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

This seems like a good place to announce that in the last year I’ve fallen in love with Picpoul. Had a bunch - so nice and pleasing and crazy cheap. Oh, and this wine sounds fantastic. Yup, Jason..the Picpoul contributes mostly to the structure and mouthfeel, but the aromatics speak mostly of GB/Ro...

Shared the ‘14 English Hill Chardonnay at dinner with another couple. Excellent! The 4 of us are looking forward to our visit with Kurt in a few weeks Jeff, we’re looking forward to hosting you in a couple weeks! Timing is perfect as I hope to have 90% of wines in barrel by then. Best to you! 🍷 Kur...

Wow, Blake...looks like a great celebration.
Fred doesn’t get the credit he deserves for showing the great Bdx-like Cab could be grown in SBC after those miserable Cabs from Brooks Firestone and LouisLucas/Tepesquet.

Wow, Tom... great notes from what looks to be a great tasting. Thanks for sharing them. Too bad Thomas didn’t include the Guisti Visciola. Great cherry wine. Tom Thanks Tom, it was one heck of a tasting. For sure you would have enjoyed it. Love Le Marche and the diversity of grapes grown there. Did...

Wow, Tom... great notes from what looks to be a great tasting. Thanks for sharing them.
Too bad Thomas didn’t include the Guisti Visciola. Great cherry wine.
Tom

Mel Knox wrote: ↑
October 10th, 2019, 8:15 am
Tom
Have you tried Vicodin and Single malt??

Nope, Mel. Don’t think I wanna go there...sounds pretty lethal.
Tom

blahblah The man has pretty tough standards. I followed up on a sample bottle of viognier that I'd left for him to try, and he told me, by way of rejection, that the only varietally correct viognier he'd ever had was a 1963 Ch. Grillet. He's someone whose opinion I take seriously, and placing someth...

Brian Girard wrote: ↑
October 9th, 2019, 4:50 pm
Thanks Tom! I'll do that!

Well, Brian...tell him you like the same wines as TomHill. You’ll get some really weird $hit!!
Tom

Brian, I would avoid Darrell at all costs unless you have a lot of money to spend. He is hard to resist. But if you do meet him, make sure he talks you into some of our Uvaggio wines. He is our best customer. Tom, What happened...get stabbed in the knee with a saber?? Nope, Mel. Knee replacement su...

Fortunate enough to live 5 minutes away from Corti Bros. There is always something interesting in the wine department. How many grocery stores stock Sandlands and have Tempier rose sitting on the shelf? I can't even walk in to buy coffee without grabbing a bottle of something interesting. I have ne...

While Tom Hill recuperates from knee surgery, I guess someone else has to step in and post some of these [snort.gif] If you're already familiar with Darrell, this will be a fun article to read as, to me, it captures his personality well. For those of you not familiar with this gem of a man, it's a ...

John Glas wrote: ↑
October 7th, 2019, 2:54 pm

Their Syrah X-Block is the one to buy.
Tom
The one I had my eye on. What is it similar to from Cali?

Well, John....probably the Qupe X-Block or Hillside Reserve. Maybe a bit simpler than those.
Tom

Jim Stewart wrote: ↑
October 5th, 2019, 10:22 am
Tom, have you been talking to Otto?

No, Jim...but I follow Otto religiously and learn a lot from him.
Tom

etomasi wrote: ↑
October 5th, 2019, 9:38 am
Thanks for this post. Love hearing about these types of unusual white wines!

My pleasure, Eric. I love exploring off-beat grapes and places.
Tom

Right there with ya Tom. Fun back story on why I bought these - my better half who mainly rides my coat tales on the wines we drink, was adamant that I get her some Foradori. I did a quick double take as these are squarely in the wine nerds domain, where did she get this intel from? There is a show...

2016 Foradori Sgarzon Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT - Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT (10/5/2019) Decanted 6 hrs. The first thing that jumped out to me was the contrast between the dark, intense looking deep red ‘ to the actual palate impact - it was light, almost buoyant, very ...

We tasted last night (10/2/19) Some New Whites: 1. NewClairvaux Moschofilero St.James Block Vina/TehamaCnty (Trappist made; www.NewClairvauxVineyard.com) AimeeSunseri/Vina 2016 : Med.light yellow color; quite fragrant floral/carnations/Mosch light chalky quite pretty nose; rather tart/tangy/bit grap...

Good sale prices, but I was honestly surprised at the regular non-sale prices they showed. Did people actually pay that much for Bonny Doon or did they inflate it to make the sale look better? Nope...those were the original asking prices. Which is why they have inventory to unload. Actually, $60 fo...

The wnry in question is none of our friggin' business. So don't ask Steve to name names!! OK?? Tom It’s always a bit tricky. People ask questions which have damning consequences, but expressing curiosity is impolite? I sense you know more than you are letting on, and are trying to protect said wine...

YLee wrote: ↑
October 4th, 2019, 3:54 pm

Mich@el Ch@ng wrote: ↑
October 4th, 2019, 2:56 pm
It’s $20 a case for shipping.
I got quote of $30 Something for only 3 half bottles.

Nope... when you order on-line...it computes a shipping charge. But the $20 is what actually appears on the invoice. At least for me it was.
Tom

Case for me as well. X-Block Syrahs & Semillons for Susan.
Tom

Pretty insane pricing on some really good stuff. Ostensibly an inventory clearance. This is pretty much a can't-miss scenario IMO. https://shop.bonnydoonvineyard.com/Shop Wow, Nate...some pretty incredible prices there. Good opportunity to pick up some mags at a great price. Their Syrah X-Block is ...

The wnry in question is none of our friggin' business. So don't ask Steve to name names!! OK??
Tom

Interested in participating, haven't participated before. Also very interested to read up on the history of CO wine. I lived in Denver several years ago and never heard of CO wine! Where can i buy CO wine? Am in Vail every Xmas for weeks, passing through Denver. Would love to get a few bottles to s...

Kyle Schlachter wrote: ↑
October 3rd, 2019, 1:30 pm
Didn't you take the Syrah and Teroldego last year? I'm sensing a theme...

Yup....I did, Kyle. I'm particularly interested in the Nebb because of the NEB group I run. I believe this is the first CO Nebb??
I'm adding RedFox to me NEB e-mail list.
Tom

I have resisted reading this thread until just now. When it kept surfacing near the top, I decided to see why it was getting attention. Tom, you know I love you man. I don't mind the topic. I just hate the thread title. I buy German cars-the "worst" in fact, VW's. I love German wine. There is no su...

Shall we give this a go once again this year? I'm in the process of receiving the 2019 winners and then I will ship to various wine media and now it's time for Berserkers to get a crack at the wines [berserker.gif] . What I am proposing again is sending seven of you a few bottles of CO wine so you ...

Tom, great notes from what sounds like a great tasting ! I'm a bit shocked at how the 2007 MB showed, though. It's been about 2 years, but the last one I drank was very primary and youthful, with what seemed to be years of life ahead of it. Any thoughts on if this bottle was representative ? Don’t ...

We had Sat night (9/28/19) a Ridge Dinner w/ Marilyn Reisen & David Amadia: 1. Ridge GrenacheBlanc AdelaidaVnyd/PasoRobles (75% GB/15% Picpoul/10% Rouss; 14.0%; bttld: May 2019; Drk: 3/19-3/24-3/25: EB) 2018 : Med.light gold color; fairly strong honeysuckle/floral/GB light vanilla/ oak quite fragran...

Tried this last night: 1. Forlorn-Hope CheninBlanc RorickVnyd/CalaverasCnty (12.2%; 207 cs) Murphys 2016 : Light gold color; quite fragrant CB/pear/floral/gardenias light chalky/perfumed talc quite attractive nose; rather tart/tangy/chalky/flinty/slight metallic rather pear/CB/floral slight earthy/p...

“It’s sort of Burgundian, but also sort of different, and it’s completely compelling." Jamie Goode „Wenn Du es gut machen willst, musst Du alle Besseren kennen – und getrunken haben.“ Gantenbein "Wir lieben die Mineralität grosser Chablis, die fruchtige, schmelzige Kraft weisser Burgunder und unser...

Should be more about drug addiction and homelessness than being a sommelier and homeless. Sad that addiction takes down talented people. Thanks for sharing article, sad story. Yes, it's mostly a story about addiction. The somm part is relevant except for helping to accentuate how far he's fallen . ...

Larry: This appears to be a UK publication; lots of stuff on Meghan Markle....as if I cared. The author probably hasn't been to the Central Coast; he should attend Hospice du Rhone and check out the other producers. Tablas is an easy one; beyond them you have to do a little investigating. I had a n...

An interesting article about some of my favorite varieties to work with and to drink, including roussanne and marsanne. My only bone to pick is the lack of knowledge on this writer's part about those producing these wonderful varieties on the 'Central Coast'. He rightfully mentions Tablas Creek, bu...

We had MarilynReisen/Ridge & Rob Savoie over for a simple dinner of SaladNicoise: 1. Kabaj Rebula GoriskaBrda/Slovenia (13%; www.Kabaj.Si; BlackLambSlctns; 30 days skin contact; 24 mo in oak barrels) 2015 : Med.dark gold color; very strong phenolic/resiny/skin-contact some white pepper/RG some earth...

Brian G r a f s t r o m wrote: ↑
September 30th, 2019, 10:03 am
One of my all-time favorite Zins, made by Dover Canyon, featured grapes from Beni's vineyard.

Wonderful commemoration, Tom.
Thank you for posting.

Yup, Brian. Dan was one of the few, other than Ridge, that had access to Beni’s fruit.
Tom

At our Ridge dinner last night at Pig+Fig, I learned from Ridge Prez, David Amadia, that Benito Dusi died 2 months ago, at age 86. He was farming his vnyd right up to the very end.https://www.legacy.com/amp/obituaries/sanluisobispo/193482725 Dusi Ranch was made famous in the early ‘70’s when DaveBen...

Nice notes, Tom. Agree on the GWT being the highlight of the night.
But I was not the guest of honor, though. I had to pay like everyone else!!
Glad you made it back. Trust Vienna was good?
Tom

Really great recs, Otto. Couldn’t agree more on Sandi Skerk.
Tom

The new DryCreekVnyd CheninBlanc I tried last night: 1. DryCreekVnyd CheninBlanc Clarksburg (13.0%; Hrvstd: 10/6-10/11; Frmtn: SS; TA: 0.63 gm/100 ml; SaH: 21.4Brix; RS: 0.4%) 2018 : Pale yellow color; quite fragrant bright/pear/CB slight earthy/metallic slight plastic/new car/vinyl quite pleasant n...

Probably not many of you ever met Fran Bennion, wife of DaveBennion, founding partner and original winemaker at Ridge. I had breakfast this morning with Marilyn Reisen (widow of DonReisen) and she related that Fran had died several months ago. After Dave died, she remarried and moved down off MonteB...

Thanks, Gerhard. I was hoping you’d offer up your thoughts.
I agree with you that it’s not a big deal. Let the winemakers continue to use Zweigelt and those who choose to change use Rotburger.
Tom

Well said, Robert. Totally agree. It’s a personal decision.
Tom

My grandparents were survivors of the Holocaust; their children, spouses, siblings and parents were not. Growing up, I was told by family members and teachers to boycott German products. Following the Holocaust, Germany paid reparations to survivors and today, Germany is a friend of Israel and seem...

Tom, I agree with your general sentiments and I collect many of those labels that you named. I guess what I'm wondering more specifically is 2 things: 1. Does this patch of dirt (James Berry Vineyard) produce wines that don't gain much complexity, but merely soften and focus as they age? 2. Do Carl...

Just saw a mention of this Wnry in my new W&S magazine. www.MethodSauvage.com Started by ChadHinds up in SyskiouCnty, the focus is on Alpine style wines, made from high-altitude grapes. Anybody had any of Chad’s wine...as in “followed him from the very start”?? Looks like an interesting effort. But ...

Don't destroy history. Use it to teach lessons, both the bad and the good. Right next to that memorial to Lee should be extensive information discussing all of the negative repercussions of his actions. Those who fail to LEARN from history are doomed to repeat it. Couldn’t agree more. Which is why ...

Very interesting article in Grape Collective on Zweigelt wine from Austria: Zweigelt Back in the early '30, Dr.Fritz Zweigelt headed the research institute at Kloster Neuburger, tasked to develop new grape varieties particularly suited to Austria. He developed a Blaufrankisch X St.Laurent cross that...

As someone who is sitting on several vintages of this wine I have a question for the group. With the sentiment so far being that the wines don't gain complexity, but simply soften I would be curious how those of you who have experience with Saxum (or any other winemaker they've sold fruit to) from ...

Tom - I quit buying the syrah's and only buy Mike's zins. I have consumed the majority of my 2006-2008 syrah's and have found that the wines (for my taste) do not develop any complexity. The tannins and fruit just seem to get softer with age. They are well made wines, but the just don't do it for m...

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