Best Possible Wine Experience for $250-$300?

WINE TALK
81

Don’t have time to read all the posts but really - the OP was asking what he should spend $300 on?

Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

You’re in Ohio. I don’t know your city, but having worked in Toledo for a while and knowing Ohio relatively well, I know for a fact that you can find someone to spend a few hours with for that kind of money.

Then buy a $20 bottle of wine and call it a night.

In other words, have an experience, not a wine.

82

The hooker and yellow tail combo aside, I would say 1989 yquem. Or a 375 of 01 yquem.

83

I guess this is a joke, but it seems a bit in poor taste, considering the nature of the initial question.

I hope Dusty will report back on his choice and the outcome.

[cheers.gif]

84

You love Pinot (domestic and Burg), she loves Zin, you both love Napa/Spring Mountain Cab. If you want to go for what you both love, Pride Mountain Reserve Cabernet should fit the bill. Choose from any number of vintages. 1995 and 1996 are drinking extremely well if properly stored (always an issue with older bottles), are in your price range, and are available from reputable retailers.

If you want to venture into Napa off Spring Mtn, I’d go with Shafer Hillside. 1994 is the best Napa Cab I’ve ever had, beating multiple other cults both blind and non-blind on several occasions, but it may be a bit above your price range. In which case the 1995 and 1996 come pretty close.

Or 1997 Yquem. To expand your horizons. And just because it’s Yquem.

85

Or…

If you want to expand your Chateauneuf experience, you might consider a 2007. They get a lot of criticism for being too ripe for many palates, but they’d make an interesting comparison to the 2010 and if you like ripe Napa Cab maybe you’ll like ripe CduP.

If you enjoy comparing and contrasting, you could get 2 bottles of top CduP in your price range. Maybe compare a 2010 to a 2007 - the 2010s are more structured with more acid and less ripeness. Or try 2 different styles, like more traditional Charvin or Vieux Donjon vs. more modern Janasse Chaupin or Usseglio Mon Aieul.

Boy it’s fun spending someone else’s money! [cheers.gif]

86

I will certainly follow-up after I find out. There is a lot to process here. @GregT, I would have had the same reaction when I first started getting into wine, but at this point I spend nearly all my free time studying, reading, and talking to other folks about wine, so I figure it is probably worth it (from an enjoyment and educational perspective) to splurge once in awhile on the upper echelons of the wine world.

I have always had the philosophy that you cannot fully appreciate wine if you only drink the cheapies or only the most expensive. My willingness to drop some cash on a bottle has slowly but surely escalated over time, but most of the wine I drink is still in the $15-$25 range. For some, buying a case of wine at $250/btl is a common enough occurrence, but I created a separate thread because it is sort of a big deal for us.

There are other things I wouldn’t pay for, regardless of the quality and availability. [snort.gif]

87

Perfect response!

88

Diversity of opinion is an indicator of community health, but, imo, the marginal return of wine quality falls off rapidly after about $50/bottle. I’m sure drinking DRC is a sublime experience, but worth $1,000 and up a glass? - I have my doubts. And with some thought, you can drink extremely well for $35 and under, in any event.

In re: Burgundy, not to beat a dead horse, I’ve read quite a few dedicated addicts write that their epiphany bottle was a good 1er, not one of the more highly-reputed GCs. Next time I splurge, I’ll be looking at a Clos St. Jacques, Les Saint Georges, Amoureux, or Caillerets from a good producer with some age. Sweet spot here should be something like $100-175, I think.

Anyway, enjoy, and congratulations.

89

I can not agree more, and donate the rest of the money to a kind of charity champagne.gif

90

1990 Beaucastel- had it this weekend…bottle we had was rockin- outstanding! Think it hits your $$ requirements

91

an interesting question matched by some equally interesting answers.

I would choose the 1986 Rauzan Segla; it really is of first growth quality (we tasted it blind against the Margaux '86, and it was by far the better wine) and will set you back around $175. With the remaining $125, I would buy the 1987 Mondavi Reserve, again drinking beautifully, and a good wine to compare to the Rauzan.

92

Bump, because I passed! I guess its decision time then. . . champagne.gif

93

Big congrats. My best friend took the exam a couple years ago and remember his relief. champagne.gif

Now, go buy something and tell us what is! [cheers.gif]

94

Congrats Dusty!!!

95

Use your $300 budget to buy as much 1992 Laurel Glen as you can:

http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/laurel+glen/1992?Xlist_format=&Xbottle_size=all&Xprice_set=CUR&Xprice_min=&Xprice_max=

Thank me later :slight_smile:

96

Yes. Just finished a beautiful 1975 Max von Othegraven Kanzemer Altenberg Auslese. I bought it a year ago and it was perfect Wednesday night. My price was $150

97

SQN Atlantis Grenache. rocked my world twice recently up against much higher priced SQNs

98

Dusty,

Just closing the loop here. What did you end up going with to celebrate?

Congrats,

Bill

99

Thanks!

Well, it didn’t quite pan out as a one night shot as I had imagined. We went out for steaks and had an 08’ Merryvale Profile off of the list that was pretty awesome, but we also popped a 97’ Williams-Selyem Olivet Lane Pinot back at home. I have my local shop on finding some d’Yquem. . . he is reliable, but not exactly quick. [head-bang.gif] I like to give him a chance before I go to the internet, but if I want it this year, I might have to go that way. All in all, we sort of busted the budget, but I got a little bit of an unexpected windfall from my boss after I got the good news. [cheers.gif]

100

Slippery slope, Dusty. When you start hiding the receipts from you wife, that’s when you know you’re over the line. :slight_smile: