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Another vote for the Forman and Dunn Howell Mountain.

Ed

I saw this in the SF Chronicle this morning and also saw it online. I know this is a popular dish with many on the Board. Cheers!

Ed

https://www.sfgate.com/recipes/article/ ... c04fbfffcc

We have been buying from Ridge, Rafanelli, Carlisle and Turley for at least 15 years, if not more. Ridge is for the Monte Bello futures primarily, and to receive an occasional discount on other wine, while the others are to be able to secure allocations that are difficult to find at retail. An added...

For those of you in the East Bay, the Danville Draeger's is now carrying Pliny and the rest of the RRBC beer portfolio. Picked up a Pliny and a Blind Pig last night and had the Pliny while watching the Warriors-Lakers game.

Ed

I do not have a lot of experience with Chateau Palmer, but a bottle of the 1990 a few years ago was one of the best bottles of Bordeaux I have had. It was truly exceptional.

Ed

Frank, we bought a six-pack of the 2016's. We tried our first one a few weeks ago, and these also stay true to form. Lots of dark chocolate and red fruits on the profile. We are going to probably have one a year going forward. Cheers!

Ed

Mark Golodetz wrote: I also think his website is a wonderful resource, and does not get the appreciation it deserves. I agree 100% with this. Jeff's website has an abundance of information about Bordeaux and it is a nice resource, especially considering that there is currently no charge to access i...

We had the 2001 Gruard Larose last year and it was excellent and not quite at its peak. I would not hesitate to open it. Enjoy your wife's birthday!

+1 on the 2014 de Landaris. We bought two cases for less than $15 per bottle. Coufran is a good value for around $20, and if you go up to $25, the 2015 Lilian Ladouys is excellent.

Ed

I went to the Danville Costco this weekend and they had a few magnums of 2010 Valdicava for $219.97.

Nick F wrote:
Which are your go to domestic, Shramsberg?

My domestic pick is Roederer Brut for around $20. It is always a crowd-pleaser.

Ed

I have not had either in the last 2-3 years, but always thought the 1994 would have a longer drinking window than the 1993. Both were excellent every time we had them. Enjoy!

Ed

Neal.Mollen wrote:
Too late baby now, it's too late

I agree the 2014 GPL is going to be a great wine one of these days, based on what we tasted at the UGC 2 years ago. BTW, nice Carole King reference.

Ed

Red: Ridge
White: Mount Eden

1996 Dom Perignon to celebrate my wife's birthday.

Rory K wrote: Given how few of my family now drink, my list is for the whole holiday week, Dagueneau Silex 2014 Big Table Farm Chardonnay 2016 Melville Sandy's Pinot Noir 2015 Arcadian Pisoni Pinot Noir 2005 A. Rafanelli Cabernet 2012 Silver Oak Napa Cabernet 2006 Diznoko 5 Puttonyos Tokaji 2008 We...

Pat Martin wrote:
97 Monty better than the awesome 91?

For my palate, the '91 is a little better than the '97. I put the '87, '94 and '97 just under the '91 from the bottles that I have had. But I would not turn down a taste of any of them!

Ed

Thanks for the notes, Jim. The '97 Montelena is one of my favorite California Cabs. I have never had a bottle that was less than outstanding.

Ed

In the Danville store the 2016 Sette Ponti Oreno is in stock for $55.89. There were about a dozen of them on Sunday when I was there. There were also magnums of 2012 Smith Haut Lafitte for $130.

Ed

I have only gone to the San Francisco tastings, and I would highly recommend. The biggest risk of arriving late is missing out on some wine. We have been to several in San Francisco and have enjoyed them all.

Ed

Based on what we have in the cellar, and excluding the Firsts:

Pichon Lalande
Pichon Baron
Domaine de Chavalier
Pontet Canet
Haut Bailly
GPL
Cos
Leoville Barton
Lynch Bages
Ducru

We have been fortunate to have bought most of these several years ago.

Ed

A couple of others that have not been mentioned are the Vintner's Collective on Main St. and Clinton, and Oxbow Wine Merchant on 1st Street has wines and beers to taste. Not sure of the hours of each.

Ed

David Glasser wrote:
Wonderful report Blake. I have a few of these wines and really enjoy your perspective.

+1. I always enjoy your notes, pictures and enthusiasm, Blake. Thanks for posting!

Ed

Ridge is currently pouring the 2015 at their tasting room up at Lytton Springs. We were in the area this weekend and tried it again. Definitely a 'wow' wine and one that I am confident that will be drinking well in 20+ years.

Ed

H Bongiovi wrote:
dark and spicy with an Old World charm, kind of like a Sicilian grandmother; a real treat

Love that. That is exactly the way our son and daughter would describe my mother's pasta! Great notes and love reading your notes, Henry.

Cheers,
Ed

A few thoughts..... 1. Champagne. Moving more in that direction. My wife likes having splits in the house, in case someone wants to have a glass before red wine. We do not have too many 750's of champagne but are moving to increase that percentage. 2. Cellar space. +/- 600 bottles and holding. No pl...

Thanks for the note. I am looking forward to trying the 2016 vintage. We have a few remaining of each vintage going back to 2013, and I agree with Peter that they do get better with a few years of age.

Ed

If you are choosing one Pichon, I would say the '89 over the '86. I had them both earlier this year, and the '89 was the clear winner to me and the others in the group. Given those choices, I would choose this with another '89 for comparison. Have fun and enjoy the dinner!

Ed

I went to a friend's birthday party last summer in St. George, Utah. He has been good friends with Dick Steltzner for many years, and had a 15-litre bottle of their 1997 Cabernet opened for the party. The cork took half an hour to take out, and another friend built a wooden cradle to help with the p...

Mark Y wrote: Was this a ticketed event? Or open to all customers?? If ticketed how much was the entrance fee? Mark, this was a ticketed event, and limited to 50 in each of the stores. I believe that the tickets were $75. They host a 'grand' tasting late in the year, usually one for Bordeaux, one f...

Here are some short notes from a tasting that K&L hosted in San Francisco earlier this month. All of the wines were decanted for 2-3 hours, and every wine showed well. My favorites were the 2015 d'Yquem, the 2005 Cos, and then the trio of 2015's. The 2015 d'Yquem is a special wine. We also tasted a ...

A few that I would recommend from Bordeaux would be Grand Puy Lacoste, Domaine de Chevalier, Beau Sejour Becot and Coutet. I tried all of them at the UGC tasting early last year and enjoyed them.

Ed

We enjoy Tito's. A good vodka and an even better price! However, I would not turn down Grey Goose, Belvedere, Chopin or Ketel One if it was offered.

Thanks,
Ed

Nice note, Steven. We went long on both the '94 and '97 Montelena Estate, as they are birth-year wines in our family. We opened a '97 several weeks ago and it was stunning, with years of life ahead. One of the best of the decade from Montelena, in my opinion.

Thanks,
Ed

C. Mc Cart wrote: Drink the birth year wines WITH your children, don't just give it to them. I bought a bunch of 2000 & 2002 wines for the kids, assuming I would give them a cellar starter someday (1st home, wedding, 1st career job, etc), but I'm pretty sure the idea of pulling bottles for dinners ...

There are a lot of reds that have been mentioned that I cellar. Ridge MB, Forman, Dunn, Beringer, Montelena, to name a few. I know you did not specifically mention red or white wine, Alan, but you can buy 2 bottles of Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay within that price range. IMO, they are among the lead...

Howard Cooper wrote: Togni - 1991 and 1994 Ridge - 1984, 1991, 1996, 1999 Montelena - 1978, 1985, 1991, 1994, 1996 I agree that these are great choices. I would also say the majority of these are going to be north of your $200 price maximum. If you can find them for under $200, assuming good storag...

Neal.Mollen wrote: Setting aside the geography issues, did someone do a Monte Bello retrospective? If so, who wrote it? Yes, William wrote a retrospective that was mainly Monte Bello, and also had some Monte Bello Chardonnay as well as Jimsomare Zinfandel. The oldest red Monte Bello was from 1964. ...

From Esther Mobley in the SF Chronicle.

https://www.sfgate.com/wine/article/Nap ... fa34c34e4a

Ed

2016 Sestadisopra Toscana. For $16 this is an excellent value.

Thanks,
Ed

There are a lot of good choices so far. For California Sparkling wine, I would nominate the Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut for around $20.

Thanks,
Ed

We also bought a lot of 1997 Montelena, since it is a birth year wine for our daughter. No bottle variation. All have been excellent. I have had bottle variation with the 2001 and with the 1985, especially half bottles of the 2001.

Thanks,
Ed

There have been a few from the Hayne Vineyard, to add to the others mentioned.

Thanks,
Ed

Michael, you are preaching to the choir regarding Forman wines. I have not had the 2016, but I have enjoyed a number of his previous vintages of Chardonnay. Glad you enjoyed it, and I will definitely try this vintage.

Thanks,
Ed

Either a 2005 Mount Eden Estate or a 2004 Ridge Monte Bello. Both were outstanding.

Thanks,
Ed

I agree that it is vintage specific. I usually prefer the Climens, but also enjoy Rieussec. The Coutet is usually where I find the most value relative to quality.

Thanks,
Ed

We really enjoy Beau Sejour Becot. The 2014 and 2015 are both very good. These will be at the top of your price range. At the lower end of the price range, I would recommend Haut Brisson and Tour St.-Christophe, if you are looking for a modern style.

Thanks,
Ed

Love those Old Forman Cab's. We had a bottle of the 1987 Cab a few months ago and it was still going strong, with a very similar profile to your bottle of the 1986, Frank. Cheers!

Thanks,
Ed

Scott E wrote:
K&L still has 375's of Roederer Estate for $12 or half the price of a 750.

+1 for this one. This is a perfect size for the summer. We also buy half bottles of the Bonville Grand Cru Blanc de Blanc for $19 and the Brut Rose' for $22.

Thanks,
Ed

If the '16 Carlisle Vineyard is as good as the '15 is, then we will be happy campers here. We opened a bottle of the '15 over the Holidays last December for my wife's sisters and Brother-in-laws, and it was gone within an hour. I am also a big fan of The Derivative, especially during summer. Thanks,...

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