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If you want to understand this better, examine the sediments next time you do this. You’ll see they’re really different from coffee grounds - not very solid at all. Some extremists even like tasting them. I’ve tried it - interesting but not as good as the wine IMHO.

Still seems like an excellent roster. And I like how the events are much more reasonable than for the Burg event.

I’ve never attended this. What do the wineries typically pour? Most recent release? Wide ranges?

My understanding is that overall US wine consumption has been steadily rising. With all this grape oversupply why aren’t we seeing more lower priced cabs/blends coming to market? Or maybe they are there and I’m not seeing it?

I feel like it would be a duty of my commitment to this community to make some bids. So many good choices!

Yea I read that as well Alan. While some of the article was unclear, the overall connection between color and structure was one I hadn't read about before. Interesting stuff, and like many elements of wine: complex, partially (at best) understood, and challenging to act on by any but most expert han...

You slip, stumble and fall into an alternate wine universe. You wake up after days of wandering, and realize it was all a dream. All you have left is this video.

Nice note. 2001s are starting to reveal themselves as true beauties. I recently opened the 2001 E. Grasso Casa Maté and it was stunning. Early in its maturity curve but delicious, intense and complex. Che Fico on the other hand ... I ate there right after it opened. Food was good, but service (poor)...

I too would lean towards the PdB. The '13s all risk being tight and tannic at this point. I would look at the '12s as second choices, with a slight lean towards the Roagna. I actually have the '12 Roagna Paje teed up to try soon as I wanted some exposure to the style/vintage. Not sure if I'll get to...

My only issue with MB is that my stash may not be anywhere near ready in my lifetime. My son will enjoy them. I have bought them since 2007 and the only bottle I opened so far (an '07 several years ago) was still pretty primary. Dan, I’m with you on this concern. But I have tried the 2006 and 2007 ...

Fascinating analysis. Cheers to Dan for doing the work, and to Russ for opening the Winebid data.

I take this as rough market analysis, far more useful/interesting for a consumer than an investor.

MB always impresses me and grows in my cellar. I just wish I had joined the list earlier (and who doesn’t?). It remains a great wine and value. There are many other great, reasonably priced Cali AND Napa cabs still. Many different styles are available. No doubt, prices have gone nuts and many are tr...

Fascinating, thanks for posting this Mark.

William - very hard to answer your question about how you would be better served. So much depends on your budget and appetite for champagne. Like you I started out loving the big names like Krug and Taittinger Comte and bought a handful. I bought both vintage and MV Krug. But the big shift for me is...

Guessing at potential future deflationary periods or recessions is pretty difficult. What are far more predictable are two general pricing cycles. They are: price reductions for large volume wines like Krug when a new release is arriving soon (i.e. clearing out old inventory) and end of year sales (...

Interesting, and yet this report leaves out so much. Two data points though - this combined with the Rhys penalty/reporting (very similar language and issues) indicate something. Noise? Coincidence? Or does this reflect energetic new leadership at the water board(s) in CA. Trying to make names for t...

Very interesting tasting. I’m heading to Germany this year to visit friends and hope to do some Pinot tasting. Good ideas. But I wonder about this comparison. Are these spätburgunders considered top producers/vineyards/vintages? The Burgs are not - mostly second tier vintages/vineyards. Probably a r...

I would be tempted at that price. Who is the retailer? I like Krug a lot, and bought a bunch of the MV 160 (2004 base). Loved it. There is some good material that year.

Thanks Mark, interesting. I adore them both but haven’t ever served them together. Your insight follows the rule of lighter to heavier wine ordering. I wonder if this would be reconsidered for aged bottles, eg. 1990 Krug & CDC. Both increase in complexity, and I’ve noticed the CDC take on deeper not...

I’d drink the burgs first, with food for sure. The Chave will possibly overwhelm the burgs. All will be lovely.

I’m for Rion as well. Patrice is a great wine maker and I’ve enjoyed many bottles from the ‘90s. I’ve only had one ‘95 - the NSG Argillieres - and enjoyed it. I’d expect the Beaux Monts to be a big step up. Btw I also love Fourrier but haven’t had any from the 90s. Only exception is if you’re trying...

I am mostly aligned with others here. While I’ve enjoyed every Winston I’ve had (most recent is the 2004) I have voted with my wallet and only bought the DP and CDG. Not planning on opening either for some years. With others, I’m very much looking forward to the Taittinger CdC. I’d also recommend th...

Great note. I love the 2006, possibly only bested by the 2008. The only ‘14 I’ve had is one I pobega’d the day my shipment arrived. Very promising. Sounds like you had a lovely visit!

Thank you Kevin, very helpful perspective. For those here wishing to cast stones at Rhys over this situation, I have two comments. - Mistakes were made, punished, and settled, with a massive fine. Good luck finding a winery that has made no mistakes. - Farming is destructive. All farming changes the...

Data point: I joined the MB list before the 2015 vintage offering (March, 2016) and was given an allocation that year. I’ve bought every vintage since then, and was given the same allocation for 2018. My estate obligation is 3 bottles - usually 1 each of the estate cab, Merlot, and Chard. All 3 very...

Was also surprised to read how many thousands of acres these greedy asshats are farming. I’ll do my best to try to make it cheaper for you but it sounds pretty blatant that they knew what they were doing. I guess I would encourage you not to support greedy pot farmers who destroy wetlands too? Gree...

Don't know the details, and how "egregious" the violations really were. But I'm laughing hard right now at the idea that whatever Rhys did is even a drop in the bucket compared to the integrated effects of pot farming around the county for all these years. I'll continue to buy and enjoy Rhys wines,...

California is a tough place to conduct business in a lot of ways. Complex regulations in many, many areas. As someone who has run (non wine) businesses here, it’s not simple stuff. And it’s easy to make mistakes, even significant ones. Just because a company makes a mistake and is fined, absolutely ...

I have done a bit of list sharing with friends here in California. But like you the risks/costs/hassles of shipping make me nervous. Instead, I’ve been thinking about (and cutting back on) my list purchases. I don’t like the feeling of being held hostage to a list. On every one I’ve bought from, dia...

Depending where/when I’d love to participate. Been meaning to get up to OR this summer.

Two thoughts on this - the impact on Napa really depends on the length of the trade war. Producers will ride out a few years. But in the worst case (You know who re-elected and no resolution) those who have significant Chinese clientele will suffer. A longer term risk is that France/Italy/Spain see ...

I was just in Tuscany his month and will echo Chris S’ thoughts. Fuligni was excellent - very personal, great wine. Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona was fine but bland. More like a Napa retail type visit, and the wines were not as good either. I wish I had time for more visits! For folks who have been m...

I think it's clear why there is a long run trend to higher pricing. What I wonder is whether the recent (last two years or so) lurch upward in pricing is sustainable. It feels like a lot of grand crus that had already attained the hyper-expensive $150-$250 level are now going for the stratospheric ...

Listening is dead at retail.

They also have Champ de Reves and Maggy Hawk - both make good quality pinots. Small though so may not see much super market distro.

I thought this article (published by a retailer so also just be viewed through that lens) was actually pretty interesting as well. The only annoying misleading thing was the bogus click-bait title. But that’s the way things go in web publishing.

Realm

2013 Burlotto Monvigliero (HDH). Had a 2015 in Italy and it was superb. Looking forward to the ‘13s.

I’ve bought quite a bit from Winebid and have had good results. Very few bad bottles. However, I’m pretty careful - don’t bid on anything too iffy in terms of condition. I have noticed that there are some categories that have really increased in price the last few years. There are still deals on Win...

Ah yea. And the Barlow is a great venue to try things in Sebastopol.

@Tom: awesome listing. @Ben: if you want to go further up the coast a bit, the Anderson Valley (over the border into Mendocino) has many producers with really good wines, most in your price range. Try Handley, Navarro, Drew, MacPhail, Lazy Creek, Philips Hill, or Foursight, though there many more. A...

I like this openness, experimentation and flexibility. And since all these grapes are (likely) going to be low percentage blending grapes, it seems like their purpose is to make up for deficiencies in acid, body, tannin, etc. that the traditional grapes start to develop. Bordeaux has always been abo...

La Louviere can be a great value. In the mid-tier I’ve liked Malartic-Lagraviere.

Great story!

I think this seems unlikely in its pure form for a bunch of reasons. Auctions would be most attractive to wineries that regularly sell out (or get close to it). In this situation a Dutch auction or similar mechanism would be good at finding a high price, probably higher than the winery’s release pri...

I’m good the last weekend of August!

Yes it’s hot in Europe this week. I’m in Tuscany (95 F today), but focus on morning activities, shade, and hopping in the pool in the afternoon. Evenings are beautiful. As a San Franciscan I’m a weather wimp, but just have to adapt to a different flow to enjoy the summer here.

2015 Lagrange (St. Julien). One of my favorites from 2015 tastings and a proven ager. If you like more age on your wines, then buy 2005, 2009, or 2010.

While I like the wine making direction, and really enjoy the wines, the price increases have left me sadly behind. I will still buy the Castiglione, and look for Perbacco in restaurants, but otherwise I’m priced out. I assumed the price increases were part of the new ownership.

First, I’d install a lock. Then, I’d confront the housekeeper. If she admits it, I’d fire her. If she denies it ... I’m not sure what I would do. There ARE other possible thieves. All seem unlikely, but any are possible. I’d probably tell the story to the other suspects and see how they respond. Now...

Panos you couldn’t have posted in a more sympathetic place. To be a Berserker is to passionately pursue the great wine under $50 before others discover it. And at the same time to crack and pay up for the great wine we all know about. I would love to attend this 2005 Bordeaux event in 5 or 10 years....

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