I Need More Money

More money? With the exception of a handful of recent lottery winners, we could all use some extra cash to get those elusive gifts or selfish pleasures. What would you want if money were no object? An estate in France; a Lamborghini or Ferrari or two in the drive; or, perhaps, a private island in the Caribbean.
Me? I want to try some of the storied wines of the world: Chateau D 'Yquem, Margaux, Ridge Monte Bello, even the oft-overrated Opus One.
These names have the ability to conjure of dizzying, ethereal, and opulent bliss.
So, would anyone like to "loan" me a few hundred for the Opus or Ridge; how about a couple grand for the Margaux or Yquem? No? I'd let you have a sniff and a sip.
Well...I guess we could lower our expectations just a hair and settle for some amazing bargains:

1. Domaine du Banneret 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape (~$55) -- what a luscious, mouthwatering yet elegant and classic blend.

 2. Biltmore Reserve Dry Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (~$27) -- Fantastic now, but the tannins tell me a few years will yield many dividends.

3. Carmine Granata Mendoza Cab Sav 2010 (~$18) -- Yes! Another grape grows well in Mendoza Argentina. This Cab, to me, has a unique terroir of earthiness, along with the customary currant and blackberry. Throw in a bit of Malbec smokiness on the finish and I'm happy.

4. Domaine Rouge-Bleu Mistral 2009 (~$23) -- I know I've written before about this gem, and I shouldn't because they make such a limited quantity; but, it still blows my mind and mouth with a true "baby Chateauneuf" all-encompassing sensory trip.

5. Orin Swift Abstract (Red California Blend) 2010 (~$35-40) -- Had never heard of this one until our waiter at Knife & Fork in Spruce Pine, NC gave us a taste (you can see from the picture what happened next). It starts off like Old World barnyard, and drives home to a sleek modern finish. Elegant but not restrained.

These relatively low-priced gems will sparkle now or into the next decade. Let me know if you need more information on where to find these in your area. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year and stay safe!

Labeling Yourself As A Label Buyer?

Face it, our brains are wired to look at attractive faces, cute animals, and stunning views. Marketing professionals have known this fact for ages and have played us for fools countless times. Don't let yourself fall into the trap of buying wine based on the label or fancy bottle! As in relationships, look past the trappings and get down to the substance of what's inside.

Here are some tips to help you:

1. Have an idea what you are searching for -- red or white isn't enough to go on.

2. If a gift, ask the wine merchant if they know what wines your friends like.

3. Read the back label! Many wines now have brief descriptions of the juice that lies within the bottle. There are also some that even have pairing suggestions.

4. The laws of the country of origin will dictate what information must appear on the label. Look for vintage information. If the year of harvesting is not listed, then it is a blend of more than one year. That doesn't signal a "cheap wine" necessarily -- champagne is typically listed as "NV" or non-vintage to indicate that the best of a couple of years' harvests have been used. Other wines will show no information as to year or NV.

5. What grape(s)? A common misconception is that blends are bad. Au contraire! Some of the world's best wines are blends of a few or many grapes. This one below is a great example:

This is a beautiful "baby" Chateauneuf du Pape! A customer of mine described the label as looking like it was made on MS Word, yet it is a perfect example of a somewhat cheesy label with a crazy good wine behind it. 

6. The sad truth is that a label is no indicator of quality. The cute, the absurd, the profane, the comical have all been used to bite the buyer's wallet. Use common sense and get all the info you can. Ask the merchant, ask your friends, Google it!

 

This must be what you turn to after tiring of Barefoot Cellars.