Open Invite To "Tap A Nice Sized Cellar"...What Do You Do

WINE TALK
1

What is the collective thought on being given free access to a large cellar and the green light to “tap it” from a person you have never met in the real world? Going to dinner and wine consumption tonight with about a dozen folks…half of which I have never met or interacted with online, and have been told I can go into the cellar and have at it. I know some of the labels in there, and they are the big players from Napa.

I would feel uncomfortable with picking a 1992 Screagle, but don’t want to insult the host by getting something inexpensive and pedestrian.

2

Take something you want to drink, and explain why.

3

You know, this happened to me once. I was familiar enough with California and Oz to pick something that wasnt impossible to replace (without paying a ridiculous premium) but I wanted to try. I chose a recent Harlan. There was older Screagle in this cellar as well. Now I drink with the guy regularly so he wouldnt dare give me a free pass into his cellar :wink:

4

Bill, since there are a dozen of you let others mention what wines they want to drink first. This way you won’t be seen as a pig and you’ll be able to see the reaction of the host.

5

I wouldn’t take the super rare, but if there was something I was really excited about trying – I would hit it. For example, I see a Colgin Herb Lamb, I reach for it. I would leave the 92 Screagle alone.

Although if I see a deathbed wine (DRC Montrachet, 89 HB, etc), I bring it out as a ‘back up’.

That said, I don’t want to know what you are getting into.

6

Unfortunately he knows I am a pig…via EBOB, and that is why I was invited.

I am bringing a magnum of 1995 Caymus Special Select due to the size and nature of the crowd.

7

Oh, you don’t count cuz you are coming along.

8

Interesting question. Maybe see what the host enjoys. A 15 second informal conversation should give you an indication of what he would not mind drinking. You would be surprised on all the clues you can get. Another thought is a nice drinking mid range wine. Don’t be a piggy label drinker… [berserker.gif]
If all else fails just choose what you like to drink, as mentioned above.

9

Your bringing a real nice wine…go for the gold!

10

Just say no.

I can’t stand when I’m put in the situation of picking from someones else’s cellar. Doesn’t matter if the cellar is big or small. It’s hard enough picking something from my own cellar.

I like browsing but leave the choice of wine to them.

Andy

11

You gonna ‘tap’ anything else while there??

[good.gif]

12

Nope. Bowden is in The ATL.

13

It’s his cellar so nothing you pull out should insult him.

Nothing that you cannot replace or would not be willing to replace. I like the idea of asking some of the others to chime in. And then bring out maybe 3-4 bottles that span the range from decent to quite good, to very very good, and let the host open them at his discretion.

“hey we found these 4 but couldn’t decide so if you’d just open the one you really want to try we’d be really excited to share it with you”

14

This is an interesting topic to respond to. I would say pick something good, but not great. Something you would want to try, but not feel too bad about picking.

I am put in this same position all the time. My girls dad has a 10K bottle cellar, he started collecting bdx, cali and rhone in the early 90’s. I always like to choose something I have never had before but nothing too crazy. Save the 82 Lafite, grab an 89 beaucastel or 94 maya instead.

15

I’m at a loss as to how to describe the generosity of our host. I had no idea on the size and content of his cellar and what would be opened when I arrived. From the first minute, I got the impression I could have opened anything without any issues.

Oh, and what did I ultimately decide on? 2001 Pavie.

16

Reminds me of a story . . .

A man gets a job as a lumberjack way up north. No one but men around for hundreds of miles. After a while, he feels the urge and asks another guy what do they do about this? The guy tells him that he can come along this Saturday night.

Saturday night comes and the guy joins a group of lumberjacks as they head out in the woods. He watches as they wait in the dim light of the moon until a large female moose comes along. The leader of the group jumps the moose and has his way with her.

This happens with each member of the group until it’s time for our guy’s turn. By now he’s desperate, so when he sees a female moose come along, he rushes out, jumps her, and has his way with her.

When he finishes, the other guys come out of hiding pointing at him and laughing their heads off.

He looks at them perplexed and says, “What are you laughing at? You guys all did the same thing.”

The leader stops laughing long enough to say “Yes, . . . but you picked an ugly one!” [laughingneqw.gif]

17

Nice one Ken.

18

19

That’s how you end up with 97 heitz bella oaks - you wouldn’t pick!!!

20

i’d have gone for the gusto and azz-raped that cellar! killer asteroid could be plummeting towards the ocean right now so i’d never want my last thought to be “i coulda had the…”, ya know?