I got thrown off the list for flipping
should make for a popular berserkerdays offering, I’m in.
Do they still put serial numbers on the bottles?
Fine wine has ceased being an elegant beverage to drink with a great dinner. It has become a glittering trophy. Could any rational person, even an absurdly wealthy one, drink a $2 bottle of wine with a clear conscience? That’s $.33 per six-ounce glass. Not even I, in my craziest wine phase, would ever go that far.
Actually, it’s closer to $.50 per six-ounce glass, which makes it even more outrageous. It’s just fermented grape juice, ferchrissakes! I wish I’d done this math long ago. I can’t afford this wine. Who am I kidding?
Anyone in for a tasting thread in anticipation of the upcoming release?
I think I’m going to open a Merlot for the occasion – I’ve been cellaring it since last week.
Tom, you should try their vermin-tino. Very underrated.
This thread made my day.
Well yea, Roy! As the Charles Shaw winemaker you should be proud of you work
My father in law has been on the lsit for years, he gets access to the reserve wines, I’ll get some of his.
Well look who married well!!
This thread is a greatest hits of the past year on Wine Berserkers. While a first time visitor may not know what the hell is going on, I haven’t stopped laughing reading it. Awesome.
Hey, that stuff was good back in the day! 3L handles of Hearty Burg (Almaden, Monterey Penninsula) was the staple at our house in the early 70’s! And I was never sick in the morning!
To the entire Wineberserker Community:
The past week has seen some serious shakeup in the world of fine wine and the internet bulletin boards that dedicate so much time and effort into discussing that thing which we all love. Charles Shaw is being released finally. For me forty nickles, as I like to call it, is a relatively new interest…ten years or so. Chuck, along with food, has become the focus and passion in my life for the past two years. Over that time, I have learned so much, discovered crazy things and met new people that no other wine would have afforded me.
Now, it seems, as though the passion has become an obsession…which I think is turning into a negative aspect of my life. Concern over drinking all the flavors has taken center stage during my waking hours. Questioning why such a small thing as how much Charlie one is allocated should not cause anyone any grief, ever. And, I have done just that…as have several others here I suppose. The world of Chuck should be about enjoyment, learning and community. I feel like I, along with others, am losing sight of this concept. I have taken things way too personally in regard to what transpires on the Mailing list. Mr. Shaw, with the blessing of Robert Parker, has created the environment that now exists there…one where wine is being brought back to the old, the wealthy and those that have no vision for change.
That brings me to MY drinking. First and foremost, thank to Todd French for taking the initiative to give us some Chuck with his own funds, time, effort and headache….BRAVO! He has afforded all of us the opportunity to have a new passion where open and honest thoughts on the wines are not only accepted, but encouraged. In the past week, membership has swelled to include people from all over the world. This is due in no small part to the shakeup of The Wine Advocate wine review methodology and banishment of key drinkers on the Squires Board. In regard to those two key issues…at some point we as a collective must let them go. In order to survive and thrive, we must stop engaging in the bashing of RMP, Mark Squires and his moderators as well as those that hold contrary views and opinions to those that we either have as individuals or a group. It really is not a case of them vs. us or vice versa. The world is more than large enough to accommodate more than one wine…seriously. Everyone here should be encouraged to drink as many or as few wines as they personally feel necessary. Sharing our knowledge and passion about Charles Shaw wines is why we are here. Why shouldn’t we tell as many people as possible?
Now, back to the obsession I mentioned previously. I think lots of folks here, me included, have crossed over the line more than once. We take/took things very personally from people we have never met. I don’t want things to get that way here. We need to foster an environment where any member can state their case and have no fear of being beaten up by an individual or clique for drinking yellow tail.
I have made the decision that too much of my time and effort is focused on things that I cannot and do not have the ability to change. It is affecting my personal life and well being. I need some time away from Chucky for now…as much as that pains me to think about. But, unfortunately the past week has revealed to me just how much I am ingrained in all of this. I wish 2BC continued growth and success as well the renewal of vision for the Critter wines.
I hope I get the mags I wishlisted … 2012 is my son’s birthyear, and I want to have some nice wine to give him when he turns 21.
Sure, but only if you remember to open the bottle with your Code 38 Pro.
I’ll hold off until it is rated out of the bottle. The ratings from the tank are undependable.
P Hickner
I was on their special club list. They promise you special reserve library wines unattainable anywhere else. I saw them at TJ’s a few months later for less. I am done with this winery.
Big Boy just put up for auction a rare 6L of the Charles Shaw 1929 Sparkling Wine!!