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

John S

The whole thing was a master class in confirmation bias. Kinda on both sides. Hindsight is 20/20 as they say, but on the other end of that continuum were lots of accusations made with claims of ITB insight over many years, not unlike those that claim the market will crash and eventually it does and...

John S

Hi Everett, Nice to see this note and agree this wine is drinking wonderfully and it has been been drinking at peak for the last 5 years or so. I think I am out as once they entered this prime time window I just started slurping up my supply. Take care.

John S

I had this a few years ago and had a similar experience. It was prob the best bottle to date and I've drunk over a case. It was great right on release and then shut down for so many years that it was very rewarding to open one and find it had re-emerged as such a fine and relatively mature Chave her...

John S

I lived at that same elevation in CO for many years (Nederland). You will be hard pressed to find the answer as there are no studies. With that said, I would certainly add humidity if you are in a room that is closed off and it is possible. I used an evaporative humidifier as they do not create whit...

John S

1985 Guigal La Turque is from 3 year old vines. I have never tried this but recall RP gave it 100pts and folks I know who tried it did said it was great. I'm sure there are countless other examples.

John S

I have done this many times for much longer trips and in the winter (from NC to CO). You don't need to do anything special as cold is your friend. Now if it is going to get below 10 degrees F at night then I would bring them inside. I generally just cover the cases under a moving blanket which keeps...

John S

For me observing one bottle where it stayed fresh is not something I would extrapolate as proof it can do this for all bottles and repeatedly. I love these type devices but have certainly seen cases where the wines have been exposed to some oxygen and taste accordingly. These are the minority but it...

John S

On champagne it does seem to bubble less at high elevations. Shouldn't it bubble more? Or bubble more quickly and then fizz out? Lower pressure at altitude means the dissolved CO2 should bubble off more quickly . . . Yes the above is the correct science. I've just had so many friends say champagne ...

John S

I have lived above 8,000 feet for over 10 years and still spend 3 mos a year at elevation. I have heard this repeatedly and honestly think the main differences in perception/taste is just acclimation to elevation. It is super dry, less Os, and you are generally wiped after a day on the slopes. I thi...

John S

If you are going to drink them in 5 years I would just store them in the closet. Ideally get a small, like 40 bottle, fridge for the agers and put that in the closet or elsewhere. Small inexpensive coolers are about $400 for a 40 bottle fridge at Costco or Home Depot.

John S

People have been saying that Burgundy is overrated or overvalued for the 30 some odd years I've been in this hobby. Heck, I probably said it 25 years ago. However back then I had not tried much burgundy my palate had not tasted broadly and deeply enough to get to where it is today. I'm certainly not...

John S

Yeah that video is the easy type of "wax" to remove which I am personally fine with. Unfortunately only maybe half are like that and many are the super crumbly types. Just using the worm is certainly the best way. However I use a Pungo all the time so I have to manually removed whatever wa...

John S

Andrew, pouring a bunch of concrete is the way to go per all discussions I've had. It is pricey of course but doing things right often is. People think just burying a container and backfilling the dirt is a cheap path to a root cellar.

John S

I love the underground container idea. But after some investigating have been told (by builders I trust) too many times that it simply does not work. The main problem which is not easily addressed is that the walls will buckle inward. Shipping containers are quite strong vertically, but horizontally...

John S

As mentioned getting cooler air on the intake would be the cheapest option if possible but success is uncertain. I have had friends frame, drywall, and insulate a space within garage space. Still need cooler air for intake but at least you have a proper and cold insulated room to work with. I have e...

John S

The extra thermal load can be compensated for with unit sizing. But depending on humidity where you live I'd worry about condensation and then possibly mold once you made that room actively cold. I've seen active cellars in humid climes without the proper insulation/vapor barrier and it ended up rot...

John S

For me yes, the HVAC crew did the coolbot install. It did take a second try to get it dialed in. And yes adding active cooling to a passive cellar is the same as any cellar. Just less load and you have the same design issues. Insulation, vapor barrier, and how best to run the cooling infrastructure.

John S

I have done exactly this and works great in NC for over 6 years. You just need a Coolbot to get the temps down. I am not a HVAC pro but not sure what wine unit does humidity wise any differently unless it is plumbed. I've had cellars in CO where I added humidity and in NC where I remove it mainly in...

John S

I have had a ductless mini split cellar for 6 years. Works flawlessly. Super reliable, quiet, and efficient. I would buy a non wine branded unit like Mitsubishi but there are many firms who make them. Then they can be serviced by a regular refrigeration firm with regular parts. You need a coolbot to...

John S

I'm sorry you got what certainly appear to be poor condition bottles between the leakage and cork being pushed up. I would send those back for sure. My question tho is what is a "WB approved seller"? I'm not thinking this is a Berserker Business. If a private party I'm not aware of any sel...

John S

All Clad users here. Our main pots/pans are the All Clad "copper core". We have some that are aluminum core (with stainless) and the bit of copper is a nice touch in terms of use and still not too heavy. Those aluminum core ones may go to the kids and are 30+ years old. These are daily use...

John S

I'll just note than besides the proper technique of rocking it. if you own a "generic ah so" the knockoffs often have thick tines and are awful to use even with the proper technique. Monopol is the only good one. I've tried many knock offs and now just toss anything else. They are about $20.

John S

For simple and ease of use the Coutale is my favorite due to the dual hinge and good build quality. There are tons of ripoffs which work for a bit but always break and are prone to slipping off the rim eventually. The coutale is the only one of this dual hinge design that actually lasts. It is $20 a...

John S

Has the style of Togni changed this past decade or still like in the 90’s? He is one of my favorite producers in Cali. I reckon they're a touch suppler when young but beyond that very little has changed. IIRC, the Estate vineyard got pierces in the mid-90s and they had to replant. I can't remember ...

John S

Personally I'd be wary. I've seen and used so many damascus knives that are poor steel and heavy to boot. That one has a western handle and a pretty large spine. Neither are my preferences. But then my favorite knives come from small Japan makers are are over $250 and up and I'll never go back. FWIW...

John S

Thx to Jim's rec, I've had and enjoyed the current release Jadot Macon. Super well priced and it scratches my white burg itch at a price where I don't cry if it is bad. Certainly it is not a cerebral or complex quaff but it is always enjoyable and satisfying. Jadot really does do a solid job across ...

John S

I'd suggest you delete your post OP. Corked wine is not discernable by the condition of the cork. One can tell by lab test or by experienced taster who can identify the aromas. Everyone has a different threshold and ability to tell if a wine is corked. The condition the cork in that video appears ex...

John S

While a rare treat, I find beastly kitchen shears work the best.

John S

There are experts on the board but when you want to add humidity and to cool a room they basically fight each other. I wanted 70 percent humidity and was able to get there with a steam humidifier. However I would prob not go that route again just due to the extra expense and maintenance of the steam...

John S

Hi Patrick, I just checked and the firm I used (for the HVAC) is no longer in business as the owner retired a few years back. With that said search for commercial refrigeration, check some references, and you'll be fine. I never get a "wine cooler brand" but any commercial firm can install...

John S

FWIW, when you use close cell foam insulation regular 2x4 stud walls are fine. If you use batting or open cell foam yes need to change that for sure.

John S

I hate to say it but this is an example of why architects should not design wine cellars. You are wise to check in here. I would never want a tall ladder in a cellar as I hate even using a step ladder when fiddling with wine. So as noted drop the ceiling and insulate down to that 8-10' height or wha...

John S

As I think has been said, if it is Brett it is there to stay. It may well get worse with age or can state about the same depending on a lot of things notably cellar conditions. My cellar is pretty cold and I have quite a few old school Rhône’s where Brett levels generally stay the same. But have cer...

John S

Another Cellartracker vote. I used to want local only and used Excel for way too long. It stunk for that but I was slow. Once/if you get onto CT it is super easy to simply download (i.e. export) your cellar to an .xls spreadsheet locally. That way you have a local backup of your cellar. EZ PZ. I do ...

John S

I think the orig question is does investing in wine make sense vs. something like the S&P 500. The answer to that is pretty easily no. Wine is not that "liquid" as an investment, has higher cost to carry (store insurance etc), and broad wine returns (not cherry picked) generally are le...

John S

Michael, Funny you mention radiant heat. I am remodeling a ski place while downsizing dramatically as the kids flee the nest for college. So I may be done with full on cellars and am getting a wine cabinet for the ski place. It will sit on a soon to be radiant floor and as I wrote my previous post w...

John S

Like above poster, I would leave the floor as is until you decide what to do. I've always put cellars in a basements on concrete slab and just left them as is or epoxy painted them. Toss in a few rugs to help with breakage and looks. You do NOT want to add insulation in that situation as the slab is...

John S

As others have said, doing it early in a new build is going to be cheaper and easier than trying to retrofit. In fact retrofitting in many cases gets very complicated and expensive fast. Many existing homes simply don't have a decent setup to retrofit for a proper cellar. You've got issues of insula...

John S

Given the absurd, IMHO, price for these things I would pass entirely on a built in wine fridge. One could easily design the space for a free standing unit and slide it in. Or simply put a small free standing one elsewhere. Or as a last resort get a regular small built in fridge and use it for drink ...

John S

Mike, My first split system looked a lot like that. It had a two fan tho. It was pretty noisy but again it was very easy to service by any professional cooler tech.

John S

FWIW, None of those links re-direct me. I do use ublock origin and it makes this site fine on chrome using a Win 10 machine. There are ads of course but none that get in the way too much. On my IOS devices the ads are a mess and I have been re-directed to wine.com. I gave up using this site on an IO...

John S

Jeff, I am a function over form guy. I never use the remote as once it is set, no need. The temp probe wires etc are are visible. The coolbot and the blower assembly are over the entrance door on the inside so you only see it on the way out. But again I could not care less on those things but that i...

John S

Yes, I have a ductless mini split. It needs a Coolbot to get the unit to cool to 55 degrees as they are setup for regular home A/C use. Here in NC my issue is I need to remove some humidity in the summer and use a de-humidifier. I've had active cellars in CO where I have needed to add humidity. Luck...

John S

Lonnie, Right now I have a mini split system in a 10x15 room which runs off 220V. I have had (300+ bottle) wine fridges not on a dedicated circuits and have not had issues. But those were pretty always on low use circuits. So I guess it depends. If I had two on one circuit I'd expect to be triggerin...

John S

I'm not sure of the issue with the litter box and wine storage. If it is odors then you have nothing to be worried about wine wise. A basement is an ideal place as there is ample space, wine coolers are not generally pretty things, and it is cooler down there so the work the wine cooler will have to...

John S

I think I get at least 4 bottles per cartridge with the Pungo. I do gently pull and release the trigger as instructed. I also usually pull the pungo out when I am down to my last glass and just pull the cork out and go old school.

John S

On the Pungo I have had mine for probably 5 years so I have opened maybe a thousand bottles. I do open mainly older bottles so many are 15+ years or older. So that means I do get the occasional leakage (old corks) that maybe is what Jay describes. In those few cases wine can slip up around a weak co...

John S

I have always had split systems so am of no help on the single unit and noise. I would think where you mount a single unit and the proximity to the media room is key and if it can vent outside. I will say we have a cellar with a ductless mini split system which is super quiet. The old school split s...

John S

I do not know any exact specifics here but until the PE investment wind down (IPO etc) I have zero confidence in the interim returns. They make hedge fund marks look like Treasury Bond valuations by comparison.

John S

FWIW the images of returns I saw for 1 week would never fly in any compliance group I know for sales materials. Cherry picking is the term. Illustrative is the compliant benchmark.

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