Help!?

[Terry_H_a_r_r_i_s]

We’re doing a little college graduation dinner for my daughter, and the restaurant’s wines are all not familiar to me. Any suggestions from the following:

Reds:
Permutations Pinot Noir, AU 2008 $7.5 $26
Bogle Pinot Noir, California 2007 $9.5 $33
Martinborough ‘Russian Jack’ Pinot, NZ $12 $42
Eliseo Silva Merlot, Washington 2007 $7 $25
Mercedes Egurren Cabernet, Spain ’06 $8.5 $30
Solaire Cab, Central Coast, CA 2006 $9.5 $33
Hesketh ‘Protagonist’ Shiraz, AU 2005 $11 $38
Bogle Phantom Zin/Sirah, CA 2006 $11 $38
Clos La Chance Zinfandel, CA 2006 $9.5 $33
Poggio Vignoso Chianti, Tuscany 2007 $6.5 $23
Muriel Crianza Tempranillo, Spain 2004 $10 $35
Punto Final Malbec, Argentina 2008 $8 $28
Piatelli Grand Reserve Malbec, Arg ’07 $11 $38
La Crema Pinot Noir, Sonoma, CA 2007 $48
Freemark Abbey Cabernet, Napa, CA 2004 $60
Peter Lehmann ‘Mentor’ Cabernet, AU, 2004 $75
Zenato Rippassa del Valpolicello, Italy 2006 $58
Tritium Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain 2004 $75
Byron Bien Nacido Pinot Noir, Santa Barb, 2006 $70
Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir, Monterey, CA 2007 $140

Whites:
Via Lattea Moscato D’Asti, Italy ’08 $8 $28
Moon Mountain Chard, Sonoma CA ‘06 $7 $25
Carmel Road Chard, Monterey, CA $9.5 $33
Sonoma Cutrer ‘RRR’ Chard, CA 2007 $12 $42
Gundlach Bund Gewurztraminer, CA ’08 $12 $42
Rudolf Muller Riesling, Germany 2008 $8.5 $30
The Crossings Sauv Blanc, New Zeal 2008 $9.5 $33
Nobilo Icon Sauv Blanc, New Zealand ’08 $12 $42
Caposaldo Pinot Grigio, Italy 2008 $7.5 $26
Senorio de Cruces Albarino, Spain 2007 $7.5 $26
Pazo, Treixadura, Ribeiro, Spain 2008 $7 $25

Thanks, folks!

[Cris_Whetstone]

Very aggressive pricing on the few I know. Do they offer corkage?

[Jorge_Henriquez]

Terry,

A little more info would be helpful. For reds you’ve posted bottles ranging from $26 to $140. Are you saying anything’s game from that group? How many bottles?

Of the whites, the ONLY one that caught my eye was the G-B Gewurzt. All others are pretty blah in my opinion.

[David_Moore]

Ouch. Lists like this steer me to beer.

[Frank_Deis]

Right, Terry, the price multiplier for wines I know seems to be about three, which is high.

For reds, the Bogle line is pretty acceptable.

I think that in your place 1) I would just want to escape without completely emptying my wallet and 2) I would give up on any pretentious attempts to pick a really special wine, especially since a dinner with family is likely to include people who won’t appreciate the special wine anyway.

So I would figure that if they are charging so much for the wines, they must be tasting them as they buy, which means you can’t go very far wrong with ANYTHING on the list and you can just select from the cheapest selections and look like a hero when the waiter opens it and everyone finds that they like it.

Corkage sounds like a great alternative but my guess is that’s going to be a tough sell for a restaurant with that list.

[Chad_Richardson]

Given those choices, for a red I think the Bogle Phanton is a fairly decent option and its mark-up doesn’t appear quite as outrageous as others. On the white side, the mark-up is pretty high, but The Crossings SB is fairly dependable.

[Loren_Sonkin]

If I was really comitted, I would go for the Bogle Phantom. High pricing for sure.

[Paul_Jaouen]

Beer

[Frank_Deis]

Serge, my suspicion is that they are making way more profit from selling wine than selling food.

So there will be some “reason” why they can’t allow corkage…

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

@Frank Deis

I think that in your place 1) I would just want to escape without completely emptying my wallet and 2) I would give up on any pretentious attempts to pick a really special wine, especially since a dinner with family is likely to include people who won’t appreciate the special wine anyway.

.

+1. in your situation I would chance it with the ‘04 Muriel Crianza for $35, even though I am completely unfamiliar with that wine. It’s probably not “bad,” and could be very good.

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

that Permutations Pinot Noir is made by R Wines, and actually has some good reviews on CT. 2008 R Wines Pinot Noir Permutations, Australia, Victoria - CellarTracker Only 13.5% alc., according to at least one TN, and it’s one of the cheapest ones on the list. I’d actually go for that one.

[Terry_H_a_r_r_i_s]

@Jorge Henriquez

Terry,

A little more info would be helpful. For reds you’ve posted bottles ranging from $26 to $140. Are you saying anything’s game from that group? How many bottles?

Of the whites, the ONLY one that caught my eye was the G-B Gewurzt. All others are pretty blah in my opinion.

Sorry about that, Jorge. I posted everything simply because I’ve not had a single wine from that list and thus was clueless. Of course I would love to go with a less expensive choice. I’m not toooooooo concerned about the volume simply because when it comes to extended family I expect some fairly light drinking. Now, as for my daughter’s friends that will be there - that’s another story entirely.

I am glad that some of you view the Bogle to be decent. Also, if all else failed I was thinking of going blind with that ‘04 Muriel Crianza, as Frank suggests. Again, thanks for the help here, folks!!

[Terry_H_a_r_r_i_s]

@Brian G r a f s t r o m

that Permutations Pinot Noir is made by R Wines, and actually has some good reviews on CT. 2008 R Wines Pinot Noir Permutations, Australia, Victoria - CellarTracker Only 13.5% alc., according to at least one TN, and it’s one of the cheapest ones on the list. I’d actually go for that one.

Thanks for that heads up, Brian. Will keep an eye on that one also!

[Frank_Deis]

There is a book about the restaurant Daniel in NYC called “The Fourth Star” – made a good read. The wine manager is very up front about pricing, he takes what he paid and multiplies by 3.5. You are getting good wine but you are paying (through the nose) for ambience and status and the food of a great chef (Boulud). And places like that WILL generally have a corkage policy, at a high price, partly because they are making a similar mark-up over the food, they are going to get their money one way or another…

At “zero star” restaurants I hope for pricing that is closer to 2:1. That’s not always what you find though.

[Ken_V]

I don’t know most of what is on there, but I like Bogle Phantom and Zenato Rippasa. Both are relatively big reds.

[Juhani_Mattila]

Hello Terry! Only one from there I tried is Mercedes Eguren. But 8,5 dollars sounds like normal price for it - for whole bottle! I think it is good wine, but basic. It is rich, smooth Spanish wine (I think from Heredad Ugarte, but not from Rioja?) with not too much oak though is rich. I like it for cheap, basic wine.

[Peter_Tryba]

Terry
There are a few wines on that list I have not tasted, one of them is Poggio Vignoso (wth is that?).

If corkage is not available or is greater than $15/bottle then I have some suggestions for you:

(Since you haven’t detailed the menu choices I’m flying blind here)
For a great value I’ll second the Permutations Pinot and would select the PAZO Ribeiro.

Unless you’re eating outlandish cuisine, both wines should be versatile (and inexpensive) enough for a party.

[p_conway]

I’ve been impressed by the Nobilo Icon the few times I’ve had it. Might be a good option if you need a crisp white. It seemed to have a bit more complexity than your basic NZ sauvignon blanc and the markup isn’t horrible (a little more than 2x). Good luck!

[Ed_Bernasky]

College grad party? A couple mags of bubbly and a keg.

Otherwise, different venue?

[Terry_H_a_r_r_i_s]

You guys are fantastic! Thanks again for the help!!

Ed, wasn’t that Ringneck in your avatar photo roosting on the rail of your deck (or something similar?). Great pic!