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

Michael, we had the 2000 Lanson Champagne Noble Cuvée de Lanson Blanc de Blancs Brut last week. It was drinking very nicely and did open up as the meal progressed. Quite the QPR. Enjoy!

That was a tasty bottle Sean!

Tom - so where do you live these days? I have a few older bottles and it would be great to do a KK offline!

I have been purchasing Monte Bello futures for more that 15 years but have only opened a handful or so. I am lucky to live close enough so I get up there several time a year and drink theirs while mine age. Special occasion yesterday so wanted to try one. I read over the cellar tracker reviews and t...

Bryan - I would definitely hold on to a few and try them at the 10 year mark. The 09 is one of my favorite Zins right now - wish I had saved more. Adam- I just did a quick tasting at Ridge yesterday. The 17 Geezer is great. If they still have the 2014 Lytton Estate Syrah I would strongly recommend i...

You need to use a filter when reading the reviews. Many don't like the style and if you do, then their input is meaningless.

Ian S. - I had not tried saying it out loud until you pointed that out! Thanks, that did give me a laugh! Great read. While I appreciate the technical debate that followed, I was surprised no one mentioned the wonderful story told, with the book, the journey, the old man and his kids, and the bottle...

I was honored to be invited to her memorial. She was a pioneer. The 3 liter cabs, most with 20+ years on them, all drank wonderfully. What struck me more were some of the slides showing her planting the vineyard. In the back-round, no homes at all could be seen. Now it is probably some of the most e...

Glad you are enjoying life George! Look forward to seeing you.

Preference - 06 Swan or 08 Bear?

Save the date just landed- September 17th. 369 cases produced.

Thanks!

Oops, thought I had been more definitive. My bad. I am in if there is room. Looks like a choice from the menagerie- 06 Swan or 08 Bear. Also older Alesia for backup. Please let me know if there is room. I have really been looking forward to it. If not, another time.

Agree with Wes, Ian really is a great winemaker and does a great job sourcing fruit in our area.

Brian please do. And if you find yourself down in the Santa Cruz area please get in touch. Would love to have you come up to the farm and crack some bottles with you!

Brian - A neighbor passed and I will be going to a memorial service that weekend. Hope I can make it next time! Thanks for the offer.

"And just over the hill" - I meant the location not the wine.

Now we are talking - SCM quality wines that go with food! Older Rhys or maybe even a Kathryn Kennedy! And just over the hill! I would love to attend if the date works.

Brian - I would love to make this. Please put me down as a maybe. I have some older Carlisle to choose from. I need to dig but I am pretty sure I also have older Turley Hayne Vineyard.

How old is old vine? Does Palisades work (planted in the 60's)?

Tom- I had one of Darren Delmore's syrahs at a local wine tasting (Soif). Was very impressed and was trying to figure out his name when I read Jim's Stolo review. The vineyards sound very similar.

Found this article and thought it was a great intro to those wishing to explore our area.

https://www.winetraveler.com/california ... itinerary/

Sorry to hear about your health. I wanted to echo what others have said. You are local and the ability to get free tickets to their special tastings really makes this a great deal. If you have never had the chance to go to an assemblage event you really should try to get tickets to the next one avai...

Anyone hear back?

J. Davis - how was the I. Brand Cab Franc?

Looking forward to trying the Albarino and the Grenache. I think the Grenache comes from the same vineyard used by Birichino and I really enjoy that version.

Good luck getting back on-line!

George -thanks so much for pulling this off. It was great to meet some of the folks from the board and pop some corks. Very impressed with everyone - from the wines they brought to the fact that there always seemed enough to go around. The list above missed the 1992 Santa Cruz Mountains Estate that ...

Neal - it was your praise for the '99 that inspired me to track some of it down. One of my favorite older Champagnes I have had the fortune to try. Still have one left!

Someone can/will correct me if I am wrong but I believe the '98 was Carole and Steve's first commercial release. A bottle we had a few years ago was exceptional as was the 99 we opened up a few months ago.

Neal - I just got the no soup for you email. Hope they do get more!

I would really like to try and carve this out in next months schedule so I can make it. Any updates or thoughts on when this might take place if it is still being considered?

Thanks.

Really like these wines. Agree on the Bates Ranch Cab. I think I recently saw it on the shelf here in Santa Cruz - if anyone wants send me a PM.

Some great suggestions so far. But just to challenge the idea that it has to be over $100, lay down some Ridge Geyserville or Lytton Springs for 8-10 years. Save a great deal of money and have some mighty fine juice!

A '98 KL we had last year was sublime. Perfectly balanced and harmonious. Light but with waves of flavors and a lasting finish. A place that few Napa Cabs I have opened have achieved. Quite the surprise.

Gary - totally agree. I love the Derivative with some age on it. Drinking the 10 and 11 now. I slowed down on my Carlisle white wine purchases a few years ago but after drinking the '11 Derivative last year I began to load up again.

2012 Lagier-Meredith Syrah for $19.97

Where? - that is a contender for deal of the year!

Sean - great bit of trivia! Do you know how large the vineyard is? When I drive by Katherine Kennedy I always imagine it to be some of the most expensive vineyard land in the world considering what nearby homes are selling for in Saratoga.

I would love to make this if I can. End of October would be great. I promise to follow the rules!

Josh - agree, I could not resist the Pleiades.

Wes - great info on SCMV. Still enjoying their wines. Other than Arcadian, I can think of no other producer's pinot that has a track record for aging so well. And yes, they did a wonderful job with the Bates Cab. I was invited to the pick-up party a few years ago even though I was not in their wine ...

Opened two Biale Zins last night for my mother-in-law who really enjoys zin. I had low expectations but both were very enjoyable. 2009 Black Chicken - Tart and disjointed at first. After an hour it settled down and was quite nice. No heat or jammy flavor. Bright with good balance.- 2009 Grand Vineya...

Peter - great to hear about the 2005 TA developing so nicely. I have quite a few older Carlisles and so far have been very happy with them. This week- 2011Carlisle Bedrock Zin - excellent from the start and did not need any air to find balance which I often find to be the case with Carlisle. No heat...

I was going to say what Chuck just said. Usually easier to bring a back-up bottle, but when that is not an option using your Coravin is a great alternative.

Have to agree on the 08. The two I opened were undrinkable. One left. Hoping for a miracle. I would not mind "light" but the brett has been off the charts.

I have enjoyed this bottle over the years. Recently saw his rose -anyone ever try it?

Thanks for the note. I think I have one of these left and have been wondering about it.

2011 Three Birds- very enjoyable, well balanced, no heat or jam. Opened up over 20 minutes. For my taste this is at peak but I will keep my last bottles for a few more years to see.

Two from Charles Neal: Coteaux Des Travers La Mondona Rasteau (2014, $17) and La Grange de Piaugier Cotes du Rhone (2016, $12). Served both at a party over the weekend and both disappeared quickly. Charles Neal imports some affordable gems but I am not sure how wide the distribution is outside of th...

Had the 99 Merlot last year and it was amazing. A real surprise!

2011 Papa's poured with a Coravin. Drinking really well. Balanced with no heat and no porty flavors. Great fruit and mouthfeel. Will try another glass next week but try and give it some air-time. Perhaps will develop more complexity with air.

I signed up awhile ago due to this thread. I have been so proud of myself for just reading and deleting until today - couldn't resist the 2005 Lopez de Heredia’s Bosconia Rioja Reserva in today's email. I talked to Heaven and she said when she asks how people found out about them, almost all of them...

I also really like the Birichino, especially the Grenache.

They recently opened a tasting room in Downtown Santa Cruz - anyone tasting in this area should make it a point to stop by.

Search found 236 matches