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

Chris V.

Exactly my point. Weren't both the Bearwallow and the Horseshoe at one point en tirage? Your original post lead my to believe that the Bearwallow was somehow never aged en tirage. Sorry Chris, now I understand. The Bearwallow BdB was aged about 3 years en tirage. The Horseshoe has aged en tirage lo...

Chris V.

I can understand how someone might be confused! We do have a "tirage" bottling of Horseshoe BdB but have not decided when or if we will release it. Our first sparkling release is the 2015 Bearwallow Blanc des Blancs. It drinks very well right now so I wouldn't hesitate to pop one. FWIW, I plan to s...

Chris V.

I can understand how someone might be confused! We do have a "tirage" bottling of Horseshoe BdB but have not decided when or if we will release it. Our first sparkling release is the 2015 Bearwallow Blanc des Blancs. It drinks very well right now so I wouldn't hesitate to pop one. FWIW, I plan to s...

Chris V.

I tried some Duband wines for the first time earlier this year and really liked them. Good reminder to try to buy some when I can find them.

Chris V.

Ridge Monebello would definitely have the finesse to blend in. Some find it's American Oak to stand out, I don't really. I actually find it to have higher acid than most Bordeaux so that may stand out. Similarly, I might expect Dunn Howell Mountain to have a bit too much acid, being a mountain site....

Chris V.

I just lay a t-shirt out flat on a bed, roll each bottle in one t-shirt to wrap it, pack them tight together in a standard suitcase. I use other items to pad the edges of the suitcase (shoes, toiletries), then use larger clothing items to pad between layers of bottles. In a medium suitcase I can fit...

Chris V.

Noticed a few of these in SF when I was there last week and I'm a fan. Most let you open anything in the shop for a minimal corkage fee ($5-$10). Good way to try something while out without paying a massive restaurant markup.

Chris V.

BURGUNDY FOCUSED EVENING AT DAVE'S - (10/26/2019) NV Bérêche et Fils Champagne Brut Réserve - France, Champagne [Tasted Single Blind] First time trying this producer. Pours clearly darker than champagne 2 with a gentle pink hue. Killer nose on this right out of the gate. Lightly oxidized red apple,...

Chris V.

Nice discussion of this event on here. I wasn't aware so many Berserkers were there. I'm probably a little more positive on this event than others. Compared to other tastings that cost money, this one is free and IMO there are higher end wines being poured here. Pol Roger: missed the SWC, but I'm al...

Chris V.

I don't think its technically a Bojo Nouveau, but I've been enjoying Lapierre's 2018 Raisins Gaulois this summer.

Chris V.

I was sad to have missed this one, Andrew. Sounds like you had a great time and a nice lineup.

Chris V.

Leaving aside the fact that I often find better value in Chardonnay from other parts of the world (South Africa, Ontario, California, Australia)... Whenever I can I'll taste for myself. Otherwise I'll rely on reviewers I trust to decide between St Aubin 1ers and Villages Meursaults on a case by case...

Chris V.

$99CAD @YLee

Chris V.

Nice note Andrew. I've never had the '88 but have gone through at least 8 bottles of the '89. Great classic Bordeaux at an affordable price.

Chris V.

We had the '16 Jamet last January and thought it was awful, just purple and under-elevaged tasting, I think we sinked it. I've had this twice. First time about a year or more ago I would agree. Another bottle a couple months ago was beginning to show some syrah character after a couple hours. IMO t...

Chris V.

Wow, that's so strange. Barrel sample from a bad barrel?

Chris V.

Thanks for sharing. Had a lovely '97 from Ceretto last weekend, which has some similarities to what you've noted. 1997 Azienda Bricco Rocche (Ceretto) Barolo Bricco Rocche - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (8/31/2019) (Tasted double blind) Pours completely transparent with medium plus bricking. The ...

Chris V.

It's not just Pinotage. South Africa has lots of real wine at wildly low prices. Unbeatable in the ~$10 category.

Chris V.

Had this last night at a local Italian place to celebrate our wedding anniversary (2011). I thought it was fabulous and traditional. Doesn't seem this producer gets a lot of love on here, but it should. 2011 Tenute Loacker Brunello di Montalcino Corte Pavone - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di...

Chris V.

Anyone had the 2010 Cubillo? Coming out here in a week and I'm thinking of stocking up.

Chris V.

I'm also of the school of thought there is a trait commonly found but unique to Red Burgundy that makes me think of freshly tilled damp soil (which I suppose is geosmin) and I don't think it's brett. To answer the question above I think I've had a very small number of bretty burgs. Like well under 1...

Chris V.

Thanks for sharing. I'm typically a big fan of this bottling. I love how on release it often has nice red fruit and spice and is so accessible right away. I bought a few of the '15 and wasn't crazy about my first bottle, but it was an end of the night bottle popped and poured... 2015 Rhys Pinot Noir...

Chris V.

Never had a Meo Camuzet, so I decided to give this a whirl yesterday. 2016 Méo-Camuzet Frère et Sœurs Bourgogne - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne (8/18/2019) Very enjoyable Bourgogne which far exceeds it's appellation. The nose is fairly low intensity but what is there is gorgeous. Notes of dark cherry,...

Chris V.

May I ask where you found this? My entire state (TX) gets a case of this per year, I’m told Our local Ontario importer. Everything must be sold in full cases when bought directly from importers here by law or else I'm sure they would have been allocating it by the bottle. I guess I was just in the ...

Chris V.

Just ordered my 6 pack for $50CAD/$38USD. Gotta rub it in as we usually get awful pricing here. May I ask where you found this? My entire state (TX) gets a case of this per year, I’m told Our local Ontario importer. Everything must be sold in full cases when bought directly from importers here by l...

Chris V.

Just ordered my 6 pack for $50CAD/$38USD. Gotta rub it in as we usually get awful pricing here.

Question: what temp do people recommend drinking this at? I think most would drink their whites around cellar temp or slightly above. Same for this?

Chris V.

Wait until you taste the '18s ... I drank several bottles of the '18 Domaine while in Chinon a few weeks ago and it was fantastic. Can't wait for the Croix Boissee. I agree with your comment that the '17s should drink earlier than the '15s and '16s. They opened an '06 Les Grezeaux for me during my ...

Chris V.

I have very little tasting experience with Cab Franc, but I am interested in trying some and Baudry's gets some good words here. Do you think the Grezeaux will likely provide you drinking pleasure over the next few years or is more time likely to be needed to enjoy this wine? While I know there is ...

Chris V.

Took delivery of my case of Les Grézeaux this week and of course immediately popped a bottle to check in. It's very nice. I have it right in line with the '16 in terms of quality, though perhaps even more immediately drinkable. I think the '15 is the best of '15-'17 and I think it has the best long-...

Chris V.

I had a similar experience with the 2016 Brulee, which was the first Lumpp wine I tried. They're coming in at about $66CAD/$49USD all-in here, and I immediately went back for more. My note: 2016 François Lumpp Givry 1er Cru La Brûlée - France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Givry 1er Cru (3/14/2019) Be...

Chris V.

I think it transforms into an eye opener. It becomes a totally different and imho a better wine. Yes, you will lose that just bottled freshness, but you gain depth, complexity, and some unique characteristics. The oldest Tempier Rosé I have had was 31 yrs old. For me, and the other winemakers I was...

Chris V.

I'm with you on the Tawse Marchand wines. Dark, overextracted. Boring and lacking freshness.

Chris V.

Another idea that hasn't yet been mentioned yet is to drop the bottle off hours or days ahead of time and ask for it to be decanted a few hours early. As mentioned some jurisdictions prohibit corkage of an open bottle, but as long as you're going somewhere with decent wine service you should be fine...

Chris V.

Not that bad compared to others on here... In the past few years I've been getting into PYCM whites. I've bought various Saint Aubins in France, the US and from the local importer here. Love the style for the $50 - $80 price point. While in New York last summer I decided I'd like to splurge on a Cha...

Chris V.

Tasted this on release at Monte Bello and was absolutely floored with it. Definitely felt like a throwback style with secondary notes galore. My note is also in CT, giving it a conservative 95. Nice thing is I think it was overlooked with '11 being a "weak" vintage. At least here in my market it was...

Chris V.

Langdon. What a great place. Thanks for sharing.

Chris V.

Why can't every wine list be more like this one?

I'll be in Boston in a month or two. Might you be willing to PM me the location?

Chris V.

Surprised to see someone with your palate write this, Jeremy. Young Beaucastel's I've had 2001 - 2012 have almost always been dark, alcoholic, extracted, and sometimes stewed (except for 2008, oddly). No real secondary notes and they've almost all felt like they've lacked the finesse and potential f...

Chris V.

funny—that 85 Chateau de Pommard was wonderful young and cost little, then seemed to fall apart as it aged. Must have been just closed. Drank that vintage a lot in the 90s, never see the stuff now. Good memory. Not sure what distribution has looked like over the years, but presently it's only sold ...

Chris V.

A SPRING SATURDAY AT DAVE'S PLACE - (6/1/2019) NV Ruppert-Leroy Champagne Pinot Noir Brut Nature Les Cognaux - France, Champagne Very nice champagne here. It pours a slightly deeper gold than the average. The nose reveals a somewhat oxidative leaning style: lightly bruised apple, pastry, mint, lano...

Chris V.

Agreed. Jeremy. Quite enjoyed the '15 Saint Aubins I've tried.

Chris V.

Owen, I live in Ontario and generally agree. We often pay more for for just about everything, but many Italian producers are cheaper here. I don't know why but suspect it has to do with mark-ups. Perhaps distributors and retailers have higher margins on Italian wine in the US, whereas here in Ontari...

Chris V.

Ate at the Factory Kitchen at the Venetian and the list was slightly expensive, but well selected. Good food too.

Chris V.

I've never cellared white burg, but a couple years ago was bitten by the bug with PYCM. Been buying lots of St. Aubin, and drinking them slowly. Not intentionally trying to age them but conserving them may cause me to test out aging some of them. Seems that PYCM is on the lower premox risk side of t...

Chris V.

1989... the real vintage of the century.

Chris V.

Great notes. Thanks! Timely and helpful on the 2014 Mount Eden.

Chris V.

Haven't tasted any from 2017, but your pricing here looks pretty sharp. I'd certainly all I could justify/afford. Based on my experiences with past vintages I'd focus on La Chateniere and Remilly. They were both sold out in my market so I ended up with a six pack of the Cuvee Marguerite, and I appea...

Chris V.

Thanks for the notes. I loved the one Walter Scott chard I tried (BTG at Eleven Madison Park). I recently pre-ordered a six pack of that PYCM, so I'm glad to see it's on form if lacking a little on the palate.

Chris V.

I had never heard of Valdemar until I took a flyer on an 1989 Gran Riserva last year. It was beautiful! Not unlike a Lopez de Heredia in how traditionally made it felt.

Chris V.

Being released here in Canada next month for $297CAD/$222USD, taxes in. We generally pay far higher prices for most wine. You're getting screwed.

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