I posted this “over there at the other place.” I’m experimenting again to see the difference between the responses.
I just got off the phone with a friend who likes wine, can’t describe what he likes, and wants me to put together three mixed cases (one white, two red, approximately two bottles of each) so that he can try a broad range of items, take notes, and buy more of what he decides he likes. He asked me to stay away from Italian reds because he just bought three cases of them on the advice of another friend. I do not want to color your analysis by telling you what he bought, but let’s just say it’s good stuff.
The only thing that he has been able to describe about his wine preferences is that he does not like wines with a lot of bite that make his mouth pucker (his terms). I have had wine with him twice, and he enjoyed the various California wines that I offered to him, including, if I recall, a DuMol pinot, a Carlisle zin, a Pax syrah grenache blend and a few others.
So what do you think I should include in the three cases that I get for him? Let’s say average cost $65 per bottle. Remember that the idea is to give him the opportunity to taste a lot of different types of wine so he can decide what he wants to stock up on. He is about 59 years old, so buying wine that will not be drinkable for 25 years is not the best plan.
Some good 2006 Rhones, since many of the ones I have had come with little tannin, and nice sweet fruit. Maybe not a CDP, but possibly a Gigondas like St. Cosme Valbelle.
What about something along the lines of a Freeman, or August West Pinot? The 2006s are great right now. Those wines have a good amount of wood used on them, so the tannins are very sweet in the wines.
Maybe some lower priced Priorats? Or something in a Reserva Rioja? Not like a Lopez, but something that is a little more resolved b/c of the aging.
There are so many choices out there. Maybe a more modern Burg producer, or possibly a good NZ Pinot?
Cali Syrah is almost too easy, there is tons of good stuff on the market, and less expensive than Pax.
Shocked to see no NY wines- you can get great Riesling inexpensively and put the savings toward higher priced wine. 2 Red Newt Circle Riesling, 2 Chateau LaFayette Reneau 2008 Dry Riesling, 2 Dr Frank Gewurztraminer as well as (in keeping with price point) 2 Chateau Lafayete Reneau Owners Reserve Cab- - all 8 should run around $200
Jay,
You should include some Alsace, certainly a couple PG, maybe a Trimbach and a Z-H to cover the differences in sweetness scale. Additionally on the whites toss in some Loire with some NZ Sav Blanc again to show the different styles.
Cheers,
Scott
I said basically the same thing “over there”, still haven’t really heard why the answer is no. I’d say the first three-eight cases should be single bottles from all over the world, in the less than 30 price range.
If you find he likes something in particular spend the money then, not first.
Pierre Usseglio CDP
Tunnel Cornas 2006 or 2007 or 2005
Ramey chardonnay hyde - any vintage
Carillon Puligny-Montrachet AC 2007, 2005, 2004
Descombes regnie vv 2007
Huet Le mont demi-sec or sec 2007
2 of each and ya got three cases,all styles . .leaning towards a bit more traditonal as I made the list but that’s off the top of my head what i would give my friend with those specs.
So subjective. The best to do Jay is fill it as you would if it were for yourself. Beyond that is diffucult.
how about a bottle of Jones Family the Sisters? $50ish and great.
Some K Vintners Syrahs? A few mid range cabs like Rockledge, Forman and Paradigm.
Hewitt can be gotten for a great price. Gary’s has 2006 Pax Maoriah for $35 this weekend only.
Jay–Because I love answering questions with a question…[g]
Is your friend looking to expand his palate, is he looking for widely-distributed wines that are ready to drink now, is he looking for wines to cellar, etc.?
Lyle, how can that be “all styles” when you don’t have any Amarone, Sforzato or other wines made from withered grapes? Surely one of the basic food groups, no?
I’d say something really important here is to teach him the difference between tannin and acid, so he can figure out if he doesn’t like tannin or if he doesn’t like acid, or both. That will be the first step toward giving him the ability to communicate his wine preferences.
Best “acid test” I can think of for this is to give him a bottle of classically styled Cahors and a bottle of Bera Barbera. If not the latter, maybe a bottle of Texier Brezeme from an appropriate vintage (help here, anyone? – haven’t had the bottlings currently on the market). OTOH, maybe those examples are both a little over-the-top (the Bera is VERY acidic). But I think you get the idea.
2 of each, eh? … that leaves you with 18 “types” to go with … I agree with others that $65 ave. cost for sampling/exploration is rather excessive. … this is what I’d go with (sticking with parameters of 2 of each, 1 case white, 2 case red:
white
German Riesling Spatlese
Sauternes
Tokaji
CA Chard (Arcadian’s Sleepy Hollow)
Burg
CARhone (Tablas Creek’s “Esprit Blanc”
red
CdP (2006 or 2004 … perhaps a Charbonniere)
Cote Rotie
Hermitage
CARhone
CA Zin
Priorat
CA Cab
Right Bank Bdx
S. African Shiraz
Aussie GSM
Burg
CA Pinot
obviously, many of the reds should have some age to avoid mouth puckering tannins, or at least be given a healthy decant … there’s others I had to delete off the list to stay within the parameters, and I’m sure there are others I am forgetting.
Jay, I like the question, but I think I’ll go against the general flow of previous suggestions and say that given that the guy (as you’ve described him) seems to be a wine novice who likes a drink now & then, as a three case starter I would tend to stick to easily accessible wines and not worry about an “Around the World in 80 days” approach, as this guy still seems to be trying to figure out what he likes.
In that vein, I would heavily emphasize California wine to cut his teeth on - remember, this is not a sampler case for you or me, but a set of wines for someone just starting to delve into wines. Zins, Pinots, Cabs, Chards, SB, Rhone rangers, etc. If he decides something rings his bell and he wants to pursue it further, you are there to provide him with that “Old World Flavor” on round two.
I intend to include those as part of the “collection” but I also intend to give him, for example, a bottle or two of high mineral Chablis. I am not a fan, but he might like it. The tough question is whether I include Beaucastel. I don’t know if I want to risk hearing him say “why did you give me something that tastes like horse manure?”
I am a big fan of buying more than one bottle to compare how patience can improve some wines. That being said, I would suggest going for old world v. new world:
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