's how you store your open wine and expect it to taste different?

I'll bet if you did the same chart based on states with legal pot, I think you would get an ever greater correlation to low opoid addiction.

Pot is used in some treatment programs as a substitute for opiods.

Interesting that the “and under” figure for “investing “ is 25%. I bet if it were 10% or even lower the results would not change. Most people are here because they drink wine, not because they sell it Yep, agreed. I would think most people in the industry are too busy and tired of wine at the end o...

Josh Grossman wrote: ↑
October 8th, 2019, 11:52 am
Had the ‘17 Kirkland Stags Leap today

And...how did it compare to the 2016?

Josh Grossman wrote: ↑
October 8th, 2019, 11:43 am
2017 has hit the shelf in my area:

Let us know if it's as good as the 2016.

2017 was a much more challenging vintage.

"Oh Lord, stuck in Lodi again..." Wine Group Lodi Trip When I think of Lodi wine I think of sweet, fruit forward zinfandel. But we found much more. Lodi is the same distance to us as Napa, but very different. There are over 80 wineries there now. We spent all day Saturday making the rounds. Klinker ...

Neal.Mollen wrote: ↑
September 18th, 2019, 2:26 pm

greg gartland wrote: ↑
September 18th, 2019, 1:22 pm
please post pics when someone buys the petrus and you plop it on the table with a couple glasses.
Steins

Frosted mug.

Lots of boxes to check there. If you're going for the full Monty, you'll need some DRC, Selosse, Rayas, Mascarello (B), Soldera, and WTF, some Noval Nacional. You must sell an assload of KL and Wildman BTG to get those allocations! Well done! That Beaucastel and Faury Cote Rotie are great prices fo...

B. Buzzini wrote: ↑
September 17th, 2019, 5:04 pm
Need Zins! Turley, Bedrock, Carlisle, more Ridge...

Definitely.

Where is the wine-by-the-glass menu?

Turley Juvenile, Bedrock Old Vines, Bedrock Heritage...

Tom - have you tried Butter Chardonnay? I have a morbid curiosity about this wine and every time I'm in TW, I want to buy it but just can't. "California - Butter Chardonnay has aromas of apple pie and a rich creaminess that surrounds you at each sip. Aged in oak, this wine sees brightness, complexi...

Tom - have you tried Butter Chardonnay? I have a morbid curiosity about this wine and every time I'm in TW, I want to buy it but just can't. "California - Butter Chardonnay has aromas of apple pie and a rich creaminess that surrounds you at each sip. Aged in oak, this wine sees brightness, complexi...

Was at the Concord, CA Costco today. They only had the 2017 Signature Series Columbia Valley red.

Our local wine shop has lots of Turley and some Rafanelli zin priced much higher than retail from the wineries.

Why was this wine - 2015 Fontodi 'Flaccianello $119 at my Costco and $80 at yours? I've seen the variation like this before. There are two Costcos within about a 15 minute drive in either direction (Concord and Danville) - one is in a much nicer part of town and their prices can be a little higher ...

I had not heard of this winery so I searched here and found this thread. Not surprised to see the reaction by some, I share it. The new Cuvee has a skull on the label, and can be yours for the fair price of, $250! 447FA6CE-05B3-4150-81D4-FCFB024D0F3C.jpeg Reminds me of Armida's Poizin zinfandel - "...

Buena Vista Winery's transformation additionally says he wants to do things with a flair. Every winery wants a differentiating story. One of the earliest Ca wineries has servers and greeters in old Western attire and the theme continues with a wine having a sheriff's star affixed to the bottle. His...

Two weeks ago we spent a 3 day weekend in Healdsburg. On Saturday, our last stop as we tasted wines downtown around the square was the flamboyant JCB tasting room. We have been fans of JCB's Raymond winery in Napa since the winemaker gave our tasting group and wives a tour a few years ago. It was th...

When I had the 2013 at Merril's I felt the same way. But it took a little longer to completely open up - maybe 6 hours. Delicious Now you are giving up all our secrets...6 hours with me? [wow.gif] Yeah, thanks for noticing. It just seemed like 6 hours. [cheers.gif] We started tasting at about noon ...

When I had the 2013 at Merril's I felt the same way.

But it took a little longer to completely open up - maybe 6 hours.

Delicious.

John Morris wrote: ↑
August 8th, 2019, 12:59 pm

Mike Kuller wrote: ↑
August 5th, 2019, 7:41 pm
Wineries have to sell the wine to you at retail unless you join their wine club.
I know if no such requirement anywhere.

If they discount bottles, how will they get you to join their club with discounted regular shippings?

In talking to Santa Cruz (MJA) and Capitola (Armida) CA tasting room personnel, a number of locals have joined the wine clubs to get free tastings and they come in regularly for free wine before dinner. MJA has had to limit the free wine for club members to once a week. Despicable misuse of the int...

In talking to Santa Cruz (MJA) and Capitola (Armida) CA tasting room personnel, a number of locals have joined the wine clubs to get free tastings and they come in regularly for free wine before dinner.

MJA has had to limit the free wine for club members to once a week.

I thought Steve Zichichi in Dry Creek has a great business model. He's an interesting guy who was the orthopedic surgeon for the NO Saints but after hurricane Katrina he retired and brough his young family to property they owned here. We discoverd him over 10 years ago and others may do something si...

Back in the day, in the 1980s and 1990s, the Napa wine tasting rooms used to be called "hospitality" as a way to introduce customers to their wines. Tasting fees were low and could be applied to a purchase. Some let you keep the glass. Fast forward to the late 1990s. More wineries popping up, more t...

EHeffner wrote: ↑
August 7th, 2019, 7:49 am
For anyone who’s had the 16 Kirkland oakville, would it benefit from sitting a year or two or just drink away?

I think it's a little tight and would benefit from a year or two.

Wineries have to sell the wine to you at retail unless you join their wine club. Then you get perhaps 20% off.

duplicate

A local friend who did consulting in Portland for a couple of years raves about Wine on Broadway. Very knowledgeable women who run it who suggest some excellent Oregon pinot noirs to try.

MikeVenezia wrote: ↑
July 28th, 2019, 7:26 pm
Maybe it’s just me but the 2015 Beringer Napa Valley that’s 22 bucks in Novato seems to be the bargain cab of the century. Glad someone mentioned the Hess, I was thinking about trying that!

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=154049&p=2578208&hi ... r#p2575560

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/67496465_10218806854073077_3368208375379656704_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_oc=AQnXdJ66ADltkUPZKy4V_PyPrFUSYfTwCGJPj_t6z5S5MG4yI_kwtIDybNnz2wlfXrM&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=6f209af5e5d7330eba91d02d382403eb&oe=5DA13D76 2017 Hess Collection Allomi Napa Valley...

I agree with Robert.

Why can't someone ask a question here without all the comedians trying to get a laugh?

JohnP wrote: ↑
July 1st, 2019, 11:06 pm
Anyone seen the 16' Sassacaia at Costco yet?

I believe I might have seen it in Concord a couple of weeks ago, but it looked very pricey.

I thought TW direct are private brands (maybe wrong term) of which I have never heard ?? Am I mistaken/wrong ?? Nope, winery direct wines are, just like they sound, wines they procure directly from the winery and are mostly well known brands....... Which I assume allows them better pricing and the ...

J. Rock wrote: ↑
June 28th, 2019, 3:58 pm
I really love the 2014 Austin Hope GSM (from Paso). It's fruit forward and bold, but also had nice complimentary spice flavors.

Their 2017 cabernet is highly rated and seems to have a similar fruit-forward profile for around $45.

Chuck Wagner is a part owner.

On my iPhone using AOL, many times when I try to read a message, it doesn't recognize my password.

So each day or new place with WiFi I have to get a new one, since the one my LastPass remembers and tries, doesn't work.

Is it Apple, AOL or WB?

Sc0tt F!tzger@ld wrote: ↑
June 15th, 2019, 12:40 pm

Nick F. wrote: ↑
June 15th, 2019, 12:32 pm
Costco Arlington Texas
Schramsberg blanc noir
19.97
What vintage? That's a helluva price.

Same at Concord.

Also a few bottles of 2006 Dom mixed in with the 2009.

Stupid poll. I never drink wine to "chill out and destress after a shitty day." Yep. Don't drink much else besides wine and not often during the week, no matter how shitty the day was. On Friday nights, we start out with a bottle of champagne to destress from the week. If it was just me, it would b...

Thanks for a great write-up Ken.

I've visited Deaver and enjoy their zins.

Their 2015 Henry's House won our wine tasting group's blind zinfandel tasting last month.

No doubt you've see this study using MRI. Why expensive wine appears to taste better: It's the price tag When a bottle costs more, the reward center in the brain plays a trick on us Date: August 14, 2017 University of Bonn Summary: Price labels influence our liking of wine: The same wine tastes bett...

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