1993 Arrowood Merlot - at a dinner with friends I was handed the wine list. I knew almost nothing, but picked the Arrowood. It was one of those “oh my” moments, and largely launched an obsession.
1995 Selbach-Oster Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese - the wine that started the German Riesling craze in my house. Both Laura and I were blown away.
1998 Muller Catoir Haardter Mandelring Scheurebe Spätlese - greatest Scheurebe ever made. Terry Theise specifically told us to buy it. We bought one bottle to try, and within a week bought 23 more.
1970 Cheval Blanc & 1970 Pétrus - listed together, as they were served blind in a flight together.
1945 Taylor Fladgate Port - served at the end of the blind tasting where we also had the two 1970 Bordeaux. The first truly great Port I tasted. Set an impossible bar.
1990 Truchot/1990 Bachelet - back when I knew zero about Burgundy, Maureen Nelson opened these at dinner. Mind…blown. I wish I could recall which bottlings they were, but will never forget the producers.
1976 J. J. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese LGK - the seminal German dessert wine in my experience. Stunning. I managed to have it twice, and it was magic both times.
1985 Krug - Champagne obsession started here for both me and Laura
It would not be hard to name 10 more.