List your "Super* Wines" here

[Peter_Petersen]

All of the Burgundies I have been drinking the last two weeks!

[M_Dildine]

@Howard Cooper

@M. Dildine

@Mark Golodetz

As it looks as if you are promoting a certain kind of wine, and then misusing the word “perfect” to describe them, I thought I should point it out.

Now I’m curious. It was an open ended question and I presented a fairly specific definition of the word “perfect” for the purpose of the thread.

What “certain kind of wine” do you suspect I’m “promoting”?

Large production California wines.

Ohhh Howard, you’ve discovered my secret … I’m on the take from the “Large Production California Wine Lobby.”

[M_Dildine]

@Robert Alfert

Mike -

You are such a dang shill, your criteria impels us to list California wines, of course!

Here is my stab:

Ridge Geyserville and Lytton Springs - IMHO, probably meets your criteria better than any other wine I can think of, especially given your last factor.

Weighing that last factor a little lower, cause really, who cares if non-geeks like it , and I say:

Chateau Thivin Cotes de Brouilly - A meatier, more rustic style of Beaujolias, which I prefer
Baudry Les Grezaux - Just pure, classic Chinon for all of $25 or so (A few years back I would have picked Joguet, but they are less consistent)
Gonon St. Joseph (available, but you gotta jump fast)
Chateau Lanessan - The archetype of classic claret (Sociando in this class as well)
Roilette Griffe du Marquis - Distinctive Beaujolais, only started being produced in '09, and every vintage has been fantastic

My history with Ridge, Sociando and Lanessan go back a couple decades, while the other wines are more recent “loves” over the last 6-7 vintages, the Griffe excepted because it’s new.

Great list Robert (and yours too Peter - high time you got off that overpriced California crap)! I guess I do have something of a reputation here … I’ll have to try some Baudry - it’s getting some good run on this thread (and it might enhance my reputation as an “impartial palate.”

[Peter_Petersen]

Mike, All the CA crap is allocated, so automatically disqualified, otherwise every single Carlisle would be on there. Actually getting a fairly large amount tomorrow.

[M_Dildine]

@Peter Petersen

Mike, All the CA crap is allocated, so automatically disqualified, otherwise every single Carlisle would be on there. Actually getting a fairly large amount tomorrow.

Peter, almost everything I buy is allocated too - my expectation was that most of the wines named would be European.

[Robert.A.Jr]

@M. Dildine

@Robert Alfert

Mike -

You are such a dang shill, your criteria impels us to list California wines, of course!

Here is my stab:

Ridge Geyserville and Lytton Springs - IMHO, probably meets your criteria better than any other wine I can think of, especially given your last factor.

Weighing that last factor a little lower, cause really, who cares if non-geeks like it , and I say:

Chateau Thivin Cotes de Brouilly - A meatier, more rustic style of Beaujolias, which I prefer
Baudry Les Grezaux - Just pure, classic Chinon for all of $25 or so (A few years back I would have picked Joguet, but they are less consistent)
Gonon St. Joseph (available, but you gotta jump fast)
Chateau Lanessan - The archetype of classic claret (Sociando in this class as well)
Roilette Griffe du Marquis - Distinctive Beaujolais, only started being produced in '09, and every vintage has been fantastic

My history with Ridge, Sociando and Lanessan go back a couple decades, while the other wines are more recent “loves” over the last 6-7 vintages, the Griffe excepted because it’s new.

Great list Robert (and yours too Peter - high time you got off that overpriced California crap)! I guess I do have something of a reputation here … I’ll have to try some Baudry - it’s getting some good run on this thread (and it might enhance my reputation as an “impartial palate.”

Thanks, Mike. For you, I would go with Baudry’s Guillot cuvee in '09 or '10 over Croix Boissee, which really needs more time right now, and Grezeaux, which I think appeals to a more country palate like mine. I can see you digging the Guillot. Gonon is just classic Rhone syrah. If you like Copain or Cabot, you will like Gonon.

By the way, I probably should have listed the Ridge Estate Cab, which for $40, is the best Cab coming out of Cali year after year, IMHO, and about the only one I buy with any regularity. Referencing to the 2013 Napa Cab thread, I’m guess Paul does not pick at high brix then water it down and bleed it, all terms that are new to me!

PS. None of the Ridge wines I referenced are allocated; if anything, there are the easiest wines to find!

Cheers.

[Howard_Cooper]

@Robert Alfert

Chateau Thivin Cotes de Brouilly - A meatier, more rustic style of Beaujolias, which I prefer

You are correct. My list should have included a bunch of Beaujolais, including Chermette and Brun.

And, while we around that area, St. Veran from Drouhin (a steal in <$20 Chardonnay) and any of Lafon’s wines from Macon.

[Alan_Rath]

A fantastic topic! Not sure I would have used the word “perfect,” but the criteria make for some great selections. Will come back and post a few. One to start:

Tempier Rosé

[Len_Fox]

Marcel Lapierre Morgon
Jean Foillard Cute du Py
Peter Lauer Senior Fass 6

[Chris_Seiber]

Terrific topic, Mike. I really appreciate your contributions to the board. Here are my responses:

Huet Vouvray (though there seem to be questions about where that wine is going from here forward)
Calabretta Etna Rosso
Ridge Geyserville
Ridge Lytton Springs
Tempier Bandol Rose
Mayacamas Chardonnay
Tercero Grenache Blanc
Curran Grenache Blanc
Baudry Chinon Les Grezeaux
Baudry Chinon Les Clos Guillot
Curran Grenache Rose
Bedrock Ode to Lulu Rose of Mourvedre

It’s an interesting exercise because you look at the list, and you think about how well you could be drinking with no mailing lists or clubs and an average of probably $30/bottle there. I’m sure I’m forgetting plenty of good choices as well.

[doug_johnson]

A lot of great wines already listed.

I’d add COS Pithos.

[Howard_Cooper]

@Chris Seiber

Mayacamas Chardonnay

A wine that I have only had twice (not sure it meets the consistently good standard) but that I thought was a very good value was Mayacams Merlot.

On a separate subject, add Tribut Chablis premier crus (although not sure if it is perfect because the Kendall Jackson crowd might not like it).

[Chris_Seiber]

I thought about putting Mayacamas Merlot in there, but I’ve only had two vintages of it, so I didn’t really feel like I could volunteer that one.

Ditto for Thivin Cote du Brouilly, I’ve only had the 09 and 10.

[Robert.A.Jr]

Chris - Give the 2011 Thivin a whirl. It’s my preference over these last 3 vintages, all of which are great, by the way.

[Michael_Lewis]

I read the title of the thread and thought, for me definitely Pierre Overnoy Poulsard, and then I read your criteria and it doesn’t meet any of them except that it is distinctive within its class.

So much for perfection…

[Chris_Seiber]

@Robert Alfert

Chris - Give the 2011 Thivin a whirl. It’s my preference over these last 3 vintages, all of which are great, by the way.

How many vintages of that wine have you had, and what is your impression of it through all the vintages?

[Peter_Petersen]

So let me add the Ojai line-up. They are mostly under $45 and easy to get from the winery without being on a list.

[G_Keeler]

The first couple of wines that came into my head when I read the criteria were the following:

Lopez de Heredia Reserva Vina Tondonia
Gonon St. Joseph
Arnot-Roberts Trousseau

[Phillip_F_r_a_n_k_s]

@M. Dildine

Dehlinger “Claret”

Nailed it!

[Scott_Brunson]

I immediately go to
Gonon St-Joe
Chandon de Briailles Ile dV
Bouchard Beaune du Chateau
and all the Baudry (don’t forget that ridiculously cheap blanc)

but everyone beat me to the punch except the Chinon Blanc

How about Musar? Pretty consistent and it is what it is