My pop is taking me out for my birthday dinner to Daniel, but he’s of the belief that spending more than $100 for a bottle of wine is unspeakable gluttony. (To be fair, spending more than $100 for a bottle of wine probably is unspeakable gluttony).
Anyways, one of the best lists in the country, but with a steep multiple and a lean sub-$100 selection. What’s the right choice here? Keep in mind, this has to appeal to non-wine-geeks, so no cute tobacco bombs from the Loire. Half bottles would work too, as long as the aggregate of two bottles is $100 or under.
If you have just a little flexibility, I’d do one of the Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonias at $115-$120. However, I don’t know the vintages well enough to recommend a specific one, though I’d bet the somm there could…
If you’re firm on the $100, I’d go Domaine Gauby Vieilles Vignes 2009 right at that price. Great winery, great vintage, great reviews…
A few things jump out to me that would please non-geeks and geeks alike, but your best bet is to talk with the Somm:
Bubblies
Tissot Cremant du Jura (never fails to please everyone)
Brigandat & Fils Champagne (check dosage, not sure about this)
Whites:
Depending on what you’re eating, many of the Bourgogne Blancs offer pretty good value
A&P de Villaine Aligote
Rollin Pernand Vergelesses (from 1999 to boot, but haven’t had this so ask the somm for premox issues)
Reds:
Duband Hautes Cotes de Nuits
Heritiers Louis Jadot Beaune 1er Couchereaux (a 2009 so should be soft though it might need decanting)
Texier Brezeme
Any of the Sunier Bojos, and most of the Bojos in general will please both he and you
Depending on your preference, many of the regular Cotes du Rhones are surprisingly affordable
Some of the Bordeaux Satellite appellations might be good choices
Occhipinti Signato is pretty approachable too
8568 CVNE “Viña Real” Gran Reserva 2005 105.
or 7522 Lopez de Heredia “Viña Cubillo” Crianza 2005 375ml 45. and 7571 La Rioja Alta “Viña Ardanza” Reserva 2004 375ml 55
Carl Von Schubert “Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg” Spätlese 2008 $95 seems like an excellent choice. I had it at Dale’s place earlier this year and loved it.
Thanks for the reminder of how insane wine list prices are in New York! I could point to a few bottles that seemed relative bargains, but generally those whose prices were already stratospheric to begin with. While I would expect the list at Daniel to remain ever long and strong on French wines, I was a little surprised at how lame the Italian and U.S. offerings are. (And that Parker was unable to convince his friend Daniel to get all of that wretched, overpriced, thin, green, acidic, weedy damn Burgundy off of that list!) i have to go with Kevin on the stretch for the Lopez or else take 2 375s of the Lopez Crianza last mentioned above. (This is a price play, not an AFWE play!). The Riesling would be good if it works with your food choices. I would probably drink bottled water and save my money to buy something good for home consumption. This is a list that only doctors, lawyers and banksters could love!
Great list, but expensive. A nice bargain at $ 25 is Georg Breuer’s 2007 Riesling “Charm” (off-dry). It should have slight age notes already, but at that price, I’d go for it. Breuer’s wines usually don’t get tired too quickly and my latest 2007s (Village level) were still fresh.
And in red I’d probably go for the Vin de Viennes “Cuvée les Palignons” 1999 at $ 95. This is from bought grapes, but I usually like their wines and 1999 was a great vintage for Northern Rhône Syrah. As an alternative: Clos Fantine “Cuvée Tradition” 2009 at $ 55 if you don’t mind tiny hints of animalic flavours.
To be fair, I didn’t make it through the list b/c I got sick of looking at a bunch of non-qualifiers (I’d be willing to bet 97% of that list is >$100, if not more).
Unfortunately, zero flexibility, which is a shame because I think things get more interesting at around $120 or so. It’s one of those things where every penny I go below $100 is better, and at $100 he leaps around the table and wrings my neck.
My first pass came up with:
2011 Bedell Cab Franc - $50 — that generally goes for $20-25 retail, so the multiple is tolerable. I like Bedell’s wines - and that should be as accessible as Cab Franc gets. Have leftover $$ for a half bottle of white.
2010 Stolpman “Originals” Syrah - $80 — should be friendly to the non winegeeks. Leaves headroom under $100. Stands up to the fall dishes on the menu.
2004 Chateau Massereau Cuvee K - $75 — Old school bordeaux with some age; could be too tight/geeky for mom & pop and big multiple (over 3x)
2006 Domain Lionnet Cornas “Terre Brulees” - $100 — seems like just good ol’ Cornas.
2006 Crete de Ruyere Chiroubles - $55 — Great Gilman review. Tolerable 2.5x multiple. Some age.
2010 Domaine Petitot CdNV “Vignottes” - $85 — seems like decent, honest burg. Hard to find elsewhere.
Whites -
2010 Huet HL Sec (half bottle) - $50 — duh.
2002 Weller-Lehnert “Piesporter Goldtröpchen” Kabinett -$60 — never heard of it. Doesn’t seem to be available elsewhere.
2010 Keller “Von der Fels” - $75 — Love this wine.
2007 Georg Breuer “Charm” QbA Halbtrocken - $25 – I’ve had a bottle of this from another vintage and it wasn’t halb bad.
Since you had the Huet on your list, another good bet would be
2010 Domaine François Chidaine “Clos du Breuil” $55
(and if you were to go for the Huet, the 2008 Le Mont half is a definite step up, though unfortunately both bottles are demi, not sec).
Any of the Heidi Schrock (Austria) wines are very enjoyable
They don’t list corkage, but if it were me I’d be bringing my own bottle.
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