Any Wine Collectors here?

[YosemiteSam]

Wow, thanks Hoov. Lots of good information on wines to try there.

I haven't opened the Caymus yet, I hope to this weekend once (hopefully) everything calms down. It's been crazy busy since around Wednesday of last week and will continue through this Wednesday. The Doubleback Cabs are due to arrive tomorrow I believe. I'm very excited to try it too.

That said, I've actually tried several wines over the last seven days. We have a bunch of consultants in town for this huge project we have going and the owner of my company takes them out for nice dinners every night and I go with them. I wish I had wrote down the ones I tired. Some were fantastic. Especially the Sauvignon Blanc I had last night.

I would go broke QUICK if I had a cellar that could hold 240 bottles haha. Actually, I spent too much too quickly already. (the 2 Caymus and 3 Doubleback all in the same week)

I intend to drink the wines too. Though the more valuable ones that may not be my favorite, I would part with if their value goes up.

 

[BigStar]

All classy folks go with Zuko the way it is meant to be sipped lightly

Just having fun, not poking fun, etc. You'll seem to really know what you're talking about here. Will bookmark just in case have to buy a nice bottle for a dinner party in-laws, etc.

 

[Hoov]

Wow, thanks Hoov. Lots of good information on wines to try there.

I haven't opened the Caymus yet, I hope to this weekend once (hopefully) everything calms down. It's been crazy busy since around Wednesday of last week and will continue through this Wednesday. The Doubleback Cabs are due to arrive tomorrow I believe. I'm very excited to try it too.

That said, I've actually tried several wines over the last seven days. We have a bunch of consultants in town for this huge project we have going and the owner of my company takes them out for nice dinners every night and I go with them. I wish I had wrote down the ones I tired. Some were fantastic. Especially the Sauvignon Blanc I had last night.

I would go broke QUICK if I had a cellar that could hold 240 bottles haha. Actually, I spent too much too quickly already. (the 2 Caymus and 3 Doubleback all in the same week)

I intend to drink the wines too. Though the more valuable ones that may not be my favorite, I would part with if their value goes up.

It took some time to build up the wine cellar. I took several classes at a wine school. Im 3 short of a professional sommelier certification. I may start up again this winter.

But during the time I was taking classes we were sampling and learning about a lot of different wines. I also was receiving monthly newsletters where different wines that were available locally were reviewed. It was nice because they listed wines from all over the world, not just domestic and the wines were selected and reviewed by a sommelier. So every month I would go buy one each of the wines that were reviewed plus ones that we sampled in class or ones that were highly rated in the PA Chairmen select program.

Then if I really liked one I would go back and get a few bottles. So I ended up buying about 25 bottles per month - some as cheap as 10$ and some a little more pricey. But I was always buying about 5-10 more bottles than I was drinking and after about 6 months I had about 40 bottles sitting on the basement floor. That's when I decided to invest in decent wine rack and I decided to go with a tall double depth rack. It doesn't take up much space at all and its real solid and sturdy. That was a Christmas present to myself one year.

You will be surprised how fast you can build up a nice collection if you just buy an extra 5 bottles a month that you don't plan to drink right away.

I must confess that when I go to the wine store now im like a little kid at the toy store - so what happens is I end up almost always purchasing more than I intended to.

I live in Philadelphia and some of the wine stores have wines that are "chairmen select" wines - which means the chairmen of the PA liquor board has accepted these wines. The rules are generally they have to be a certain quality that the chairmen gives an approval to and they have to be discounted a certain %. So sometimes I find great wines that are available for cheap because a winery wants to liquidate some of their assets and they just use the chairmen program to do so. The only thing is that these are not shelf wines, once they are sold that's it, the store doesn't restock that item. So when I see ones that I want I get tempted to buy a few before they are all bought up.

Anyway, I love talking about wines and sharing information. It would be cool if people posted in this thread when they try something new that they really like.

When I come across something that's special i'll try and remember to post in here.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Cool man, I appreciate it. While I've drank wines for some time, I only recently started becoming more serious about it. I still have tons to learn. I should look for a wine class around where I live.

 

[Hoov]

Cool man, I appreciate it. While I've drank wines for some time, I only recently started becoming more serious about it. I still have tons to learn. I should look for a wine class around where I live.

I was at the point you are probably at now when my girlfriend got me a great gift one year. It was a private wine tasting party in my own house hosted by a sommelier - I was allowed to invite up to 20 people. The sommelier came to my house and brought different wines he picked out that ran the spectrum from a light bodied white to a full bodied red. It lasted about 2/12 hours, was real educational and a great time. We were pretty lit up at the end too .

After that I looked into wine tasting classes and saw that the same school offered more intensive classes that came with professional certifications so I signed up.

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

Im not a wine connoisseur (although I do like it), but this thread piqued my curiosity about a few things.... and I found this:

 

[YosemiteSam]

Im not a wine connoisseur (although I do like it), but this thread piqued my curiosity about a few things.... and I found this:

Fred is my all time favorite Ripple drinker!

 

[jnday]

I collect a box of two every month.

 

[CATCH17]

What is a good basic dry wine that is a little stronger in alcholo content and doesn't cost a ton?

 

[YosemiteSam]

What is a good basic dry wine that is a little stronger in alcholo content and doesn't cost a ton?

I would say a Sauvignon Blanc is probably the type you're looking for. I've only tried Sauvignon Blanc when I'm out at a restaurant so I've never actually bought a bottle. Maybe Hoov can give you a better option.

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

I collect a box of two every month.

lol

 

[Hoov]

What is a good basic dry wine that is a little stronger in alcholo content and doesn't cost a ton?

do you want a white or a red ?

The red will be higher in alcohol %. And generally wines from warmer areas have more alcohol.

You could look for a shiraz from Australia (red) that will be about 14-15% maybe 15.5% and they are generally value buys. Ask someone at the wine store for an Australian shiraz and let them know the price you are looking for.

A Cotes du Rhone would work as well - will probably be more expensive by a few dollars but worth it - though the store will likely have a limited selection of them unless you go to a large store or a premium wine and spirits store that may have more varieties.

Cabernet Saugvignon form California generally around 14-14.5% alcohol - You might find some cheaper ones that are good value buys from the Paso Robles region of California - will be cheaper than Napa valley wines but that is an up and coming area. I like the "Edna Valley" Cabernet from that area.

The white wines are generally 12.5-14%. Sauvingnon blanc or chardonnay from califrornia would be a good choice.

 

[DallasCowpoke]

I collect a box of two every month.

lol

It's funny, but I actually keep a box of Franzia red and white wine in my coffers at all times.

I cook w/ wine so much and sometimes in large quantities, that it only makes sense. Plus it's on sale at my local Tom Thumb every 3rd week and comes in handy for those after-hours parties, when there's nothing else to drink in the house, or everyone's too drunk to drive to get reinforcements.

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

It's funny, but I actually keep a box of Franzia red and white wine in my coffers at all times.

I cook w/ wine so much and sometimes in large quantities, that it only makes sense. Plus it's on sale at my local Tom Thumb every 3rd week and comes in handy for those after-hours parties, when there's nothing else to drink in the house, or everyone's too drunk to drive to get reinforcements.

"box o wine" is my sangria wine...

 

[DallasCowpoke]

"box o wine" is my sangria wine...

You're my kinda people!

 

[CATCH17]

do you want a white or a red ?

The red will be higher in alcohol %. And generally wines from warmer areas have more alcohol.

You could look for a shiraz from Australia (red) that will be about 14-15% maybe 15.5% and they are generally value buys. Ask someone at the wine store for an Australian shiraz and let them know the price you are looking for.

A Cotes du Rhone would work as well - will probably be more expensive by a few dollars but worth it - though the store will likely have a limited selection of them unless you go to a large store or a premium wine and spirits store that may have more varieties.

Cabernet Saugvignon form California generally around 14-14.5% alcohol - You might find some cheaper ones that are good value buys from the Paso Robles region of California - will be cheaper than Napa valley wines but that is an up and coming area. I like the "Edna Valley" Cabernet from that area.

The white wines are generally 12.5-14%. Sauvingnon blanc or chardonnay from califrornia would be a good choice.

Thank you.


Red. I don't like white.

 

[Sarge]

I have a collection of cans. That's about it.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I have a collection of cans. That's about it.

Don't make me open a can on you!

 

[Doc50]

It's odd. Back when I still lived in Texas, I used to work for a company that had several master sommelier on staff. I drink a little wine back then, but not much. Since moving to New York back in January 2005, I've slowly started to drink more wines and recently, bought a wine cellar.

Today, I bought my first wines for my new collection. (by collection, I mean wines I won't just open to drink on a random night) I bought three bottle of 2011 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla WA. The first one I plan to drink. The other two, are for the collection.

Any other wine collectors here?

Pack up and go to Napa Valley this weekend.
They're harvesting and processing in September and October, and the weather and that grape smell in the air are just magic. There are several good inns and hotels in the area, and a wine-tasting tour with a driver is a must. Will take 2-3 days to hit all the wineries just in Napa Valley, which is known for its top Cab-Sauv's. The Chardonnay's are also very good, as well as Petit Verdot and Malbec blends.

A very good blended Napa table wine for those at entry level of palate is Menage a Trois, from Folie a Deux Winery; it's a blend of Cab, Merlot, and Zinfandel that can be had for less than $10. The grapes are relatively less expensive than other Napa fruit because they're somewhat variable production overruns from varied fields, but this is high quality wine that has become one of the most popular in the US. (I guess everyone would like to have a little menage a trois once in a while)

Great wineries to visit in Napa include Sterling, Sattui, Hendry Ranch, William Hill, Beringer, Domaine Chandon & Mumm's (champagne), and (best of all) Castello di Amorosa.

Enjoy, and join some clubs that ship to you directly - many of the best are not available through routine retail.

 

[YosemiteSam]

As for clubs, which ones do anyone here use? I've looked at a few, the only thing close to a club that I used was Vivino which I actually got a good deal on the Doubleback bottles.