After having recovered from some health issues, I finally arranged a vertical last Sunday at June BYOB in Collingswood, NJ. The restaurant has a French-ish menu. The wine theme was Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou. We had six people (all longtime friends of mine who have deep cellars) and six vintages: 1978, 1...

ONE bottle, David? Would you like a loan? The bad news is that last year I spent more on wine than Lucie spent on her (pre-owned) BMW. The good news is that this year Lucie does not need (or want) another car! And I am content to drive my hand-me-down from Lucie, a 1998 Toyota Camry, which might ou...

Very, very, very negative. The manner of his tastings led to his favorable impressions of exaggerated wines. His point scoring system is a travesty of the nuance that underlies the wonder of wines. His rating system trivialized comprehension of wine and brought non-knowledgeable consumers into the w...

1 X 2009 Pichon Lalande

1 X 1974 La Spinona Barbaresco
1 X 1978 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco

It's easy to guess from which NYC merchant the 1982 was sourced.

I'm a longtime fan of the Hachette Guide and have relied on it for over 30 years, with no disappointments. From my perspective, it's an essential reference.

These six bottles are my final wine delivery of 2023:
1 X 2010 Larkmead Tocai Friulano
1 X 2020 Larkmead Tocai Friulano
1 X 2021 Larkmead Tocai Friulano
1 X 2022 Zidianakis Garage Winery Semissis
1 X 2019 Quinta do Javali Clos Bonifatata
1 X 2021 Antonio Madeira A Liberdade Dao Branco

JCNorthway wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2023 2:43 pm Nice selection of older bottles!

I got these from a reliable USA source who brought them in from Italy. I don't know exactly where in Italy my source acquired these bottles, but I watched the unpacking of the wines when they arrived in this county. I'm hopeful!

These bottles recently arrived in the United States from Italy, and they were delivered to me today: 1 X 1978 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco 1 X 1964 Pio Cesare Barolo 1 X 1964 Marchesi di Barolo Barolo 1 X 1971 Fontana Saverio Barolo 1 X 1964 Travaglini Spanna Riserva 1 X 1967 La Spinona Barb...

I loved the 7 SpringsPinot Noir from St. Innocent; not so much from Evening Land. I never tasted a 7 Springs Chardonnay. How are they compared to other Oregon Chardonnays? 3 2005 Pedesclaux I'll let you know when I drink some. I'm hopeful that it's delicious! It's much richer and less steely than o...

1 X 2016 Dominus
1 X 2019 Chateau d'Yquem
1 X 2010 Chateau Durfort-Vivens
1 X 2016 Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay Reserve
1 X 2005 Joseph Phelps Insignia

2 X 2022 Sousa Lopes Vinho Verde
1 X 2022 Anselmo Mendes Contacto
1 X 2010 Chateau Lascombes
3 X 2022 Freire Lobo Dao Vigno Branco
1 X 2021 Paulo Laureano Classico Branco
1 X 2016 Chateau Cantemerle
1 X 2015 Chateau La Lagune
1 X 2022 Pedra Cancela Dao Branco
1 X 2022 Lacrau Field Blend Branco

stefan wrote: ↑Sat Nov 18, 2023 6:35 pm I loved the 7 SpringsPinot Noir from St. Innocent; not so much from Evening Land. I never tasted a 7 Springs Chardonnay. How are they compared to other Oregon Chardonnays?

3 2005 Pedesclaux

I'll let you know when I drink some. I'm hopeful that it's delicious!

Arrived today from Oregon:
3 X 2021 00 Wines Chardonnay EGW
3 X 2021 00 Wines Chardonnay Seven Springs Vineyard

Stefan, it's too bad that we don't live closer. I'd be happy to open any of them with you! In my opinion, wine is meant for sharing

The air has finally gotten chilly here in the Delaware Valley, so--at last--I've been able to have some purchases made over the past few months shipped to me. Here is what arrived yesterday: 1 X 2021 Aubert Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard 1 X 2021 Aubert Pinot Noir UV Vineyard 11 X 2021 Aubert Chardonnay ...

Joel, after the holidays, absolutely!

Joel, these Borolos recently arrived in New York City from Borgogno's cellars, so there is a reasonable possibility that they will be enjoyable. With older wines of good provenance, I tend to overlook vintage charts, but it is often hit or miss. I'll post comments when I open these.

1 X 2019 Zidarich Malavasia 1 X 2009 Viticoltori De Concilliis Aglianico Naira Paestum IGT 1 X 1958 Antonio Vallana e Figlio Spanna 1 X 2014 Cantine Colli di Catone Malvasia Del Lazio Colle Gaio 1 X 1969 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Riserva 1 X 1966 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Riserva...

My pal David Kaplan and I had a superb bottle of 1995 Lafon-Rochet at lunch this afternoon at Gabriel Kruether in Manhattan. We drank it with two courses: smoked duck breast and pasta with a chestnut and white truffle sauce. The flavors of the food were assertive, and the Lafon-Rochet was a wonderfu...

1 X 1998 King Estate Late Harvest Riesling (375 ml)
1 X 1997 Lolonis Eugenia Private Reserve Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc (375 ml)

A few years ago, I brought a 1990 Pape Clement to a blind 1990 horizontal tasting in Lawrenceville, NJ. It was the only non-classified bottle in an array of about 20. Everyone at the tasting, which included some very well-known Bordeaux collectors, thought that the weakest bottle in the bunch was th...

My pick: Lafon-Rochet. Late 20th century vintages were consistently good, in my opinion. I haven't had any post-2000 vintage.

3 X 2020 The Hilt Estate Vanguard Chardonnay
1 X 2020 The Hilt Estate Old Guard Pinot Noir

Thanks for replying, Harry! Please send contact information

Thanks for replying, Jay. Please PM some contact information.

Thanks for replying, Joel and Brian. Please pm some contact information.

I'm new to this board but not new to organizing wine dinners. Is anyone interested in Bordeaux verticals to be held at one of the terrific BYOB restaurants in the Delaware Valley? I'm looking for general expressions of interest, with details to be worked out among those who would like to participate.

4 X 2016 Marcassin Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard 1 X 2007 Marcassin Pinot Noir Marcassin Vineyard 1 X 1998 Newton Cabernet Sauvignon 1 X 1997 Hanna Cabernet Sauvignon Bismark Ranch 1 X 1995 Sterling Red Table Wine Reserve 1 X 1996 Snowden Cabernet Sauvignon 1 X 2021 Emidio Pepe Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 1...