Wine Thread

[Track/S]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Purchased where?

Spain

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by Track/S

Spain

Seems I can't get it here

[Track/S]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Seems I can't get it here

I could send you some bottles

[Vindicator3]

On US shelves these days, it's hard to beat Spain generally for value at say $40 and under.

I have particularly taken to mencia-based reds out of Bierzo and Ribeira Sacra. Bright, fresh, juicy, light on their feet, and delicious. Also a fan of traditional Rioja and several of the garnacha and monastrell-based reds coming out of various regions in Spain.

[85Shark]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

We had a nice dinner at Okeechobee Steakhouse on Saturday to celebrate our anniversary (which was the 29th). We brought our only bottle of Realm Levensohn Vineyard. Very enjoyable but not worth the price of admission relative to other options available.

The Bard looked familiar so I looked in our wine fridge and found a 2021 Bard Napa Valley Red (no AVA). I remember we had it at a local wine shop tasting of 8 different wines. My wife and I really liked it so we bought a bottle for a special occasion. Retail was $184 but there was a 20% discount for all wines on the tasting menu.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by 85Shark

The Bard looked familiar so I looked in our wine fridge and found a 2021 Bard Napa Valley Red (no AVA). I remember we had it at a local wine shop tasting of 8 different wines. My wife and I really liked it so we bought a bottle for a special occasion. Retail was $184 but there was a 20% discount for all wines on the tasting menu.

It’s a really good go-to wine, $184 is steep though. It’s usually $125-$135 from Realm.

[85Shark]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

It’s a really good go-to wine, $184 is steep though. It’s usually $125-$135 from Realm.

Wow, so even at my $147 price it was too much. No sense paying corkage so we'll have it with one of my wife's great dinners.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by 85Shark

Wow, so even at my $147 price it was too much. No sense paying corkage so we'll have it with one of my wife's great dinners.

I looked it up and 2021 was $135 so an extra $12 is pretty reasonable. $184 with no discount wouldn’t be great. I have never even seen one retail around me and see them in less than half of the restaurants I visit. (I like to look at the wine lists even when I bring a bottle.)

[flybigjet]

The Minister and I flew out to Napa/Calistoga this past weekend to spend some time with our BFF's.

My credit card may never recover.

On Saturday, we did a tasting at Mending Wall.

According to the Minister and our two BFF's (who are ALL Foodies and Wine Enthusiasts), they're making *damn* good wines and are only improving with time. (Thomas Rivers Brown is their partner/winemaker).

The Minister shipped back a case-- no idea what, except that it wasn't cheap-- the wines she got are only available at the winery.

That evening, we went to the Culinary Institute of America's bASH event, where they pair St. Helena wines with food bites prepared by the CIA students in a pairing contest.

Honestly? I didn't think it was as good as previous years-- they've raised the price of admission a *lot*, but the students are still limited to a $300 budget-- and that just doesn't get you very far nowadays. Lots of pastries, minimal meat, lots of sauces. It was ok (and apparently, the wine was *excellent*, but I was the designated driver), but it was a little disappointing compared to previous years.

On Sunday, we did a tasting as Shramsberg champagnerie-- the Minister got me a membership a few Christmas's ago since I appreciate bubbles far more than wines. It was *fantastic*. Very instructional, **beautiful** grounds, and freakin' miles of caves. Sampling included some of their reserve bubbles that you can't get from a distributor.

There went another case, shipped home.

So, overall: Mending Wall (mostly reds) and Shramsberg (sparkling wine done in the traditional methode du champagne) are both EXCELLENT places to spend an afternoon if you're in the area.

R.