Wine thread - what are you enjoying?

[GD Fan]

Forge acquitted itself well, won some coverts for sure and at least one save in google maps that I noticed.

The Weil was the consensus wine of the night, I think. Lauer was also excellent, only slightly outdone by the Weil. BA Dr. Loosen was in a league of its own, just totally different from the others. So, hard to say where it fell - just so stylistically different at this stage.

Overall a really fun combination of wines.

There was talk of doing Paolo Bea next time. I hope that happens soon!

 

[CapMan]

Always keen to try new grapes - this is made from a variety which is indigenous to Romania. A little like Viognier - if you like aromatic wines it’s super

 

[SIY]

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Always keen to try new grapes - this is made from a variety which is indigenous to Romania. A little like Viognier - if you like aromatic wines it’s super

LOVE Romanian wines. I’ve been trying to get someone in Finger Lakes to try planting Feteasca Neagra, which I think will do great here.

 

[CapMan]

LOVE Romanian wines. I’ve been trying to get someone in Finger Lakes to try planting Feteasca Neagra, which I think will do great here.

It’s delicious - the vineyards are in Transylvania !

 

[SIY]

It’s delicious - the vineyards are in Transylvania !

I have a friend there who has promised to take me on a wine tour if I can make it over. Next year, I hope…

 

[CapMan]

I have a friend there who has promised to take me on a wine tour if I can make it over. Next year, I hope…

Very beautiful - the Transylvanian alps are great if you like hiking and Brown bears. I stayed in Brasov ..

 

[CapMan]

LOVE Romanian wines. I’ve been trying to get someone in Finger Lakes to try planting Feteasca Neagra, which I think will do great here.

The other grape it reminds me of is Torrontes

 

[CapMan]

Another first for me - a Sicilian appassimento wine, where the grapes are gently dried before fermentation.

 

[mjgraves]

Recently been drinking Le Cigar Volant 2015 & 2016 from Randall Grahm's Bonny Doon. RG is the original Rhone Ranger in the US. His story is interesting on its own. The tale of this wine is also worth telling.

For decades he made his flagship wine to suit his own desires. He struggled to sell it at $40. In the past, I considered myself lucky to buy it at WTSO.com for $25. In 2018, he changed the blend. Less Mouvedre. Made for a more fruity, approachable wine that sells for half the price. Around $20. I was sad. in fact, he was preparing to sell Bonny Doon, which he did.

Late in 2023 an online wine merchant goes bankrupt. The bankruptcy trustee is ordered to liquidate the inventory. I managed to buy a few cases of the 2015 & 2016 for just $8!

 

[CapMan]

Recently been drinking Le Cigar Volant 2015 & 2016 from Randall Grahm's Bonny Doon. RG is the original Rhone Ranger in the US. His story is interesting on its own. The tale of this wine is also worth telling.

For decades he made his flagship wine to suit his own desires. He struggling to sell it at $40. In the past, I considered myself lucky to buy it at WTSO.com for $25. In 2018, he changed the blend. Less Mouvedre. Made for a more fruit approachable wine that sells for half the price. Around $20. I was sad.

Late in 2023 an online wine merchant goes bankrupt. The bankruptcy trustee is ordered to liquidate the inventory. I managed to buy a few cases of the 2015 & 2016 for just $8!
View attachment 367565

Great story - enjoy. I think I will be moving onto red later this evening

 

[CapMan]

Quite a lot of tannin, but still delicious

 

[SIY]

Recently been drinking Le Cigar Volant 2015 & 2016 from Randall Grahm's Bonny Doon. RG is the original Rhone Ranger in the US. His story is interesting on its own. The tale of this wine is also worth telling.

For decades he made his flagship wine to suit his own desires. He struggling to sell it at $40. In the past, I considered myself lucky to buy it at WTSO.com for $25. In 2018, he changed the blend. Less Mouvedre. Made for a more fruit approachable wine that sells for half the price. Around $20. I was sad.

Late in 2023 an online wine merchant goes bankrupt. The bankruptcy trustee is ordered to liquidate the inventory. I managed to buy a few cases of the 2015 & 2016 for just $8!
View attachment 367565

You got a bargain! I knew Randall a bit when I lived in CA, interesting guy, fun to talk with. His Old Telegram was a favorite of mine.

 

[mjgraves]

You got a bargain! I knew Randall a bit when I lived in CA, interesting guy, fun to talk with. His Old Telegram was a favorite of mine.

For a short time, a friend and I had a wine podcast. He had been in the business. Randall was one of our guests. That's how I discovered his wines.

 

[SIY]

For a short time, a friend and I had a wine podcast. He had been in the business. Randall was one of our guests. That's how I discovered his wines.

There were a few, a very few, skilled winemakers in CA doing Rhone varieties. Randall, Bob Lindquist, Steve Edmunds, John McCready come to mind. A lot more highly touted ones making dreadful wines, alas.

 

[CapMan]

There were a few, a very few, skilled winemakers in CA doing Rhone varieties. Randall, Bob Lindquist, Steve Edmunds, John McCready come to mind. A lot more highly touted ones making dreadful wines, alas.

Any tips greatly appreciated - I’ve never tried a Rhone style wine from the West Coast.

 

[SIY]

Any tips greatly appreciated - I’ve never tried a Rhone style wine from the West Coast.

"Rhone" is one of those wine terms that everyone uses and is kinda meaningless. The Southern and Northern Rhone are more different than Bordeaux and Burgundy- different soil, different climate, and (mostly) different grapes. The North is Syrah country, the South tends more to Grenache and Mourvedre, with Syrah being blending grape (generalization but mostly true).

Either way, Edmunds-St. John is, IMO, the very best in the state. I particularly like his Wiley-Fenaughty Vineyard Syrah from the Sierra Foothills, but I have never had a wine less than excellent from him.

I think Lane Tanner has started a new label, so if she's making a Syrah, that is likely to be superb as well. Some Googling will get you the name of her new venture.

 

[CapMan]

"Rhone" is one of those wine terms that everyone uses and is kinda meaningless. The Southern and Northern Rhone are more different than Bordeaux and Burgundy- different soil, different climate, and (mostly) different grapes. The North is Syrah country, the South tends more to Grenache and Mourvedre, with Syrah being blending grape (generalization but mostly true).

Either way, Edmunds-St. John is, IMO, the very best in the state. I particularly like his Wiley-Fenaughty Vineyard Syrah from the Sierra Foothills, but I have never had a wine less than excellent from him.

I think Lane Tanner has started a new label, so if she's making a Syrah, that is likely to be superb as well. Some Googling will get you the name of her new venture.

Very much appreciated. And let’s not limit the Rhône’s greatness to red wine - Condrieu holds a very special place in my heart

 

[SIY]

Condrieu holds a very special place in my heart

I have Fawlty Towers stories about that town... but there's no Viognier in California (or, IME, anywhere else) that can compare. And let's not forget St-Peray, St-Joseph Blanc, Hermitage Blanc, and (if you're a brave soul) Brezeme.

 

[Mikig]

Tenuta Ulisse Amaranta, Montepulciano di Abruzzo, central/southern Italy, truly remarkable.

 

[Mikig]

Travaglini Gattinara, northern Italy, Nebbiolo. Another gorgeous wine.