Something vinous?

[Aurora Black]

According to Forbes ( www.forbes.com/2003/11/19/cx_np_1119feat.html ) the most expensive still-drinkable wine recently sold in America was a Montrachet 1978 from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti sold by Sotheby's in 2001. The lot of seven bottles brought $167,500, or $23,929 per bottle.

 

[rgraham666]

According to Forbes ( www.forbes.com/2003/11/19/cx_np_1119feat.html ) the most expensive still-drinkable wine recently sold in America was a Montrachet 1978 from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti sold by Sotheby's in 2001. The lot of seven bottles brought $167,500, or $23,929 per bottle.

I think I'll go with Nonny's recommendation.

My character's rich and a vampire. But not insame.

Hi Aurora.

 

[HeyNonnyNonny]

I think I'll go with Nonny's recommendation.

My character's rich and a vampire. But not insame.

Hi Aurora.

You'd also need to know the sommelier who brought the wine to auction, and have cellaring access, and all sorts of other upper-class accoutrements which I assume aren't available to your average vampire.

 

[rgraham666]

You'd also need to know the sommelier who brought the wine to auction, and have cellaring access, and all sorts of other upper-class accoutrements which I assume aren't available to your average vampire.

He's worth about $100 million. When you've been around for 250 years, there's lots of opportunity for 'long-term' investments.

 

[HeyNonnyNonny]

He's worth about $100 million. When you've been around for 250 years, there's lots of opportunity for 'long-term' investments.

If he's been around for 250 years, he should really start buying wines young and running his own cellar.

Better wines, and about as good an investment as any, f you know what you're doing.

 

[R. Richard]

It's an idea. The majority of Lambrusco is, with the best will in the world, swill. However, some high quality Lambrusco is amongst Italy's best wine. Drunk young, they can be wonderful summer wines, dominated by red fruit flavours. Of the four appelations, the pick of the areas is Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce, the most southerly.

Given the requirement for medium sweet wines, if you can lay your heands on a lambrusco amabile it would be a good idea. These are blended with a small amount of Ancellotta which adds a depth of garnet colour and a pronounced, but not dominant sweetness.

Not my bag, but lots of people really enjoy them, and most of the best find their way to the US, particularly the restaurants of Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York. One caveat: I'm yet to drink a single varietal lambrusco from the US which I would recommend to others.

Lambrusco is a bit different from the run of wines [if I want to drink vinegar, I'll drink vinegar.] It is a "friendly" wine on its own or that goes nicely with seafood. I like Lambrusco di Sorbara which has a slightly off-dry taste. I would think that Lambrusco di Sorbara would be a good choice for a first time experience with Lambrusco.

JMHO.

 

[HeyNonnyNonny]

Lambrusco is a bit different from the run of wines [if I want to drink vinegar, I'll drink vinegar.] It is a "friendly" wine on its own or that goes nicely with seafood. I like Lambrusco di Sorbara which has a slightly off-dry taste. I would think that Lambrusco di Sorbara would be a good choice for a first time experience with Lambrusco.

JMHO.

Hey, there's no such thing as a humble opinion in wine . You're right though. Sorbara wines tend to be a bit more accessible than other lambruscos. They open up well in the glass and have a more pronounced floral aroma, though with the characteristic sweet fruit on the palate. The lack of length or complexity in the finish makes me churlish about pairing them with any but the simplest fish dishes.

But as I said, its all just opinion. So long as you think about wine and don't drink anything by Ernst and Julio Gallo, you'll be fine. And you probably know far more about Lambrusco than I do.

 

[cloudy]

I have a sort of general question...

I've yet to find a wine that I truly enjoy. Dry wines are just unpalatable to me, and while I may enjoy the first sip, the aftertaste gets me every time.

What should I try to find something I can enjoy?

 

[HeyNonnyNonny]

I have a sort of general question...

I've yet to find a wine that I truly enjoy. Dry wines are just unpalatable to me, and while I may enjoy the first sip, the aftertaste gets me every time.

What should I try to find something I can enjoy?

The pithy answer is try everything, at least once.

Its also probably the most sensible approach. If I'm running a general tasting, I try to include at least one Chenin Blanc, which is a real room-splitter. You may hate it (a good one smells of wet wool, which is always odd), but it may be the way in you're looking for. Vouvray, in the Loire is the French appelation which is arguably most approachable Chenin.

You could also try fortified wines, like Port or Madeira (though stay away from dry sherries, which probably won't appeal if you don't like dry wines). Other options are beaujolais (fruity reds, made primarily with gamay grapes) which have little flavour on the finish (so not much aftertaste!), and gewurztraminers, which are floral whites tasting primarily of lychees and rose petals.

Happy hunting, and good luck

 

[rgraham666]

If he's been around for 250 years, he should really start buying wines young and running his own cellar.

Better wines, and about as good an investment as any, f you know what you're doing.

He's more into art. Same deal, buys a Van Gogh fresh off the easel, stores it in a warehouse. One hundred and fifty years later he sells it to a Japanese company for $30 mill.

But maybe I'll start thinking about him hiring someone to do the sort of thing you suggested.

 

[R. Richard]

But as I said, its all just opinion. So long as you think about wine and don't drink anything by Ernst and Julio Gallo, you'll be fine. And you probably know far more about Lambrusco than I do.

Now, now, now, HeyNonnyNonny, E&J make a rather nice Muscatel. Not a great Muscatel, mind you, but a good Muscatel. In fact, the E&J Muscatel is preferred by the majority of winos in NYC!

 

[R. Richard]

I have a sort of general question...

I've yet to find a wine that I truly enjoy. Dry wines are just unpalatable to me, and while I may enjoy the first sip, the aftertaste gets me every time.

What should I try to find something I can enjoy?

I would definitely suggest that you try an Italian Lambrusco. A good Lambrusco is a fun wine to drink with lots of fruit flavors. Lanbruscos are also short on the tannins that so many wine fanciers seem to love. [If I want to drink vinegar, I'll drink vinegar.] By the way, a Lambrusco is a sparkling wine.

 

[3113]

Investment in art is different!

He's more into art. Same deal, buys a Van Gogh fresh off the easel, stores it in a warehouse. One hundred and fifty years later he sells it to a Japanese company for $30 mill.

Ron, I'm ONLY going to believe that if he also has a store room full of shitty art. Because no vampire, however cool, can predict what turn the artworld will take--investing in art, afterall, is not like knowing to invest in steel when it looks like the world might be going to war. And just because he IS a vampire doesn't mean he's got good taste in art. So the most likely thing is he just took chances, which means that along with that one Van Gogh (which he got lucky on!), he's also got a warehouse filled with art that will never sell. Clowns on velvet from the 60's. He had such high hopes for them....

 

[Belegon]

Don't mind me, I'm just here to pounce on 3113...

*pounce*

 

[cloudy]

Ron, I'm ONLY going to believe that if he also has a store room full of shitty art. Because no vampire, however cool, can predict what turn the artworld will take--investing in art, afterall, is not like knowing to invest in steel when it looks like the world might be going to war. And just because he IS a vampire doesn't mean he's got good taste in art. So the most likely thing is he just took chances, which means that along with that one Van Gogh (which he got lucky on!), he's also got a warehouse filled with art that will never sell. Clowns on velvet from the 60's. He had such high hopes for them....

Don't forget the poker playing dogs.

About the only wine I've found so far that I really like is Sangria, and I'm sure it's because of the fruit in it.

Maybe it's just one of those things I'll never learn to appreciate.

 

[3113]

So here's my offer. I'll continue to take advantage of your wisdom throughout this forum, and if anyone has any queries about booze, wants a recommendation for some cheap plonk or a special evening, come to this thread and I'll do what I can. If people want summaries of articles I'm writing, weekly suggestions, or just answers to basic questions, let me know.

This is very, VERY kind of you, HNN! Our own AH sommelier! How cool is that?

I'll certainly be taking advantage of you sometime in the future, either for fiction or a special night out. Thank you!

 

[3113]

Don't mind me, I'm just here to pounce on 3113...

*pounce*

Hey! No more chocolate cheese cake for you! Pouncing on innocent tourists and threadjacking the wine discussion....

 

[Belegon]

Hey! No more chocolate cheese cake for you! Pouncing on innocent tourists and threadjacking the wine discussion....

sorry...

Inniskillin...a canadian white made from grapes grown on the edge of the snow line, an extremely fruity and potent dessert wine that tastes like liquid alcoholic icing and is both highly addictive and expensive...

there, now I posted about wine...

edit: after reading back...Whoa! Inniskillin is not THAT expensive...about $35 a glass at a decent restaurant...expensive enough to test my edge of the $ vs. value thing...

 

[gauchecritic]

Do I have to report to the crush thread now on HeyNonny? (for the wit and sarcasm)

I have a question.

My brother bought a bottle of chateau de chaissile[sp.] as a joke some years ago when he spotted a bottle in France and was minded of the Four Yorkshiremen, M.Python sketch.

I haven't plucked up the courage yet to drink it with him. What is it like?

 

[HeyNonnyNonny]

I would definitely suggest that you try an Italian Lambrusco. A good Lambrusco is a fun wine to drink with lots of fruit flavors. Lanbruscos are also short on the tannins that so many wine fanciers seem to love. [If I want to drink vinegar, I'll drink vinegar.] By the way, a Lambrusco is a sparkling wine.

This is superb advice, Cloudy (although you can find good Lambruscos which don't sparkle). The lesson, as always... drink as much as you can, as widely as you can, and believe your palate more than any book on the market (even mine).

R Richard, although you're right that wine fanciers enjoy tannin, often to excess, a tanninned wine is not necessarily acidic. Vinegar and tannin should taste different. A "chewy" wine is tannic (like a very young Bordeaux, or a cheap Australian Shiraz). A "vinegary" wine is acidic (like a cheap Sauvignon Blanc or a dry Portuguese red.

 

[kendo1]

I believe the word is frizzante, or petilant.
Not sparkling.

Ken

 

[HeyNonnyNonny]

Inniskillin...a canadian white made from grapes grown on the edge of the snow line, an extremely fruity and potent dessert wine that tastes like liquid alcoholic icing and is both highly addictive and expensive...QUOTE]

Yum... For those interested in the science, ice wines are as complex and wonderful as they are because they are made with grapes crushed when frozen. The formation of ice crystals forces water from the grape to the surface, and upon crushing leaves a juice with a higher sugar content, which is therefore sweeter and "grape-ier" when fermented.

The classic eisweins of the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region of Germany remain the standard to which all others aspire. However, the Cannucks are getting pretty damned impressive in their own right, and Canadian ice wine (especially from the Niagara escarpment) represent tremendous value for money, unlike any German eiswein.

 

[kendo1]

Do I have to report to the crush thread now on HeyNonny? (for the wit and sarcasm)

I have a question.

My brother bought a bottle of chateau de chaissile[sp.] as a joke some years ago when he spotted a bottle in France and was minded of the Four Yorkshiremen, M.Python sketch.

I haven't plucked up the courage yet to drink it with him. What is it like?

Chateau de Chasselas?

We lived in hole int road.

 

[HeyNonnyNonny]

Do I have to report to the crush thread now on HeyNonny? (for the wit and sarcasm)

I have a question.

My brother bought a bottle of chateau de chaissile[sp.] as a joke some years ago when he spotted a bottle in France and was minded of the Four Yorkshiremen, M.Python sketch.

I haven't plucked up the courage yet to drink it with him. What is it like?

Firstly, I'm proud and honoured to be considered a viable target for the crush thread. Though I can't help but feel you're misguided.

Secondly, let me assist you with the spelling; its Chateau de Chasselas.

As to the wine, drink it. Especially since its free. Its a Maconnais Burgundy (made not far from the town of Macon), which means its a classic, AOC (appelation d'origine controllee) Burgundy, though not a premier or grand cru. If memory serves, it has vielles vignes (old vines) status. This is a good thing. It means low yields, and a potent, well-structured wine.

For the buffs, it'll be 100% pinot noir varietal, and in many ways typical of a burgundian wine. You can expect notes of heather, hickory and blackcurrant which are distinctive, and particularly attractive (at least to my taste).

As to food, it'll stand up to a steak, or compliment a good chese board. Its probably at its best with slow cooked lamb or game. For the veggies amongst you, a gratin or baked onion dish would be sensible (or at least, as sensible as you can hope, having turned your back on meat and fish).

Also, check the vintage. 1998 is probably bad news. Anything younger will be very palatable (Macon is unusually dry, and having a VERY good run at the moment). If it happens to be a 2002, slip me an address and I'll be there, panting, in less time than it'll take your dad to dig it out of the coal shed.

 

[kendo1]

I thought gamay.