Search found 5923 matches

by Blanquito
Sat Jul 17, 2021 5:52 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 2011 Calon Segur
Replies: 17
Views: 2681

Re: 2011 Calon Segur

Yum. Love Calon, and that recent bottle of the 82 was terrific. But my favorite St Estephe is Montrose.
by Blanquito
Wed Jul 14, 2021 7:16 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: What are we drinking in the Omicron ominous?
Replies: 1979
Views: 210488

Re: What are we drinking post-vaccination?

1973 Sterling Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve For the occasion of my brother’s visit, I opened a ‘73 for his birth year. This is really good. Terrific color, wonderful cab scents which harken to both Cali and Claret, that smoothed palate that only old wines get, a terrific core of rounded plummy fruit bu...
by Blanquito
Mon Jul 12, 2021 6:40 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Travel Wine Carrier
Replies: 15
Views: 992

Re: Travel Wine Carrier

I was given a VinGuard Valise as a holiday gift (right before they were put on sale for 50% off at the start of the pandemic, as it turned out) and so far it has done the job well and in style.
by Blanquito
Sat Jul 10, 2021 10:26 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: So what have you bought lately?
Replies: 4933
Views: 1625971

Re: So what have you bought lately?

5 more of the 2018 Jacques Saumaize St-Véran Poncetys for $25.50. I took a flyer on one as Gilman gave it 92 pts, and for twenty-five bucks, I can’t think of another chardonnay that can touch it.
by Blanquito
Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:20 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: What are we drinking in the Omicron ominous?
Replies: 1979
Views: 210488

Re: What are we drinking post-vaccination?

With roasted lamb chops and a vegetable tian we opened a young'un 2017 Faury Saint Joseph. Beautiful nose of olives as always, but almost no tannins to speak of. The fruit is lively and the acidity is bright. It will get a lot more complexity with age but quite nice now. 93 Faury is easily the best...
by Blanquito
Sat Jul 10, 2021 4:24 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: So what have you bought lately?
Replies: 4933
Views: 1625971

Re: So what have you bought lately?

Arv, I couldn't agree more about K&L. Great, great website in both content and format, usually great service and provenance. As you note, their (non-auction) prices aren't anything to write home about usually, but I find them quite competitive for new releases/prearrivals and their monthly Insid...
by Blanquito
Fri Jul 09, 2021 11:36 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: TNs: 1985 Petit Figeac, 2008 Tertre Rotebouef
Replies: 13
Views: 396

Re: TNs: 1985 Petit Figeac, 2008 Tertre Rotebouef

OrlandoRobert wrote: Fri Jul 09, 2021 7:19 pm 2001 Smith Haut Lafite - major yum
Did Jeff Leve hack Orlando’s account?!

PS Jacques beat me to the punch, but it had to be said!
by Blanquito
Fri Jul 09, 2021 5:29 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: What are we drinking in the Omicron ominous?
Replies: 1979
Views: 210488

Re: What are we drinking post-vaccination?

I had the 74 Martha’s a little over 2 years ago, and what a spectacular wine it was!
by Blanquito
Thu Jul 08, 2021 11:43 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: My Krug epiphany
Replies: 26
Views: 1139

Re: My Krug epiphany

I had MV Krug several times with 15+ years on it that were all splendid.
by Blanquito
Thu Jul 08, 2021 2:13 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: My Krug epiphany
Replies: 26
Views: 1139

Re: My Krug epiphany

DavidG wrote: Thu Jul 08, 2021 1:35 pm $127 is a back up the truck price.
Yes, absolutely. If there’s more than you want, we’d all take as much as you can get at that price!
by Blanquito
Wed Jul 07, 2021 9:08 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: What are we drinking in the Omicron ominous?
Replies: 1979
Views: 210488

Re: What are we drinking post-vaccination?

The Niellon was brilliant stuff, Jacques, so good that we raised our glasses to toast you and Jill for introducing me to this producer! I had the 2016 Chaumées de la Truffière last year and it was just as good as the 2017, albeit a bit richer and less racy. I wish I had the guts to try and mature so...
by Blanquito
Wed Jul 07, 2021 9:06 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: My Krug epiphany
Replies: 26
Views: 1139

Re: My Krug epiphany

One of my local wine buddies is a huge Krug fan and he’s brought a number of grand vintage bottles through the years and for my palate they definitely show better with some age. FWIW, the 168 edition got a lot of extra love from cognoscenti on the other board. I should put it this way: I didn't ful...
by Blanquito
Wed Jul 07, 2021 8:11 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: My Krug epiphany
Replies: 26
Views: 1139

Re: My Krug epiphany

One of my local wine buddies is a huge Krug fan and he’s brought a number of grand vintage bottles through the years and for my palate they definitely show better with some age. FWIW, the 168 edition got a lot of extra love from cognoscenti on the other board.
by Blanquito
Wed Jul 07, 2021 5:41 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Wine fridges?
Replies: 20
Views: 827

Re: Wine fridges?

I have a Kenmore window unit AC ($350) tricked by a Coolbot ($389; but there are now cheaper options on the market that get good reviews: https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-Temperature-Controller-Independent-Thermostat/dp/B06WD6X17V/ref=pd_lpo_201_t_1/133-6143228-9460112?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B06WD...
by Blanquito
Wed Jul 07, 2021 1:31 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: What are we drinking in the Omicron ominous?
Replies: 1979
Views: 210488

Re: What are we drinking post-vaccination?

Had a few of the guys (Mark, Ted, Steve) over yesterday and we had a great night of wines and company on a beautiful summer evening in Denver. While the rest of the West bakes in heat waves and a drought, we have had such an enchanting spring and summer so far in the Front Range, (mostly) cool and w...
by Blanquito
Sun Jul 04, 2021 6:46 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 2001 Leoville Barton
Replies: 6
Views: 355

Re: 2001 Leoville Barton

Nice! Got me thinking, what’s the best vintage of L Barton in 1997-2004? The market places a real premium first on the 2000 and then the 2003, but I really dig the 02 and 04.
by Blanquito
Sun Jul 04, 2021 6:44 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: So what have you bought lately?
Replies: 4933
Views: 1625971

Re: So what have you bought lately?

I consider Zachy’s pricing a useful reminder, along the lines of the public service announcement for winos, that there are plenty of other worthwhile things to spend time and money on. If only all wine retailers would be so considerate.
by Blanquito
Sun Jul 04, 2021 3:22 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: So what have you bought lately?
Replies: 4933
Views: 1625971

Re: So what have you bought lately?

Good question, Fred. I really like all of Huet’s sec wines in the past from all three bottlings. But justified or not Le Haut-Lieu is usually the least popular cuvee amongst wine buyers, and this is reflected in the price (the 19 Le Mont Sec is $7 more at present). I’m not sure the others are worth ...
by Blanquito
Sat Jul 03, 2021 10:12 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: So what have you bought lately?
Replies: 4933
Views: 1625971

Re: So what have you bought lately?

3 bottles of the 2019 Huët Le Haut-Lieu Vouvray Sec for $29.75 (to go with the 5 already in the cellar). Last vintage of long-time wine maker Jean-Bernard and supposedly ideal for making Sec wines, which are what I usually prefer most from Huet. If this is half as good as a vintage as the critics sa...
by Blanquito
Fri Jul 02, 2021 12:48 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: TN: 2000 Sociando-Mallet
Replies: 13
Views: 1742

Re: TN: 2000 Sociando-Mallet

I love SM, and for my money the 95 and 96 are amongst the world’s greatest values for current drinking mature wine, but I recently sold my remaining 5 bottles of the 2000 for these same reasons (lean, green, mean).
by Blanquito
Tue Jun 29, 2021 11:22 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: What are we drinking in the Omicron ominous?
Replies: 1979
Views: 210488

Re: What are we drinking post-vaccination?

Is the 95 PLL at peak would you say, Bill? I have a couple I’ve been waiting on. The 95 PLL was spectacular at my second ever BWE offline. This was a big Pauillac event in Les Sans Culottes in NYC in the summer of 06, and the 95 PLL was the runaway WOTN. Always had (very) high hopes for it based on ...
by Blanquito
Tue Jun 29, 2021 2:58 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Buying 2020 futures is hard to justify.
Replies: 144
Views: 12682

Re: Buying 2020 futures is hard to justify.

DavidG wrote: Tue Jun 29, 2021 12:49 pm GBF, you have to understand that to Orlando Robert, Rolland is like the Borg. Any contact and you are irreversibly and irredeemably assimilated.
Never to be trusted (with the grapes) again!
by Blanquito
Sun Jun 27, 2021 6:48 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Buying 2020 futures is hard to justify.
Replies: 144
Views: 12682

Re: Buying 2020 futures is hard to justify.

I had an 82 Girard Certan double blind a couple of months ago that was shockingly good. That’s the lone wine I’ve had from that address.
by Blanquito
Sun Jun 27, 2021 6:21 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 2005 Grand Puy Lacoste uncorked + other grumblings
Replies: 5
Views: 454

Re: 2005 Grand Puy Lacoste uncorked + other grumblings

Nice to hear. I went long on the 05 GPL, with 12 full bottles and 12 half bottles.
by Blanquito
Thu Jun 24, 2021 8:29 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Buying 2020 futures is hard to justify.
Replies: 144
Views: 12682

Re: Buying 2020 futures is hard to justify.

P.S. I consider both the current Sirans and Corbins mid-modern, definitely not old school/traditional/rustic. I wouldn't call them soulless, but they ain't your dad's claret either.
by Blanquito
Thu Jun 24, 2021 8:27 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Buying 2020 futures is hard to justify.
Replies: 144
Views: 12682

Re: Buying 2020 futures is hard to justify.

For me, when Parker first started to stray was when in the late '90's/early '00's wine makers, by hiring several famous enologists (one in particular), overtly started changing their wines to get Parker Points. Before that, Parker had his proclivities like preferring the riper vintages, but he was a...
by Blanquito
Mon Jun 14, 2021 1:14 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: BWE DC 2021: October 2nd Saturday dinner - details, final count
Replies: 175
Views: 14324

Re: BWE DC 2021: October 1st and 2nd... Confirm attendance here.

JimHow wrote: Mon Jun 14, 2021 12:57 am Washington is a skip and a hop from London, Quebec, or pretty much anyplace else....
Indeed. I’ve wondered why our international brethren aren’t “in” yet for this. Surely by October borders will be fully open, for the vaccinated at least, between the US, Canada, and Europe.
by Blanquito
Mon Jun 14, 2021 12:22 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: What are we drinking in the Omicron ominous?
Replies: 1979
Views: 210488

Re: What are we drinking post-vaccination?

Count me in the red Pessac Léognan fan club. The 2005 Chateau Haut Bailly last night with JeanFred was excellent, starting it drinkability plateau (my wine storage is at a higher temperature. The 1996 Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou was even better, but two very great classical Bordeaux. Wow, nice line u...
by Blanquito
Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:30 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: What are we drinking in the Omicron ominous?
Replies: 1979
Views: 210488

Re: What are we drinking post-vaccination?

Claret wrote: Sun Jun 13, 2021 10:26 pm 2011 Rhys Skyline Syrah. Rhone like with minerality. Delicious.
Never had their syrah. Sounds very good.
by Blanquito
Fri Jun 11, 2021 3:44 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: A horizontal of Burlotto and vertical of Monvigliero
Replies: 11
Views: 1299

Re: A horizontal of Burlotto and vertical of Monvigliero

I’m definitely of the opinion that barolo needs tons of time to really shine, as much as Bordeaux (maybe more). At the same time, I don’t like the profile of old barolo (stuff from the 70’s and older) nearly as much as old bordeaux, though I have had some truly wonderful old baroli. But maybe this i...
by Blanquito
Thu Jun 10, 2021 8:59 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: A horizontal of Burlotto and vertical of Monvigliero
Replies: 11
Views: 1299

Re: A horizontal of Burlotto and vertical of Monvigliero

I think the best parallel is Noel Verset Cornas. That's the same example that came to my mind as well... I have four Burlottos, all 2011s, 2 normale and 1 each of the Acclivi and Cannubi, which I got at PC's fire sale a few months before chapter 11, all for $30-$55 (and basically for "free&quo...
by Blanquito
Wed Jun 09, 2021 10:51 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: It’s official: th 1995 Bordeaux vintage is open for business
Replies: 18
Views: 2215

Re: It’s official: th 1995 Bordeaux vintage is open for business

A surprisingly good 95 these days is the Sociando. I’ve preferred it to the 96, which is also drinking great these days.
by Blanquito
Wed Jun 09, 2021 5:07 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: A Brace of Latours
Replies: 11
Views: 1445

Re: A Brace of Latours

Great read, Ian, and a fun side by side. You know, 96 Left Bank might ultimately be superior to 95 Left Bank (and my experience says it is), but the difference isn’t large if you pick and choose from the best 95s. And the 95s are/were often a better deal at auction than the more inflationary 96s.
by Blanquito
Wed Jun 09, 2021 1:38 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: It’s official: th 1995 Bordeaux vintage is open for business
Replies: 18
Views: 2215

Re: It’s official: th 1995 Bordeaux vintage is open for business

I had a wonderful bottle of the 95 Trotanoy six years ago which was still firmly on the upslope then. Bet it’s off the hook today.
by Blanquito
Mon Jun 07, 2021 9:50 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: So what have you bought lately?
Replies: 4933
Views: 1625971

Re: So what have you bought lately?

Lots and lots of vintage-dated, single-vineyard, artisanal variety Tuscan olive oil. I hope those are from Rare Wine. Their olive oils are outstanding. Yes, indeed. A buddy introduced me to RWC’s olive oils 12 years ago and I’ve been hooked ever since. My kids love them too, drizzled on nearly ever...
by Blanquito
Mon Jun 07, 2021 12:16 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: In the footsteps of Miles and Jack
Replies: 34
Views: 3264

Re: In the footsteps of Miles and Jack

JimHow wrote: Sun Jun 06, 2021 11:32 pm I'm also convinced that if his father had lived a little longer that Major League Baseball would be in better shape than the strikeout-homerun-four-hour-snoozefest it has become.
Holy cow, I had no idea they are related!
by Blanquito
Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:47 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: In the footsteps of Miles and Jack
Replies: 34
Views: 3264

Re: In the footsteps of Miles and Jack

Paul Giamatti looks so young!
by Blanquito
Sun Jun 06, 2021 5:02 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: How was 2018 and 2019 for white Burgundy?
Replies: 11
Views: 1370

Re: How was 2018 and 2019 for white Burgundy?

I really dig the 2017s but when I went back to get more, most everything was sold out already. I think my feelings about the 18s reflect this to a degree — for my mileage, they’re no 2017 but I wanted it to be. But I like the 18s much better than the 15s I’ve tried and I’m sure the higher end 18s, l...
by Blanquito
Sat Jun 05, 2021 11:28 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: How was 2018 and 2019 for white Burgundy?
Replies: 11
Views: 1370

Re: How was 2018 and 2019 for white Burgundy?

I have had better luck than Patrick with 2018 White Burgundies, a lot less ripe than the 2015s, true, less focused and angular than 2017 but the ones I had were really nice. Jacques Carillon Puligny Village, Puligny 1er Referts, also I tried some beautiful Chablis from Fevre, Louis Michel and billa...
by Blanquito
Sat Jun 05, 2021 9:13 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: So what have you bought lately?
Replies: 4933
Views: 1625971

Re: So what have you bought lately?

Joel, I really like the Grassl Liberté for most whites (more than the GGG) and some lighter bodied reds or for smaller pours. The 1855 is great for Bordeaux and other bold wines, but is only marginally (if at all) superior to the Zalto Bordeaux stem (and not as attractive). The Mineralite has become...