[Fugly M3]

Great bottle of Castilla (tempranillo) with dinner tonight in Galicia (Spain). Last day of the Camino de Santiago tomorrow.

[hubbahubba]

I wasn’t in the mood for red, but Mrs H was. I figure great! I’ll open a bottle of an Az wine, (reasonably priced), but still one that we picked at a wine festival last year. I like it, but her actual response was “what kerosene are you bringing me?” Was browsing OT LOL.😎

[Roman]

Typically, I'm not a fan of Pinot Noir. I find it too light and thin, like wine flavored water. So I was more than a little surprised by how much I enjoyed this. It also paired beautifully with Mexican food.

[RickFLM4]

Delivery season (aka not scorching hot out) has begun. Up first is an AO Cabernet I have not yet tried but everything else from AO has been so good I figured we’d give it a try with 3 bottles. Will post once we try it.

Lots more coming over the next 2 mos.

[hubbahubba]

RickFLM4 Delivery season has begun indeed! Received 2 shipments yesterday, AO and Odette/Plumpjack. Good call on your AO!

[BMWGUYinCO]

Originally Posted by Roman

Typically, I'm not a fan of Pinot Noir. I find it too light and thin, like wine flavored water.

Have you tried Pinots from California?

[flybigjet]

The Minister of War & Finance and I are driving out to SoCal for Thanksgiving to meet up with the in-laws and another couple who are our best friends.

She made reservations for tastings at Tablas Creek (she's a member of one of their "super-secret by invitation only" wine clubs) and Linne Calodo the day before Thanksgiving and at Adelaida (food pairing/tasting ) and Alta Colina the day after Thanksgiving.

All four are in Paso, as my wife grew up near there and has been trying to get our friends to meet us down there for ages (since we live in CO and they live in NorCal, it's harder than you'd think). The three of them are *serious* wine snobs. Me? Wine's pretty much wasted on me, so I always end up as the wine carrier/designated driver.

It should be a good time though- we always have fun together.

R.

[UncleWede]

I upgraded the drink package on the cruise, so I was afforded two bottles of water and a bottle of wine up to $60 with each dinner.

The first night, I allowed our waitress to talk me into an Italian (we were in Spain) Il Davinci something or other. Nice red to go with the NY I was having. Right at the $60 mark. The legs on that thing!!!

By the time we got to Italy, I was picking Spanish and Argentine wines, dropped into the $40 range. And on fish night I noticed they had a variation on Santa Margharita Pinot Grigio up around $50. Someone at a table near us selected the same bottle, but only drank 1 glass. We helped them not waste it.

Seems if I'm spending more than $2-4 for a bottle, I actually enjoy wine!

[Roman]

Originally Posted by BMWGUYinCO

Have you tried Pinots from California?

I have, almost exclusively. Just not a fan. But I'd definitely drink that Windracer again.

[dradernh]

Every once in a while, I like to re-experience one of my favorite California Cabs. We're having filet mignon from Bolander Farm in Russellville, Ohio tonight, and it's an excellent reason to pull out a 2018 Alexander Valley Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon.

[hubbahubba]

dradernh some pics of the Silver Oak winery in Alexander Valley. They have a very nice, modern facility.

[Condorll]

Originally Posted by hubbahubba

Dynamite. Gotta love the Rutherford dust.

Nickel & Nickel is one of my fave's!!!

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by hubbahubba

dradernh some pics of the Silver Oak winery in Alexander Valley. They have a very nice, modern facility.

That's very nice. We've been to the one in Napa (many years ago), but not Alexander Valley.

[kscarrol]

Just got the email that my club shipment from RAEN is on its way! Beautiful Pinots...

https://www.raenwinery.com

[dradernh]

I picked up the following this evening at my favorite wine shop. A 65% discount reduced it to $25/bottle.

It's a little unusual for a California red wine: at 13.1%, it's got very low alcohol, and it's fairly well-balanced with not too much fruit. I wouldn't mind more acid, but at the price that's nit-picking. All in all, it's an excellent food wine, and will be very easy-drinking for guests who aren't into wine. This is a very flexible California red.

I'm going back tomorrow to stock-up. I haven't done that in years, but my taste buds (and bank balance) say it's that good.

[LDT]

Chateau Montelena Cabernet

[kscarrol]

^ Been to long since I’ve had a bottle but an excellent wine.

[LDT]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

^ Been to long since I’ve had a bottle but an excellent wine.

Not widely available here in HHI. Discovered a couple of 1995 vintage hidden away in my wine keeper. Actually somewhat afraid to open one as I’m afraid it may have aged out. Always properly stored with the exception of 3 moves since I bought it. We'll see.

[kscarrol]

Properly stored a ‘95 should be fine. Had a bottle of 1974 Heitz Martha’s Vineyard a couple years ago and it was excellent. Sure, maybe a bit past its prime but delicious.

[evil-G-nius]

Originally Posted by hubbahubba

dradernh some pics of the Silver Oak winery in Alexander Valley. They have a very nice, modern facility.

This facility is pretty new...like in the last say...6-7 years. I used to work down the street at Soda Rock Winery which mostly burned down a few years ago. This Silver Oak was under construction during that time.

[RickFLM4]

Big delivery day today - Part 1: Realm

[Esteban]

^ Winston...