Standards definitely rising, but often with a challenge that the price is a little ahead of what I’d see as value. Litmus Element 20 is the most impressive English table wine I’d drunk, and it did age comfortably for 5-6 years with no signs of decline. I’d definitely recommend it.
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Krug MV unfortunately for us was clearly more interesting than any of the other NV big house bubbly, so for a while we’d grab the odd bottle, cursing the price, but enjoying the wine. I hope you do enjoy it if you try it.
Been dry?
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In the original edition of Wine for Dummies, the authors (two very well respected wine professionals, including an MW if I am not mistaken) wrote: “We feel sorry for those who have never tried Krug. We feel worse for those who have.”
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Aptly named, for serving as the test of whether there is good still wine being made in England.
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This store can help you Czech that item off your to-do list.
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I have one from Bosnia in my cellar. Does that count?
Brian,
If that’s an offer, thanks, but I’ve had Bosnian wine. Czechia is a good 300 miles away, a lot further north, I’m thinking cool almost marginal climate, so I’ll order one up. Although $36 for an unknown Pinot Blanc seems a little steep.
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You are getting former Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia mixed up there 
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Geography/(spelling) is not my string suit. (Edit: nor strong suit)
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That gave me mental images I truly did not wish to have.
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Hi Dan!
Massandra can be anything from marvellous (certain wines pre 1919) to very good (1919-1945) to unenjoyable (I never had a wine post 1960 I have liked not even to think about sipping a second time).
I have drunk quite a few and have about 100 in my cellar, but only from time span 1890 until 1945; post WWII is to be forgotten. The historically most interesting and IMHO best were made under the Czar Regime (until 1918) and by their cellar master Prince Golitzin (until 1915). Seek out especially those bottles with the Czars glass seal, as those were the top of the crop selections for the Czars (and yes, I know, those are VERY scarce).
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That’s sad! While the 1977 Ayu-Dag wasn’t at the level of its 1940 and 1933 counterparts, it was still a fantastic wine in its own right and one damn fine fortified wine.
The old Massandras are easily some of the best fortified wines I’ve ever tasted, but even if the more recent iterations are nowhere near the glorious old vintages, they’ve still been fine and delicious wines. Especially when one takes into account that they cost something like 10-20€ when they were still available!
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Thank you Andy! And Otto too.
Scratching this itch is high on my ‘to-do’ list for next year.
Hi Dan!
Any update to this? Already tried a Massandra?
Cheers
I would love to try an SE - but needs to be blind with a bunch of other high end Cali Cabs. The only way to get rid of label bias.
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Are you worried you’d be biased favorably or unfavorably by knowing what it is?
I am not a hater - so my fear is I would want to like it. Blind tastings are always my favorites. Very humbling as well as educational.
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I hear you.
Though $3k bottle one time in your life — if it were me, I’d happily let myself love it nonblind and even if that includes some positive label bias.
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