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Chambourcin is the best US hybrid grape I've had wines from that are consistently palatable. Examples from IL, VA, PA, but none of those climates are as short growing season as CO. Is it as good as Cab Franc/Merlot which it is closest to? No, imo. For wine grape growing in harsh climate, freeze pro...

Chambourcin I’ve had a few versions of it in Colorado wines, Bookcliff and Whitewater Hill, and I thought they were great. It’s a French hybrid and it is cold hearty. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chambourcin The Storm Cellar also makes a nice rose’ from another hybrid, St Vincent and they are one o...

Total Beverage in Westminster used to have some of the best pricing in the state and a good selection. I haven’t been there in ages though. The best deals by far I’ve found in CO have been at shops without an up-to-date internet inventory (especially several biggish stores in Fort Collins) which me...

For grapes contact Sauvage Spectrum in Palisade. They are not only a winery, but a grower for other wineries. They provide grapes to some Denver wineries (Carboy and Infinite Monkey) so you might be able to piggyback on delivery in Fall. Heads up. The Western Slope got hit with an early freeze. The ...

Reordered from Stereophonic. Great, unique wines.

When I went in search of one, one store owner told me “nobody uses those anymore.”
I finally found one. I don’t use it often, but when you need it, you need it.

135 Old Vine Carignane
Red fruits, white pepper, red licorice with a mineral finish.
Popped and poured. Good from the start. Reminds me of a quality lighter bodied Zin like Esola from Bedrock.
Favorite OG yet. Screaming deal for $9.
Seems like a near term drinker to enjoy the delicate fruit.

135 the Carignane just hit my doorstep. May have to pop one tonight.

2012 Griffin’s Lair Syrah.
From a magnum. 80% whole cluster, 12% Viognier.
Great spot right now. Beef jerky, with a side of tapenade and a bit of blackberry syrup on top. A dollop of menthol on the finish. Great wine.
The Griffin’s have only gotten better over time.

Jordan Posell wrote: ↑February 22nd, 2021, 5:39 pm Start with Cotes du Rhones, move to Northern Rhones, then graduate to Bordeaux later.

I did the exact opposite. Started on the bold end and gravitated to the more mineral driven, Grenache based wines of southern Rhône. Wine is a journey.

Carignane, Grenache and Carmenere are all interesting wines that can be found at value pricing. I particularly enjoy Grenache. With a little digging you can find French, Spanish, US, Aussie and even old vine versions.

I have never had an issue getting credit or replacement for a corked wine. I will mark said wine as flawed on CT. It helps me track bottlings over time. One producer, who replaced every corked bottle, had an in ordinate number of 2012 vintage wines as corked.

Barry L i p t o n wrote: ↑February 20th, 2021, 2:42 pm Napoli is safer than NYC. More pickpockets but much less violent crime I believe.

Agreed. My wife and I walked all over Naples including back alleys and we never had an issue. Just be aware.

I see things like this often in the ski resort towns of Colorado. Venturing into wine shops, whose names will be kept under wraps, in summer with wines standing upright in unair-conditioned spaces. I see lots of great wines at equally “great” prices only to be snatched up by next winter’s big spende...

Oak chips in a Ct. Ste Michelle?

2018 Tatomer Riesling, kick-on ranch clone 239 geisenheim 2018 Domaine de la Cote Pinot Noir, Bloom's Field 2018 Clementine Carter Grenache, Kimsey 2018 Tyler Chardonnay, Sanford & Benedict 2019 Lieu Dit Cabernet Franc 2018 Rancho Vinedo Chardonnay, Dona Martina 2019 Story of Soil Gruner Veltli...

Even better on day 2.

Sidebar to the Lulu conversation...just found an old video on the Bedrock YouTube channel that flashed a 2008 Ode to Lulu bottle, 100% Mourvèdre. I wasn’t aware they made rose back then, does anyone know if it was ever released? Would be really cool to try one from way back then now and see if it a...

Caveat Emptor.

Hell I bet 75% of Trader Joe’s wine brands come from one maker, Bronco Wine Company.

2009 was my first Lulu.

S. Rash wrote: ↑February 16th, 2021, 8:13 pm 2018 Tercero Spear Vineyard Grenache

And... do tell.

2018 Stereophonic Wines Starblanket - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (2/16/2021) Never had a Petite Sirah/Grenache blend. Very Southern Rhône ish. Vibrant, but balanced. Black fruits, orange oil, pepper. Would buy again. Screaming deal at $25. A welcome addition to Berserker Day. Poppe...

I guess a more recent experience of mine are some of the De Negoce wines I have had. Same case, shipped all at the same time, same conditions, stored the same, opened within days of each other so time or memory isn’t a problem. I’ve had bottles tasting spot on and evolving to bottles tasting very ac...

2014 Ojai Whitehawk Syrah. Found a random bottle of this at my local wine seller...for $35. Seems like a steal. Big eucalyptus, pepper, black raspberry notes. In the Ojai style of rich and complex. Looking forward to releasing my 2014 White Hawk shortly - love that site; 100% sandy soils; lots of d...

2014 Ojai Whitehawk Syrah.
Found a random bottle of this at my local wine seller...for $35. Seems like a steal.
Big eucalyptus, pepper, black raspberry, smoke notes. In the Ojai style of rich and complex.

It’s like pornography. I can’t describe it, but I know it when I see it.

Robert.A.Jr. wrote: ↑February 16th, 2021, 11:12 am How are the Sonoma Cabs?

I had the ‘17’s and was underwhelmed. I also had a ‘13 Monticello recently and didn’t think it fit my style either. So I passed.

Had to do a major cutback with all the wine I have recently ordered.
2 Lulu
2 Carignane
2 Nervo

Lots of willpower for sure. I have at least a couple bottles still of each of the 2016-2018 OVZs in storage. And due to a fortunate miscalculation, 16 bottles of the 2019 still 😆 The ‘19 will be spectacular. The Old Vines is a favorite but the two bottles of the 19 version I’ve had are not my prefe...

The OVZ definitely benefits with a little bottle age. I just had my last 2015 and it was showing amazingly. I need to figure out how to lose a few of these in the cellar only to be discovered at some later date - 5-7 years later. Lots of willpower for sure. I have at least a couple bottles still of...

Brian S t o t t e r wrote: ↑February 15th, 2021, 4:16 pm The OVZ definitely benefits with a little bottle age. I just had my last 2015 and it was showing amazingly.

I need to figure out how to lose a few of these in the cellar only to be discovered at some later date - 5-7 years later.

2016 Old Vine Zin. I never found the secret of keeping my hands off the OVZ and my bottles are usually gone within a year or so of receipt. Today, I got lucky and found a ‘16 retail. OMG, time has really benefitted these. I was a pure delight of vibrant, earthy fruit. The store I bought it at had a ...

I got my order today. Thanks Jason!

I like the included cheat sheet for pairings and decanting advice. Wish more wineries would do this type of thing.

Au Bon Climat. Since 1982, the best Pinot few have heard of.

Interesting comments so far. The taste test pictured in the photo in my first post used for a base wine our Cab, Merlot, Petit Verdot blend, the one we went to market with and that has NO added acidity. The Tartaric made the fruit taste sweeter. Though the wine was fermented completely dry. The Citr...

Thanks for all the input on skipping a release. I don't feel nearly as bad now, but will also miss the Lulu Lulu is widely available. Winesearcher shows '16 - '20 for sale. you can always pick up a few bottles when convenient. Unless you live in a state that is difficult to ship to, I suppose. They...

2 Enz, 2 MSG and 2 Barbera

I work PT at a small winery and feel that the few minutes a week I get to spend with the winemaker are the greatest reward. Today I learned about acidity in wine, how it can improve or correct a wine and the different types of acidity that can be added or not. Malic, tartaric or citric. All are natu...

Podcasts for wineries should be SOP in today’s age of technology. Why should I search for tasting notes or pay for reviews when the winemaker can tell me the intent, history and how they feel about the final product. Genius!

A widely distributed, good quality wine for about $15 is Antinori Toscana.

Ive never had huis wines but obviously quite popular on this forum. What the style like? I see they are lower in alcohol, are they more food wines with a lot of acidity? The style is unique. I would have a hard time saying they are like anything else I have had. Hardy used the term “crackling” on a...

I’m not opposed to giving the Lulu another try. I’ve tried ‘16 - ‘18. The 18 was probably the best of the bunch if I recall correctly. I also buy it locally rather than have it shipped in. It’s $20-21 locally and when a good bottle of Tavel is on the same rack it’s hard for me to go with. Bedrock i...

Warning: stay off the podcast or you’ll end up with a mixed case at a minimum. that podcast is the best marketing idea in wine since white zin. I made the mistake of listening to the Bedrock podcast with Hardy from Dirty and Rowdy and now here I am eagerly awaiting this Friday’s D&R release too.

I must be second tier. My email says 2/12 for release date.

I bought some Bedrock Heritages this year in 375’s. Allows me to check in on the progression without opening a 750 or needing a Coravin.

I also have bought Jaffurs’ Santa Barbara County Syrahs in 375’s for nights when my wife does not want to join me in sharing a bottle.

You can buy the exact bottle/decoration on eBay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/French-Wine-Bo ... 890.l49292

Pleasantly surprised to be offered Seymour and Lorraine. First time for those.

A Good Year followed by Sideways followed by any of the Somm flicks.

I have a mag of this. Drink or hold?

john mccarty wrote: ↑February 7th, 2021, 12:37 pm Preamble Hazard?

If it is and it’s from Poor Ranch vineyard, it should be like the Princess and Peasant Carignane from Berserker Days of the past. That stuff was great.

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