Nothing tonight cause Christmas eve was a bit too much! But a friend did find this unopened case of 1961 Lynch Bages in his grandfathers cellar. I gotta say i’m looking forward to trying one
@ScottW58 Now, that should be worth drinking. A little long in the tooth for a 5th growth, but Lynch-Bages routinely exceeds its 1855 expectations. The '61 Lynch-Bages was holding up well in late 2003 when Clive Coates tasted a number of the better '61s. He suggested it would remain at top form through 2010. Assuming the wines have sat undisturbed it a relatively cool, damp cellar, the wine should be delicous, if a bit past its absolute peak.
Doing a solo Christmas this year - recovering from recent surgery - so dug deep into the cellar and came up with a 1978 Inglenook cab to pair with a hickory smoked prime rib and fondant potatoes. Both were excellent, the Inglenook was one of the last bottles of a case of '78/'79’s I bought back in the mid-80’s and ‘rediscovered’ in the very back of my storage unit when repairing it last year.
@dbarrym That 1978 Inglenook Cask Cabernet was a very nice wine between 15 and 25 years old. Haven’t had any since around 2003-4.
If I remember correctly that was a John Richburg wine - he wasn’t head winemaker yet, but all of the wines from the '73 Cask cabs through the late '80s were wines he either made or had a significant hand in. If anyone, almost singlehandedly, restore the reputation of Inglenook’s top wines, it was John.
@rpm Agree…sadly I had placed the case in long term storage at the parent’s house when I moved to MA in '95 and forgot about (along with a few others, including a half-case of Opus One '84 and half-case of Richebourg '88) that I re-discovered when clearing out the basement storage cabinet a couple of years ago. Drank most of it over the last couple of years but kept a couple of bottles as references. Need to better manage my records of when to drink!
2007 Bodega Margon Pricum Prieto Picudo Vino de la Tierra de León
with Flannery Wagyu burgers, caramelized shallots, roasted Brussels sprouts and fries.
A good evening…
You are not alone JM, since casemates stopped allowing imgur pics it’s not as fun posting…so over the last who knows
2004 Nicholas Cole reserve cab
2014 Chateau Senjac
2012 A Tribute to Grace Shake Ridge Grenache
2004 Stoney Hill Chard
2006 Arcadian Pinot Noir Francesca’s Cuvée
2012 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino
2015 Gérard Boulay Sancerre Monts Damnés
And more i’m sure…and yes we have a drinking problem
BTW the Nicholas Cole is really drinking well!!!
So Klez finally decided to grace me with his presence so I dropped a couple of old Bordeaux on him with an American Waygu steak and roasted duck fat potatoes Wine was great but the company was fantastic!
Started with 2002 Iron Horse LD (late disgorged) - magnificent.
With dinner - rare filet with green peppercorn sauce, carrots and roasted potatoes: 1989 Niebaum-Coppola Rubicon
This was a bottle I’ve had since the day it was bottled (by my cousin Bill) on May 21, 1992 (date handwritten on the top of the cork). Despite the less than stellar reviews I’ve seen (none very recent), this was a gorgeous wine. Still young (not a hint of bricking at the edges at 29 solid years old) with a wonderfully complex nose, all of the notes I expect from that ancient Inglenook vineyard. Slight hint of eucalyptus, but only enough to add interest and complexity, not heavy (as it sometimes was with Heitz Martha’s Vineyard). Tight to start with, opened nicely over the hour of dinner. All sorts of curranty Cabernet flavors, with hits of earth, leather and cedar. Reminiscent of 66 Bordeaux in style, still felt like a young wine. Finish very long, smooth and satisfying. Probably one of the half dozen nicest bottles of California Cabernet I’ve had in the past 10 years. Not the equal of the 1968 Martini Special Selections on the 2012 Veterans Tour, Cathy’s 2001 Kronos (or her 2001 Napa Valley), the 2001 Mario P-M Miriam (a rare bottling), or any of the top 1970 Cabernets but certainly a wine to be considered in the same class. Certainly in the same league as a good cru classe Bordeaux from an equally good year. If you have any of this in your cellar, hold it another 5-10 years!
@klezman Bill has had a mobile bottling line business for more than 35 years - he was one of the first and best - and has done quite a few very high end, small lot bottling projects over those 4 decades - this was one of them. I was visiting that day and went over to Niebaum-Coppola with him for part of the day. He always received a case or two of everything he bottled as samples and for quality control purposes… he told me to keep that bottle and put it away for 20 years or so… My bottle doesn’t have a label on it, but I have the original label…
2008 BV Tapestry. Somebody was selling it a couple of days ago (2014 I believe for about $50), so I thought I’d try the 1 bottle I had. I found it on the “good wine” rack, about 7 shelves down…way below the Turleys, Shafers, Chappellets and its more distinguished relative…Georges. Gotta say, It’s darn good.
@bolligra I can’t wait to start trying the few I have after at least a few (++) additional years.
The one WD had at the launch party sealed the deal for me when it was offered.
Weird… Without looking through this thread, I decided to open and try the 2015 Bell D6 Blend with a heavy steak, potato, and veggies lunch. Then again, we are all drinking the same juice and recording our experiences here, so that can’t be too coincidental, right?
Not surprisingly like the rest of Bell wines, it needs more years in the bottle. I had to cork it 3/4th’s way through… for science tomorrow night. Even though I have an anniversary gift to get and the typical excessive holiday splurging, I would get another case of this mix in a heartbeat… or something equal to the deal offered earlier in the year. Nudge, nudge.
@InFrom He asked for beef (when given a choice of beef, lamb, pizza). I thought about letting him choose the wine but then decided I didn’t care which wine he wanted
Yeah, of course he got a taste. And extra chances to smell. It’s his birthday, after all!
1998 Fontanafredda Barolo Paiagallo La Villa with grilled chicken limone, spinach & cheese ravioli (in a rosemary and thyme butter sauce, topped with goat cheese) and broccoli al dente.
2016 Meadowcroft PN Anderson Valley
With the Lago special for the night which apparently involves chicken breast, garlic, tomato, provolone, prosciutto, and linguine.
We hit a old-school (est. 1959), local pizzeria in the Bronx on our way north of the city for our vacation. Excellent mushroom/sausage pie.
With leftovers of last night’s 2011 Wellington Estate Zin, followed by 2011 Coto de Imaz Reserva Rioja. Not the best, but points added for rosy memories of buying it in Barcelona – in a supermarket, no less.
We spent Christmas in Louisville, KY at an AirBnB. Plenty of wine and Mimosas were consumed.
N.V. Spumanti Gemin (Bortolomiol Guglielmo)
N.V. Domaine des Caillots Touraine Sparkling Brut
N.V. Aneri Prosecco Brut Valdobbiadene Millesimato
2010 St. Supéry Virtu
2017 Nervi Conterno Gattinara Rosa
2013 Marotti Campi Rosato Marche IGT
2006 Lang Wines Zinfandel Reserve
I had a glass of Pahlmeyer Jayson Red Blend (unsure of vintage) with dinner at Ruth’s Chris and it was a great match with filet mignon.
While in KY, we also did tastings at Angel’s Envy Distillery, Old Forester Distillery, Against the Grain Brewery, Old Louisville Brewing Co. and Best Vineyards (just across the state border, in IN).
@ScottW58 No chance. SWMBO says this is one of the best bottles we’ve had. I have to agree. CT shows you had one this month as well. I’m down to 3 04’s and 4 06’s.
Cooler nights by the roaring gas fireplace sound pretty good. I was late to the game and didn’t get many branded bottles. Luckily Vinitwo is a favorite, woot or not.
It’s passable as red wine. Unoffensive, probably chalk full of colorants since it’s daaaark. I’m leaving a glass to sit and see what goes later tonight.
Since apparently I offended Ron in the other thread…
Tonight I’m sampling my tester batch of home dry-aged NY strip. 35 days in the meat locker. With 2002 Iron Horse T-bar-T Cabernet Sauvignon.
Assuming this is as tasty as the early returns suggest, I’ll be doing a whole rib in there. If anybody else wants to take up the other shelf…
@rjquillin
And now drinking for the last hour I will say now with no reservations that you will never find a better rose for $12.95 a bottle. or probably $30. This stuff is rocking!
@chipgreen@jmdavidson1@losthighwayz enough acidity but also has depth. I would not compare a Nebbiolo rose with a Mourvedre rose nor would I compare my palate with anyone else’s. But in my limited and humble opinion if all three were on the same shelf I would grab this one all day long
@chipgreen@jmdavidson1@klezman@ScottW58@losthighwayz
Yeah, finally got my two bottles, and added a case. 2017 Nervi Conterno Gattinara Rosa and with the fill case, and no tax, a steal at $13. Low 13.5% AbV light on the palate and no bitter finish, even when just below ‘room temp’, and oh so easy to drain a glass. Crisp and racing, nimho, but held it’s own even to a red pasta dish.
@losthighwayz It’s Iron Horse Estate Chard. What else do you need to know? This is their oaked version. Retail is ~30 at the winery.
If you like it, it’s a good deal. If it’s not your style then it’s not. We like it.
@CorTot Drinking down the Wellingtons, eh? Was it only a year ago we were all scooping up as much of his wine as Woot would sell us? It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Admit it – you were wondering if maybe it wasn’t going to happen this year. Well you can banish that thought right out of your head, my friends, because it’s GAME ON.
It’s time for SECRET SANTA 2018!
Hi! This post represents the official start of the U.S. Chapter of Secret Santa 2018. Believe it or not, this year marks the 10TH ANNUAL incarnation of the game! How time does fly. Once again your co-Head Elves and purveyors of shenanigans will be me (crispino) and ChrisinSunnyside. Looking forward to another great year!
IMPORTANT DATES AND INFO
Registration Deadline: Friday, 11/9/18
Shipping Deadline: Monday, 11/26/18
Reveal Day: Saturday, 12/8/18
If you’re new to Secret Santa this year, welcome! Please make sure you read everything in this post.
If you’re already familiar with the game, the highlights:
The registration form is below in Section 1 (appropriately titled “Register For Secret Santa”).
Bottle cost is $50.00, BEFORE any taxes and shipping.
When you ship, send a PM to your Head Elf with the appropriate info - ESPECIALLY THE TRACKING NUMBER (see Section 3.5).
When you receive your own shipment from your SS, send your Head Elf a PM to let him know (Section 3.6).
Once the Reveal Day threads open, if someone guesses you as their SS, please post whether or not they’re right (Section 4.3).
You can skim the rest.
Enjoy, and let the Games begin!
INTRO: WHAT IS SECRET SANTA?
For the uninitiated (or for those who want a refresher): Secret Santa (SS) is a round-robin wine exchange. Legends tell us that the ritual was started long ago, circa 2009, by Jedi Master Hollowine. The way it works is this: you are given a name from a list of participants, and you buy that person a bottle of wine valued at 50 dollars (before taxes, shipping, etc.). Many people peruse their recipient’s CT cellar to find something they think their recipient will like, but you can also give them something you really like yourself, ask your wine store clerk for recommendations, etc. While you are doing this, someone else on the list is doing the same for you, and sends you a bottle, and someone else sends that person a bottle, and so on. Everyone opens their package on a prearranged date (the Reveal Day) in early December. A new forum thread is started on Reveal Day, and everyone posts what they received. Then you try and guess who your Secret Santa is. More often than not – okay, always – hilarity ensues! Many thanks are exchanged and everyone goes home happy. In short, it’s a great way to meet new people on the forum, and to give (and get) a tasty bottle to enjoy.
GROUPS
Assuming similar participation numbers to previous years, we’ll have two groups of participants again this year; crispino and ChrisinSunnyside will each be Head Elf for one group. You won’t know which group you’re in until Reveal Day, so it will keep you guessing as to who your SS is. We will all stay as one big happy family in this initial discussion thread until Reveal Day. Then we will start TWO SEPARATE new threads, one for each group, and you will only be guessing amongst your own group as to your potential SS, although you can of course follow both groups.
THE SECRET SANTA PROCESS:
Following are the nitty-gritty details. Again, If you are new to the game or need/want a refresher, please read everything.
REGISTER FOR SECRET SANTA
To register for SS, copy and paste the following registration form into a PM, fill it out, and send the PM to crispino. The deadline for submissions is Friday, November 9th, 2018. There will be NO submissions accepted after this.
REGISTRATION FORM - return to crispino by Friday 11/9/18
Note: Items 1-6 must be filled out in order for your form to be accepted.
Your exact CellarTracker user name (not your forum user name):
Your real name:
Is your CT Cellar set to Public or Private?
Your preferred SHIP TO address:
Is the above address a residence or business address?
A contact phone number (most carriers require this, therefore you must provide one):
Any dates on which you cannot receive your wine (e.g., because you are on vacation, out of town on business, etc.):
Any other pertinent information (e.g., type(s) of wine you would prefer or prefer not to receive, any carrier restrictions, special instructions, etc.):
I will start a list of SS participants in the second post of this thread. If you see your name on the list, it means I have all your info and you are registered. If your name’s not on the list, you’re not registered. If you think you should be registered but don’t see your name, it’s your responsibility to PM me and follow up. I will not be chasing down people looking for additional info.
Pro Tip! Unless you really don’t care what kind of wine you’re getting (which is fine), include a little preference info in #8. Most people find it helpful.
PICK A WINE FOR YOUR RECIPIENT
2.1 Receive Your Recipient’s Name and Info
Once registration closes, I will put all the names into the proverbial hat and we will assign everyone a recipient. It is at this point that we will split the party up into two groups (although again, you won’t know which group you’re in until Reveal Day). As in past years, the matchups will be done randomly, although there may be some minor re-drawing of names to avoid previous matchups. There will be no considerations given to geography; you might wind up with someone in the same city, or it could be someone on the opposite coast!
ChrisinSunnyside and crispino will distribute the names and info of recipients to everyone by Monday, November 12th, 2018. Whoever you get your info from, that’s your Head Elf! That will be your point of contact throughout the rest of the event. If you don’t get your info from either of us by Monday 11/12, PM crispino with questions or concerns.
2.2 Do A Little Research
For many people, this is one of their favorite parts! When you receive your recipient’s name and info, it’s time to start sleuthing. As mentioned above in the Intro, it’s often helpful to browse your recipient’s cellar contents and/or forum posts to get an idea for their likes/dislikes. Ultimately, this step is not strictly necessary – some people don’t have oodles of time to spend perusing someone else’s giant cellar – but if you can put at least some time into it, it’s sure to be appreciated by your recipient. When researching a wine, be sure to take into account any information your recipient has provided in their registration form, particularly about wine likes/dislikes, etc.
Some people have their cellars marked as “Private,” which means that you won’t be able to view their inventory. If this is the case, send your Head Elf a PM to let him know. Your Head Elf will PM your recipient and ask him or her to make “CT Santa” a CT Friend. If your recipient agrees, then your Head Elf will give you the login information for CT Santa. You can then log in to CT as CT Santa and view your recipient’s cellar.
Pro Tip! It’s always a nice touch to try and include some sort of note/message in the package explaining why you picked the wine you did. If you are shipping the wine yourself, this is easily done; if you use a retailer, you can ask them to include a message for you. Most are quite accommodating. Sometimes people will also include a subtle clue or hint as to their true identity – or even, if they are feeling particularly dastardly, a piece of misinformation – in the missive as well. Any and all are fair game.
2.3 Obtain The Wine
You can either buy a bottle or give your recipient a bottle from your own cellar. In either case, the value of the wine should be at least $50.00, before taxes and before any shipping costs. The value can be more but should not be less. Sending someone multiple, cheaper bottles is not “against the rules,” per se, but generally people opt to send one $50 bottle as opposed to two $25 bottles. Sometimes people will send something with a cool backstory, will include a homemade liqueur, etc. This is definitely fine and Christmasy and warm and fuzzy. Feel free to be creative! Whatever you decide to do, please just bear in mind the general value rule of $50.00 so that it’s fair for everyone.
Pro Tip! Often, you can order a wine from a retailer who is local to your recipient. This can cut down on your shipping costs, and is an exceedingly effective way to conceal your identity.
SHIP THE WINE TO YOUR RECIPIENT (and receive a shipment of your own!)
3.1 Make Your Shipping Arrangements
Choose a shipping carrier to send the wine on your behalf. If you are shipping through a retailer, ask which shipper they’re using. When making shipping arrangements, please be mindful of any unavailability dates, shipping restrictions, or any other pertinent information specified by your recipient on their registration form. Then, stick that puppy in the mail!
Pro Tip! Try to avoid shipping late in the week when the package might spend a weekend or an extended weekend in a non-climate controlled warehouse. Mondays and Tuesdays tend to be the best days to ship. Also, be mindful of the weather to the extent possible, and try to ship when conditions are favorable.
3.2 Ship Before The Deadline
The shipping deadline is Monday, November 26th, 2018. Seriously people, you must have your package shipped by this date. This should ensure that everyone gets their package by the end of November. That gives you two weeks between the assignment of recipients and the shipping deadline. So no excuses! Get those happy packages sent!
3.3 It’s SECRET Santa, Remember?
To the extent that you can, conceal your identity on the shipping label and inside the package. For a lot of people, the guessing game part of the event is the most fun, so keep your real identity a secret! Again, ordering from a local retailer can often accomplish this. Just make sure they don’t include your name on any receipts or shipping manifests.
Having said that… if your package does end up being totally and completely anonymous, we encourage you to include some sort of hint so that people don’t have to guess totally blindly!
Pro Tip! People get devious with this. It is not uncommon for people to give (or even ship) their package to a friend, relative, or even another CT member and potentially even another SS participant, and have that person ship it to the recipient. That can sometimes be a serious curveball! In any case, again, do whatever you can to keep it a truly Secret Santa – but remember to be kind with the hints if necessary when it comes time for the guessing.
3.4 Get A Tracking Number
It bears repeating, so I will. Get a tracking number. This is the only way to find out what happened if something goes wrong and someone doesn’t receive their wine. It’s very important that you not ship without a tracking number, so please, once again, make sure to get a tracking number.
3.5 Send A PM With Your Shipping Info
Once you have shipped your wine, send your Head Elf a PM with the following information:
The name and vintage of the wine you’re sending
The carrier you’re using
The tracking number for the package
The date you shipped the package
Posting in the forums that you’ve shipped something doesn’t count. There are a lot of people participating in this thing and the forum posts move quickly. There’s no guarantee that your Head Elf will see that you shipped something, and in any case we need your shipping info. So you have to send your Head Elf a PM.
We will compile all the wines that people have sent into a Secret Santa 2018 cellar on CT.
3.6 Receive Your Own Package
When you get your own delivery from your Secret Santa, do not open it. Wait! Not yet! Instead, send your Head Elf a PM letting him know that you got your package and the date it arrived. Then, stare longingly at that box for days on end, stretching on interminably, even more interminably than this post, until at last Reveal Day comes.
REVEAL DAY AND THE GUESSING GAME
4.1 Reveal Day
Unless there are extenuating circumstances that force us to move the date, Reveal Day will be Saturday, December 8, 2018. We usually start at 12:00 noon EST (but no worries if you need to open later). When the appointed time comes, open your gift! Merry Christmas everyone!
4.2 The Reveal Day Threads
As mentioned previously, on Reveal Day a new thread will be started for EACH group. The first post in each thread will list who’s in that group. We’re going to ask that you please, please, do your utmost to post only in your own group’s thread. There is a lot of posting traffic and the threads move very quickly. Feel free to follow the discussion in both threads, but we are asking that you exercise as much restraint as you can muster from hitting the “OK” button on that super-witty rejoinder you were just about to post in the other group’s thread.
When the Reveal Day threads open, you should post what wine you got and send out some thanks to your Secret Santa, whomever he or she may be. It’s by no means necessary that you drink your wine right away; however, if you do decide to drink your wine, feel free to post a tasting note in your thread too.
Then, it’s time to…
4.3 Guess Your Santa!
People will start trying to guess who gave them their wine. People will use shipping information, will try to analyze clues others have dropped, will look at other people’s cellars, will look at past years’ threads… whatever it takes, man. Whatever it takes. Sometimes a Santa will post a hint if they see their recipient struggling. You as a recipient may also ask for a hint, and hope that your Santa takes pity on you. In any case, as a common courtesy, if someone guesses you as their Santa, please post whether or not they’re right. It will help make the guessing game go a lot more smoothly. Also, if someone guesses you, please post the true answer (i.e., don’t lie to try and confuse them further).
Note: Some people really LOVE the guessing game part; others are more into this event just to give and get a new bottle of wine in a fun way, and don’t follow the guessing game antics much. Both approaches are welcome! But, please, at least check in on the threads periodically to provide hints, confirmations, denials, etc. if they’re being requested of you.
As guesses are made and people are identified, the Head Elves will update the initial posts in their respective threads with info on who’s been ID’ed.
When all the smoke clears, everyone will be a bottle of wine richer, and will hopefully have a nice story to attach to it!
CONCLUSION
So, that should just about cover it. If there are any questions, nuts and bolts issues, etc., feel free to PM crispino. I’m really looking forward to helping with this event again, and I hope everyone enjoys the continuation of this fun and unique tradition. Thanks to the genius of ChrisinSunnyside, you can peruse previous years’ threads in one place here (thread name: CT Secret Santa Compendium), for ideas and/or for a stroll down memory lane. Above all, have a good time with it, and all the best to everyone!
@CorTot@ScottW58 Yeah, that’s a good bottle, i think we polished one off on our wedding night. The 1980 Dow’s I brought on the 2014 rpm tour was also excellent.
@chipgreen@rjquillin@ScottW58 no i bought it from k&l in all likelihood. There was a brief time in there I had extra money so I bought a few expensive bottles.
2011 Chappellet Signature Cabernet Sauvignon.
Yum…one of my all-time favorites. And 2011 wasn’t
a stellar year, but still, Chappellet made a delicious wine.
As usual, We’ll have a glass tonight, recork and put it
on the counter to finish tomorrow. Looking forward to it.
molarchae is sick and I’m finally better…so I’ve got a 2011 Handal-Denier Petite Sirah. The better part of two weeks without wine including our travels!
@radiolysis yeah, the 2013 Laura Michael oat hill Zin wasn’t working for us Saturday night. No formal notes taken… I do recall it being dark and red fruit driven and oaky. Slightly muddled flavors and falling a bit flat. I did pick the bottle that was filled noticeably less(not shoulder, but where an aged cab should be) than the other 3 which had me thinking. Wifey was not too impressed either.
I have considered the bottle is bad, this is my first purchase in over a year from tso. I have also considered I was comparing it to this Primitivo offer; that may have thrown it off? I wanted to put it up to its supposed sibling grape. After the second day it was near pouring down sink. Let me know what you think?? I’m going to make some ribs with it next week and see if it was one or all.
@TechnoViking I’ll do that. Sounds like i’ll crack one sooner than later just to see if i need to complain. I haven’t even opened the shipper to see the fills.
@TechnoViking popped the first one tonight. I’ll be honest that I’m fighting allergies/head cold, but it was pretty nice! Served with a spiced pork chop and it was a good pair. I thought the wine was a little fruity, but good acid. We certainly didn’t want to pour it away.
Maybe my stuffy nose played a part, but I’m cautiously optimistic.
@radiolysis great to hear! It must have been a bum bottle here, like I said the neck was a bit low and was flat. I’ll chime in next week with that other one. Hope you feel better before all these festivities!
@InFrom Yum! I finished the last of my Gruet about a month or so ago when we had a farewell party for my bff just before she moved out of town. I sacrificed about a case of mixed goodies for that fabulous evening.
@rjquillin Thus far, I’ve avoided Berserkers Day. I have too much wine as it is. @winedavid49 causes enough problems over here. That, and local wine tastings. I buy far more than I drink. I think I need to up my game.
@karenhynes@rjquillin I like BD for stocking up on some really good PNs (and recently rosé), plus this year grabbed some Gabriel Glas wine glasses, and I believe they were ½ off. Never had nice glasses before.
@klezman No, this looks to be a mixed case with a Jan 18 ship date. At times it really is like Christmas around here digging thru cases.
Guess I should use my ‘wine on 49’ glass for it this evening.
@rjquillin No, it’s a couple who doesn’t much care about wine, so we take bottles they will enjoy. Their friends who were there cared even less about wine, so they got to open the $5 supermarket crud.
Tonight I think we’ve got a couple friends coming over for Chinese food. So probably at least one bottle of white
Kiddos had a drop of Ardente 2006 CS. They chimed in saying “sour cherries and bitter.” Needs more time, I agree! Happy holidays my casematees’! Be safe.
Went to Texas de Brazil for dinner. Had a bottle picked out but forgot to bring it, so ordered one off the menu.
2017 Diseño Old Vine Malbec - $40
Made the mistake of looking it up on CT while we were there to find that it has an average value of around $8 and in fact is available at empirewine.com for $7.95/bottle. Don’t think I have ever seen a 500% markup on wine before!?!?
That said, it really was pretty good and paired well with all the meats. Great QPR wine under $10, not so much at $40!
Yesterday I was browsing through Costco and picked up the 2016 Kirkland Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District and some prime NY strip steaks that were on sale. Seasoned a couple of the steaks with salt, pepper, and ground chipotle, cooked them sous vide, then at the end of the sear added some butter, sage sprigs, and garlic. It made a nice dinner.
@CorTot@rjquillin
Gotta have the good stuff sometimes! The debate was Flannery vs Holy Grail…clearly we’re in for a nice night.
Just opened the wine. Initially a ton of aroma that filled the room, but it’s shut down pretty quickly. Good thing there’s another half hour or so until dinner.
@CorTot@rjquillin@rpm
Time in the decanter was needed and rewarded. Being 18 years old, and despite my experience having done the full Corison vertical with Tim, this was surprisingly youthful. I should have opened it up an hour before I did, because it was really hitting its stride toward the end of dinner.
Otherwise it was a fairly classic Corison, even if it tasted closer to 8 years old than 18. It kept changing throughout the night. At one point it was cherries, others it was cassis, herbs came and went, etc.
Then we followed it up with a Magnotta Sparkling (Charmat method) Riesling Icewine from Niagara. Only catch with it was the complete and total lack of bubbles. The underlying icewine was fantastic.
@ScottW58 lol, we shared a Trader Joe’s brut rose while sitting in the dark because the power went out with the wind. Not talking to each because candace was mad at me.
@rpm We had some very nice wines last night…
1995 Heitz Bella Oaks vineyard
2004 Stoney Hill chard
2008 Sassicaia
2008 Cristal
But to start it all off a friend pulled out this 1961 grand cru Burgundy that was so perfect in every way, balance, structure, vinous sweetness, and depth. So good it made me question everything I have in my cellar which I like to think is a pretty good cellar I guess I could afford to buy a few wines like this every year but i’m to old to let them age properly and biggest of all SWMBO would kill me post haste! Well who knows I might get to try another bottle like this someday?
@klezman@rjquillin@ScottW58 Look closer, that looks like some might fluffy cauliflower. What did you whip into that stuff, it looks so creamy. (Need I say, yum.)
Nothing tonight cause Christmas eve was a bit too much! But a friend did find this unopened case of 1961 Lynch Bages in his grandfathers cellar. I gotta say i’m looking forward to trying one
@ScottW58 Now, that should be worth drinking. A little long in the tooth for a 5th growth, but Lynch-Bages routinely exceeds its 1855 expectations. The '61 Lynch-Bages was holding up well in late 2003 when Clive Coates tasted a number of the better '61s. He suggested it would remain at top form through 2010. Assuming the wines have sat undisturbed it a relatively cool, damp cellar, the wine should be delicous, if a bit past its absolute peak.
Doing a solo Christmas this year - recovering from recent surgery - so dug deep into the cellar and came up with a 1978 Inglenook cab to pair with a hickory smoked prime rib and fondant potatoes. Both were excellent, the Inglenook was one of the last bottles of a case of '78/'79’s I bought back in the mid-80’s and ‘rediscovered’ in the very back of my storage unit when repairing it last year.
@dbarrym That 1978 Inglenook Cask Cabernet was a very nice wine between 15 and 25 years old. Haven’t had any since around 2003-4.
If I remember correctly that was a John Richburg wine - he wasn’t head winemaker yet, but all of the wines from the '73 Cask cabs through the late '80s were wines he either made or had a significant hand in. If anyone, almost singlehandedly, restore the reputation of Inglenook’s top wines, it was John.
@rpm Agree…sadly I had placed the case in long term storage at the parent’s house when I moved to MA in '95 and forgot about (along with a few others, including a half-case of Opus One '84 and half-case of Richebourg '88) that I re-discovered when clearing out the basement storage cabinet a couple of years ago. Drank most of it over the last couple of years but kept a couple of bottles as references. Need to better manage my records of when to drink!
@rpm
@rpm
Making some bread to start…
@ScottW58 sourdough?
2007 Bodega Margon Pricum Prieto Picudo Vino de la Tierra de León
with Flannery Wagyu burgers, caramelized shallots, roasted Brussels sprouts and fries.
A good evening…
You are not alone JM, since casemates stopped allowing imgur pics it’s not as fun posting…so over the last who knows
2004 Nicholas Cole reserve cab
2014 Chateau Senjac
2012 A Tribute to Grace Shake Ridge Grenache
2004 Stoney Hill Chard
2006 Arcadian Pinot Noir Francesca’s Cuvée
2012 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino
2015 Gérard Boulay Sancerre Monts Damnés
And more i’m sure…and yes we have a drinking problem
BTW the Nicholas Cole is really drinking well!!!
@ScottW58 BWT, if you can even find the NC, it’s about $80/bottle. That was some deal we got on those.
@jmdavidson1 yes it was! Thank you
@ScottW58
Seriously?
Not that I use imgur, but why would they do that?
@thumperchick @dave
@dave @rjquillin @ScottW58 we didn’t.
imgur changed some things up that led to https images from them not showing up. It’s been fixed.
@ScottW58 Wasn’t looking for cudos. Just pointing out the obvious.
@dave @rjquillin @Thumperchick you day man er woman?
@jmdavidson1 you may not want the kudo’s but you deserve them
@jmdavidson1 @ScottW58 Was just at the locker looking for bottles for a housewarming this weekend.
Found three I didn’t even know I had.
Score!
I should really do an extensive inventory and bar code bottles.
Scott, are these the ones we shared an order of?
@jmdavidson1 @rjquillin they are indeed, drink up!
So Klez finally decided to grace me with his presence so I dropped a couple of old Bordeaux on him with an American Waygu steak and roasted duck fat potatoes Wine was great but the company was fantastic!
@ScottW58 Great company and delicious wines!
@ScottW58 @klezman
Sounds kind an excellent evening!
@ScottW58 was it all yakkish enough for him?
@CorTot @ScottW58 Sheesh
@CorTot sorry no horse poop in these wines
Christmas Day dinner:
Started with 2002 Iron Horse LD (late disgorged) - magnificent.
With dinner - rare filet with green peppercorn sauce, carrots and roasted potatoes: 1989 Niebaum-Coppola Rubicon
This was a bottle I’ve had since the day it was bottled (by my cousin Bill) on May 21, 1992 (date handwritten on the top of the cork). Despite the less than stellar reviews I’ve seen (none very recent), this was a gorgeous wine. Still young (not a hint of bricking at the edges at 29 solid years old) with a wonderfully complex nose, all of the notes I expect from that ancient Inglenook vineyard. Slight hint of eucalyptus, but only enough to add interest and complexity, not heavy (as it sometimes was with Heitz Martha’s Vineyard). Tight to start with, opened nicely over the hour of dinner. All sorts of curranty Cabernet flavors, with hits of earth, leather and cedar. Reminiscent of 66 Bordeaux in style, still felt like a young wine. Finish very long, smooth and satisfying. Probably one of the half dozen nicest bottles of California Cabernet I’ve had in the past 10 years. Not the equal of the 1968 Martini Special Selections on the 2012 Veterans Tour, Cathy’s 2001 Kronos (or her 2001 Napa Valley), the 2001 Mario P-M Miriam (a rare bottling), or any of the top 1970 Cabernets but certainly a wine to be considered in the same class. Certainly in the same league as a good cru classe Bordeaux from an equally good year. If you have any of this in your cellar, hold it another 5-10 years!
@rpm Wow, sounds fantastic! I didn’t recall that your cousin was with Inglenook/Niebaum-Coppola prior to starting his own shop. Merry Christmas!
@klezman Bill has had a mobile bottling line business for more than 35 years - he was one of the first and best - and has done quite a few very high end, small lot bottling projects over those 4 decades - this was one of them. I was visiting that day and went over to Niebaum-Coppola with him for part of the day. He always received a case or two of everything he bottled as samples and for quality control purposes… he told me to keep that bottle and put it away for 20 years or so… My bottle doesn’t have a label on it, but I have the original label…
@rpm Sounds really nice! I have not had a Rubicon in ages.
@rpm Very nice! I do recall the mobile bottling line from our visit there on the 2010 tour.
Last night: 2014 Halleck Vineyard Hillside Cuvee PN with leftover Christmas ham and scalloped taters.
2008 Wellington Victory
2013 Oddero Barolo
10 year anniversary-rack of lambs and prime rib-fernet+Cocktail for wifey. Yay!
12 A tribute to Grace Grenache and making french onion soup.
2013 WineSmith Meritage, Lake County
2012 Black Cat Cuvee
2008 BV Tapestry. Somebody was selling it a couple of days ago (2014 I believe for about $50), so I thought I’d try the 1 bottle I had. I found it on the “good wine” rack, about 7 shelves down…way below the Turleys, Shafers, Chappellets and its more distinguished relative…Georges. Gotta say, It’s darn good.
2014 Bell Merlot with roasted chicken and roasted root veggies. This merlot is really good!
@bolligra I can’t wait to start trying the few I have after at least a few (++) additional years.
The one WD had at the launch party sealed the deal for me when it was offered.
Weird… Without looking through this thread, I decided to open and try the 2015 Bell D6 Blend with a heavy steak, potato, and veggies lunch. Then again, we are all drinking the same juice and recording our experiences here, so that can’t be too coincidental, right?
Not surprisingly like the rest of Bell wines, it needs more years in the bottle. I had to cork it 3/4th’s way through… for science tomorrow night. Even though I have an anniversary gift to get and the typical excessive holiday splurging, I would get another case of this mix in a heartbeat… or something equal to the deal offered earlier in the year. Nudge, nudge.
@TechnoViking I’ll second that!
2005 LaJota Merlot (Howell Mtn) with beef bourguignon.
2007 Agharta Red Label (97% syrah)
OK, so maybe I have a drinking problem. Or apparently so, since I am the only one drinking (??).
Second birthday dinner with the kiddo!
He asked for beef, so: 1996 Wellington Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Random Ridge
@klezman Happy bday to the kiddo! How precocious of him to suggest the Wellington Cab. He’s showing great discernment, at an early age.
How was it? (And did the kid get a taste?)
@InFrom He asked for beef (when given a choice of beef, lamb, pizza). I thought about letting him choose the wine but then decided I didn’t care which wine he wanted
Yeah, of course he got a taste. And extra chances to smell. It’s his birthday, after all!
2006 Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District with Flannery California Reserve NY strips
Last night, at a house warming, one year mark, with whole roasted pig;
2016 Iron Horse Celebration Cuvée
NV Gruet Winery Demi-Sec
2016 Tercero Mourvedre Rosé Camp Four Vineyard
NV Piera Martellozzo Moscato Blu Giovello
2010 Gård Vintners Freyja
2016 Kent Rasmussen Pinot Noir Esoterica
2013 Twisted Oak The Spaniard
2016 Halcon Vineyards Syrah Alturas
2011 Congruence Cabernet Sauvignon
2012 Wellington Vineyards Victory Reserve
2014 Kendrick Vineyards Sangiovese Reward Ranch
NV Wellington Vineyards White Port
@rjquillin Nice pulls!
1998 Fontanafredda Barolo Paiagallo La Villa with grilled chicken limone, spinach & cheese ravioli (in a rosemary and thyme butter sauce, topped with goat cheese) and broccoli al dente.
2007 Wellington Karren Vineyard Cabernet
Well this is delicious. Should go very well with the lamb chops we’re about to cook.
Another fine bottle and I have to say i’m really digging these new glasses!
@ScottW58 I still have some of that stuff. Very nice buy.
Don’t have a clue what i’m drinking tomorrow night but I know what i’m eating
@ScottW58 Baller! Merry Christmas
We’re going to a friend’s place in the valley. Let us know if we should stop by for leftovers on our way home
@klezman @ScottW58
What Klez said.
Those Flannery sales really are love/hate events.
I was so tempted…
@klezman @rjquillin it’s a Christmas Eve tradition at our house
NV Moët and Chandon Impérial
2011 Wellington Cabernet Sauvignon Mohrhardt Ridge
2011 Cornerstone Stepping Stone Cabernet Franc
Xmas eve With a crown roast at my inlaws 2013 Dobbes Family Estate Pinot Noir Patricia’s Cuvée
Tonight with prime rib
2015 Joseph phelps estate Cabernet
2013 Madrigal family winery PS napa valley
1994 Wellington Victory magnum - it was excellent!
2009 Congruence cab with Beef Bourguignon. Spectacular.
2016 Pedroncelli Merlot. Nice and fruity and lively.
2011 Chateau St. Jean PN RSV with fettucine carbonara.
2016 Meadowcroft PN Anderson Valley
With the Lago special for the night which apparently involves chicken breast, garlic, tomato, provolone, prosciutto, and linguine.
@karenhynes Did someone say linguine?
We hit a old-school (est. 1959), local pizzeria in the Bronx on our way north of the city for our vacation. Excellent mushroom/sausage pie.
With leftovers of last night’s 2011 Wellington Estate Zin, followed by 2011 Coto de Imaz Reserva Rioja. Not the best, but points added for rosy memories of buying it in Barcelona – in a supermarket, no less.
@InFrom
I love old school places! Lago has been around since 1952.
2009 Cabot Syrah, Humboldt County. Thankfully not corked like the last bottle! Unfortunately it’s my last one of these.
We spent Christmas in Louisville, KY at an AirBnB. Plenty of wine and Mimosas were consumed.
N.V. Spumanti Gemin (Bortolomiol Guglielmo)
N.V. Domaine des Caillots Touraine Sparkling Brut
N.V. Aneri Prosecco Brut Valdobbiadene Millesimato
2010 St. Supéry Virtu
2017 Nervi Conterno Gattinara Rosa
2013 Marotti Campi Rosato Marche IGT
2006 Lang Wines Zinfandel Reserve
I had a glass of Pahlmeyer Jayson Red Blend (unsure of vintage) with dinner at Ruth’s Chris and it was a great match with filet mignon.
While in KY, we also did tastings at Angel’s Envy Distillery, Old Forester Distillery, Against the Grain Brewery, Old Louisville Brewing Co. and Best Vineyards (just across the state border, in IN).
@chipgreen mmm, Angel’s Envy. Love the finished Rye.
With grilled salmon
@ScottW58 You really like their stuff, eh?
@klezman Yes! And sadly I can’t keep my hands off of them. I am pretty sure she makes my favorite domestic pinots.
2011 Wellington Meek’s Hilltop Ranch Zin
2004 Nicholas Cole Reserve with a nicely grilled NY strip steak.
@jmdavidson1 you know if you feel the need to unload the rest of your bottles I will be happy to pay for the shipping
@ScottW58 No chance. SWMBO says this is one of the best bottles we’ve had. I have to agree. CT shows you had one this month as well. I’m down to 3 04’s and 4 06’s.
2012 Siduri Arbe Vert Pinot Noir
2016 Chateau des Charmes Icewine Vidal
Stopped by Epicurious to pick up a few things today, they had a nice assortment of wines opened
@ScottW58 I have really got to stop by there on a Saturday.
@klezman @ScottW58
I assume this fairly close to either of you.
Can’t see SD ever supporting such an effort, or me moving to LA for that matter.
Since no one else did…
What woot, er, casemates branded bottle will you be consuming this month?
@rjquillin Vinitwo probably.
Cooler nights by the roaring gas fireplace sound pretty good. I was late to the game and didn’t get many branded bottles. Luckily Vinitwo is a favorite, woot or not.
@rjquillin Under the Mistletoe is ready to go!
2015 d’Autrefois Pinot Noir Reserve.
It’s passable as red wine. Unoffensive, probably chalk full of colorants since it’s daaaark. I’m leaving a glass to sit and see what goes later tonight.
Like a little trip to Italy. Pizza just like in Naples.
Since apparently I offended Ron in the other thread…
Tonight I’m sampling my tester batch of home dry-aged NY strip. 35 days in the meat locker. With 2002 Iron Horse T-bar-T Cabernet Sauvignon.
Assuming this is as tasty as the early returns suggest, I’ll be doing a whole rib in there. If anybody else wants to take up the other shelf…
@klezman naw, but I had to poke the beast.
@cortot too…
I remember once where we really got to MdS.
Also having, with peach crisp, 2012 Ferrante Vidal Icewine. Courtesy of @chipgreen on the 2014 rpm tour.
@klezman
Nice
@chipgreen Yes, it was. Thank you again.
before heading to cha cha chicken.
@ScottW58 You been drinking tonight?
try again
@ScottW58 and you were making fun of me!
@CorTot and your point is oh and
@ScottW58 you had it coming…
2008 Betz Clos de Betz
2013 Wellington Marsanne
@radiolysis I was late to the party liking Peters’ whites, but I did learn.
I guess casemates hates imgur oh well I won’t bore you with pictures.
2009 paradise view red blend “Tolay” Sonoma coast.
Other 1/2 of this tonight. It seemed better tonight. Not a bad $4 GO purchase.
@CorTot the name screams GO lol
N.V. Sandeman Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Amontillado Character
Drinking the 17 Nervi Conterno Rosa tonight and I have to tell you Ron it’s fantastic!! Ordering more
@ScottW58 is that the one I ordered?
Not yet received, but I think that order is on the way and due tomorrow.
But I’ll have to wait a few years to pull a cork…
@rjquillin
And now drinking for the last hour I will say now with no reservations that you will never find a better rose for $12.95 a bottle. or probably $30. This stuff is rocking!
@rjquillin @ScottW58 Empire Wine?
@jmdavidson1
Yes, Empire. I just ordered a case w/free shipping. Never tried a Rose of Nebbiolo before…
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1 if you don’t like it I will take it off your hands
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1 @ScottW58 Is it crisp with racing acidity? How does it compare to liquid farm and tercero roses?
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1 @ScottW58 Nebbiolo rose? That sounds amazing…if another shipment heads to SoCal I’d try a couple bottles.
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1 @losthighwayz enough acidity but also has depth. I would not compare a Nebbiolo rose with a Mourvedre rose nor would I compare my palate with anyone else’s. But in my limited and humble opinion if all three were on the same shelf I would grab this one all day long
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1 @klezman @ScottW58 @losthighwayz
Yeah, finally got my two bottles, and added a case.
2017 Nervi Conterno Gattinara Rosa and with the fill case, and no tax, a steal at $13. Low 13.5% AbV light on the palate and no bitter finish, even when just below ‘room temp’, and oh so easy to drain a glass. Crisp and racing, nimho, but held it’s own even to a red pasta dish.
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1 @klezman @losthighwayz @rjquillin yup great find thanks love northern Piemonte!
@rjquillin Bring up an extra bottle next time so we can try it!
Yes the one you ordered, sorry I don’t like old rose especially if it’s brown rose! unless of course it’s LDH or Tempier
2003 Pax Syrah Obsidian Vyd Knights Valley to go with grilled lamb chops, oven roasted brussels sprouts and spinach/cheese ravioli.
Any thoughts on 2014 Iron Horse chard over on tso for $16.99?
@losthighwayz It’s Iron Horse Estate Chard. What else do you need to know? This is their oaked version. Retail is ~30 at the winery.
If you like it, it’s a good deal. If it’s not your style then it’s not. We like it.
I just ordered a case. Thanks for the recommendation!
@bolligra Of the rosé, and 4 bottles of IH
Pizza night, cause I didn’t feel like cooking, so 2015 Ca’ Rozzeria Barbera d’Alba.
2008 Cakebread Cellars Zinfandel with some Beehive Promontory cheese.
2014 Franny Beck PN with grilled salmon, grilled asparagus and baked sweet potatoes.
Saturday night: Wellington '12 zin estate with lasagna
Tonight: denier-handal '12 petite sirah alrxander valley with tri-tip
@CorTot Drinking down the Wellingtons, eh? Was it only a year ago we were all scooping up as much of his wine as Woot would sell us? It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
@InFrom Not intentionally. Just worked out that way this weekend. I do have a lot of them though…
Denier Handal 2012 Petite Sirah - just because it was Monday
.
You’ll find out in 2 minutes…
https://casemates.com/forum/topics/casemates-qpr-select-red-blend
Cooked up some shrimp and zucchini on the grill, to go with bucatini alla carbonara, so 2001 Serpico Dei Feudi di San Gregorio
@jmdavidson1
Was this the one you didn’t like at your party? I hope it showed well?
@ScottW58 I did open a bottle of this in Sept. and it was meh. This one, on the other hand, was delicious. Even +1 gave it a thumbs up.
https://imgur.com/iG6k8rW
They lied! But this is one hell of a nice bottle!
@ScottW58
Say what?
2010 Wine Smith CF
@jmdavidson1
Yum.
For me, Polar Seltzer, Lime
@jmdavidson1 Must be that kind of night, 2007 WineSmith CF
@catcoland @jmdavidson1
must be, at least for WS…
2013 WineSmith Meritage
@rjquillin
I just finished the bottle I opened last weekend…
2014 Terra Blanca Syrah estate vineyard Red mountain Washington
2009 Twisted Oak Tempranillo
2016 Meadowcroft
RRV Pinot Noir
@winedavid49 if you should procure more of this, say a few months after the holidays, I’m in! Delicious! (hint, hint)
@karenhynes noted!!
Secret santa wines tonight!
@ScottW58 At least you’re a quick study.
Send my address to Santa!
@rjquillin you generally only have to beat me over the head once every Christmas on the CT board! Lots of fun
@ScottW58 Sweet. I really need to figure out how to navigate that one better.
@ScottW58 Is there a min max on value here? Otherwise you might be getting some QPR bottles for the holidays.
@CorTot minimum $50 bottle.
@CorTot @ScottW58 $$ paid, retail or CT average?
Could be some large differences.
@CorTot @rjquillin Dollars paid don’t try to get cheap here! Everybody seems to over buy
@CorTot @rjquillin
The rules…good god you could look it up
Admit it – you were wondering if maybe it wasn’t going to happen this year. Well you can banish that thought right out of your head, my friends, because it’s GAME ON.
It’s time for SECRET SANTA 2018!
Hi! This post represents the official start of the U.S. Chapter of Secret Santa 2018. Believe it or not, this year marks the 10TH ANNUAL incarnation of the game! How time does fly. Once again your co-Head Elves and purveyors of shenanigans will be me (crispino) and ChrisinSunnyside. Looking forward to another great year!
IMPORTANT DATES AND INFO
Registration Deadline: Friday, 11/9/18
Shipping Deadline: Monday, 11/26/18
Reveal Day: Saturday, 12/8/18
If you’re new to Secret Santa this year, welcome! Please make sure you read everything in this post.
If you’re already familiar with the game, the highlights:
You can skim the rest.
Enjoy, and let the Games begin!
INTRO: WHAT IS SECRET SANTA?
For the uninitiated (or for those who want a refresher): Secret Santa (SS) is a round-robin wine exchange. Legends tell us that the ritual was started long ago, circa 2009, by Jedi Master Hollowine. The way it works is this: you are given a name from a list of participants, and you buy that person a bottle of wine valued at 50 dollars (before taxes, shipping, etc.). Many people peruse their recipient’s CT cellar to find something they think their recipient will like, but you can also give them something you really like yourself, ask your wine store clerk for recommendations, etc. While you are doing this, someone else on the list is doing the same for you, and sends you a bottle, and someone else sends that person a bottle, and so on. Everyone opens their package on a prearranged date (the Reveal Day) in early December. A new forum thread is started on Reveal Day, and everyone posts what they received. Then you try and guess who your Secret Santa is. More often than not – okay, always – hilarity ensues! Many thanks are exchanged and everyone goes home happy. In short, it’s a great way to meet new people on the forum, and to give (and get) a tasty bottle to enjoy.
GROUPS
Assuming similar participation numbers to previous years, we’ll have two groups of participants again this year; crispino and ChrisinSunnyside will each be Head Elf for one group. You won’t know which group you’re in until Reveal Day, so it will keep you guessing as to who your SS is. We will all stay as one big happy family in this initial discussion thread until Reveal Day. Then we will start TWO SEPARATE new threads, one for each group, and you will only be guessing amongst your own group as to your potential SS, although you can of course follow both groups.
THE SECRET SANTA PROCESS:
Following are the nitty-gritty details. Again, If you are new to the game or need/want a refresher, please read everything.
To register for SS, copy and paste the following registration form into a PM, fill it out, and send the PM to crispino. The deadline for submissions is Friday, November 9th, 2018. There will be NO submissions accepted after this.
REGISTRATION FORM - return to crispino by Friday 11/9/18
Note: Items 1-6 must be filled out in order for your form to be accepted.
I will start a list of SS participants in the second post of this thread. If you see your name on the list, it means I have all your info and you are registered. If your name’s not on the list, you’re not registered. If you think you should be registered but don’t see your name, it’s your responsibility to PM me and follow up. I will not be chasing down people looking for additional info.
Pro Tip! Unless you really don’t care what kind of wine you’re getting (which is fine), include a little preference info in #8. Most people find it helpful.
2.1 Receive Your Recipient’s Name and Info
Once registration closes, I will put all the names into the proverbial hat and we will assign everyone a recipient. It is at this point that we will split the party up into two groups (although again, you won’t know which group you’re in until Reveal Day). As in past years, the matchups will be done randomly, although there may be some minor re-drawing of names to avoid previous matchups. There will be no considerations given to geography; you might wind up with someone in the same city, or it could be someone on the opposite coast!
ChrisinSunnyside and crispino will distribute the names and info of recipients to everyone by Monday, November 12th, 2018. Whoever you get your info from, that’s your Head Elf! That will be your point of contact throughout the rest of the event. If you don’t get your info from either of us by Monday 11/12, PM crispino with questions or concerns.
2.2 Do A Little Research
For many people, this is one of their favorite parts! When you receive your recipient’s name and info, it’s time to start sleuthing. As mentioned above in the Intro, it’s often helpful to browse your recipient’s cellar contents and/or forum posts to get an idea for their likes/dislikes. Ultimately, this step is not strictly necessary – some people don’t have oodles of time to spend perusing someone else’s giant cellar – but if you can put at least some time into it, it’s sure to be appreciated by your recipient. When researching a wine, be sure to take into account any information your recipient has provided in their registration form, particularly about wine likes/dislikes, etc.
Some people have their cellars marked as “Private,” which means that you won’t be able to view their inventory. If this is the case, send your Head Elf a PM to let him know. Your Head Elf will PM your recipient and ask him or her to make “CT Santa” a CT Friend. If your recipient agrees, then your Head Elf will give you the login information for CT Santa. You can then log in to CT as CT Santa and view your recipient’s cellar.
Pro Tip! It’s always a nice touch to try and include some sort of note/message in the package explaining why you picked the wine you did. If you are shipping the wine yourself, this is easily done; if you use a retailer, you can ask them to include a message for you. Most are quite accommodating. Sometimes people will also include a subtle clue or hint as to their true identity – or even, if they are feeling particularly dastardly, a piece of misinformation – in the missive as well. Any and all are fair game.
2.3 Obtain The Wine
You can either buy a bottle or give your recipient a bottle from your own cellar. In either case, the value of the wine should be at least $50.00, before taxes and before any shipping costs. The value can be more but should not be less. Sending someone multiple, cheaper bottles is not “against the rules,” per se, but generally people opt to send one $50 bottle as opposed to two $25 bottles. Sometimes people will send something with a cool backstory, will include a homemade liqueur, etc. This is definitely fine and Christmasy and warm and fuzzy. Feel free to be creative! Whatever you decide to do, please just bear in mind the general value rule of $50.00 so that it’s fair for everyone.
Pro Tip! Often, you can order a wine from a retailer who is local to your recipient. This can cut down on your shipping costs, and is an exceedingly effective way to conceal your identity.
3.1 Make Your Shipping Arrangements
Choose a shipping carrier to send the wine on your behalf. If you are shipping through a retailer, ask which shipper they’re using. When making shipping arrangements, please be mindful of any unavailability dates, shipping restrictions, or any other pertinent information specified by your recipient on their registration form. Then, stick that puppy in the mail!
Pro Tip! Try to avoid shipping late in the week when the package might spend a weekend or an extended weekend in a non-climate controlled warehouse. Mondays and Tuesdays tend to be the best days to ship. Also, be mindful of the weather to the extent possible, and try to ship when conditions are favorable.
3.2 Ship Before The Deadline
The shipping deadline is Monday, November 26th, 2018. Seriously people, you must have your package shipped by this date. This should ensure that everyone gets their package by the end of November. That gives you two weeks between the assignment of recipients and the shipping deadline. So no excuses! Get those happy packages sent!
3.3 It’s SECRET Santa, Remember?
To the extent that you can, conceal your identity on the shipping label and inside the package. For a lot of people, the guessing game part of the event is the most fun, so keep your real identity a secret! Again, ordering from a local retailer can often accomplish this. Just make sure they don’t include your name on any receipts or shipping manifests.
Having said that… if your package does end up being totally and completely anonymous, we encourage you to include some sort of hint so that people don’t have to guess totally blindly!
Pro Tip! People get devious with this. It is not uncommon for people to give (or even ship) their package to a friend, relative, or even another CT member and potentially even another SS participant, and have that person ship it to the recipient. That can sometimes be a serious curveball! In any case, again, do whatever you can to keep it a truly Secret Santa – but remember to be kind with the hints if necessary when it comes time for the guessing.
3.4 Get A Tracking Number
It bears repeating, so I will. Get a tracking number. This is the only way to find out what happened if something goes wrong and someone doesn’t receive their wine. It’s very important that you not ship without a tracking number, so please, once again, make sure to get a tracking number.
3.5 Send A PM With Your Shipping Info
Once you have shipped your wine, send your Head Elf a PM with the following information:
Posting in the forums that you’ve shipped something doesn’t count. There are a lot of people participating in this thing and the forum posts move quickly. There’s no guarantee that your Head Elf will see that you shipped something, and in any case we need your shipping info. So you have to send your Head Elf a PM.
We will compile all the wines that people have sent into a Secret Santa 2018 cellar on CT.
3.6 Receive Your Own Package
When you get your own delivery from your Secret Santa, do not open it. Wait! Not yet! Instead, send your Head Elf a PM letting him know that you got your package and the date it arrived. Then, stare longingly at that box for days on end, stretching on interminably, even more interminably than this post, until at last Reveal Day comes.
4.1 Reveal Day
Unless there are extenuating circumstances that force us to move the date, Reveal Day will be Saturday, December 8, 2018. We usually start at 12:00 noon EST (but no worries if you need to open later). When the appointed time comes, open your gift! Merry Christmas everyone!
4.2 The Reveal Day Threads
As mentioned previously, on Reveal Day a new thread will be started for EACH group. The first post in each thread will list who’s in that group. We’re going to ask that you please, please, do your utmost to post only in your own group’s thread. There is a lot of posting traffic and the threads move very quickly. Feel free to follow the discussion in both threads, but we are asking that you exercise as much restraint as you can muster from hitting the “OK” button on that super-witty rejoinder you were just about to post in the other group’s thread.
When the Reveal Day threads open, you should post what wine you got and send out some thanks to your Secret Santa, whomever he or she may be. It’s by no means necessary that you drink your wine right away; however, if you do decide to drink your wine, feel free to post a tasting note in your thread too.
Then, it’s time to…
4.3 Guess Your Santa!
People will start trying to guess who gave them their wine. People will use shipping information, will try to analyze clues others have dropped, will look at other people’s cellars, will look at past years’ threads… whatever it takes, man. Whatever it takes. Sometimes a Santa will post a hint if they see their recipient struggling. You as a recipient may also ask for a hint, and hope that your Santa takes pity on you. In any case, as a common courtesy, if someone guesses you as their Santa, please post whether or not they’re right. It will help make the guessing game go a lot more smoothly. Also, if someone guesses you, please post the true answer (i.e., don’t lie to try and confuse them further).
Note: Some people really LOVE the guessing game part; others are more into this event just to give and get a new bottle of wine in a fun way, and don’t follow the guessing game antics much. Both approaches are welcome! But, please, at least check in on the threads periodically to provide hints, confirmations, denials, etc. if they’re being requested of you.
As guesses are made and people are identified, the Head Elves will update the initial posts in their respective threads with info on who’s been ID’ed.
When all the smoke clears, everyone will be a bottle of wine richer, and will hopefully have a nice story to attach to it!
CONCLUSION
So, that should just about cover it. If there are any questions, nuts and bolts issues, etc., feel free to PM crispino. I’m really looking forward to helping with this event again, and I hope everyone enjoys the continuation of this fun and unique tradition. Thanks to the genius of ChrisinSunnyside, you can peruse previous years’ threads in one place here (thread name: CT Secret Santa Compendium), for ideas and/or for a stroll down memory lane. Above all, have a good time with it, and all the best to everyone!
2012 Dry Creek Vineyards Meritage with chicken vesuvio (and a cannoli as soon as it’s made/filled).
@karenhynes
Is that different from the Mariner?
I became a believer last night!
@ScottW58 in port?
I thought everybody likes port! I try and open one the last week of the year and sip on it all week. Nice treat for me.
@CorTot Yup I have tried many young old and this was the first one that made me happy Going to have another glass tonight!
@CorTot @ScottW58 Yeah, that’s a good bottle, i think we polished one off on our wedding night. The 1980 Dow’s I brought on the 2014 rpm tour was also excellent.
@CorTot @klezman @ScottW58
???
@klezman @rjquillin @ScottW58
I was wondering the same - possibly procured from JOATMON?
@chipgreen @rjquillin @ScottW58 no i bought it from k&l in all likelihood. There was a brief time in there I had extra money so I bought a few expensive bottles.
Last night;
2007 Iron Horse Russian Cuvee
(from the 2012 RPM Tour and still going strong)
Last night:
2014 Smith & Hook red blend central coast
2011 Chappellet Signature Cabernet Sauvignon.
Yum…one of my all-time favorites. And 2011 wasn’t
a stellar year, but still, Chappellet made a delicious wine.
As usual, We’ll have a glass tonight, recork and put it
on the counter to finish tomorrow. Looking forward to it.
2011 Chappellet Signature Day 2, w/ Organic 85% Chocolate. Again, Yum.
A nice little wine
molarchae is sick and I’m finally better…so I’ve got a 2011 Handal-Denier Petite Sirah. The better part of two weeks without wine including our travels!
2007 J. Dusi Late Harvest Zinfandel Haute Haute Haute
@radiolysis yeah, the 2013 Laura Michael oat hill Zin wasn’t working for us Saturday night. No formal notes taken… I do recall it being dark and red fruit driven and oaky. Slightly muddled flavors and falling a bit flat. I did pick the bottle that was filled noticeably less(not shoulder, but where an aged cab should be) than the other 3 which had me thinking. Wifey was not too impressed either.
I have considered the bottle is bad, this is my first purchase in over a year from tso. I have also considered I was comparing it to this Primitivo offer; that may have thrown it off? I wanted to put it up to its supposed sibling grape. After the second day it was near pouring down sink. Let me know what you think?? I’m going to make some ribs with it next week and see if it was one or all.
@TechnoViking I’ll do that. Sounds like i’ll crack one sooner than later just to see if i need to complain. I haven’t even opened the shipper to see the fills.
@TechnoViking popped the first one tonight. I’ll be honest that I’m fighting allergies/head cold, but it was pretty nice! Served with a spiced pork chop and it was a good pair. I thought the wine was a little fruity, but good acid. We certainly didn’t want to pour it away.
Maybe my stuffy nose played a part, but I’m cautiously optimistic.
@radiolysis great to hear! It must have been a bum bottle here, like I said the neck was a bit low and was flat. I’ll chime in next week with that other one. Hope you feel better before all these festivities!
Last night with my new Sophienwald glasses
@ScottW58 Nice looking glass. Is that the current design folks are going for these days? I fell like I am always behind the curve on glasses…
@CorTot @ScottW58 Haven’t seen the Gabriels in a while. Did they go the way of all flesh?
@ScottW58 There was something wrong with your others.
Did they get launched in swmbo’s direction or something?
@CorTot Are you saying that you have square glasses
@CorTot @InFrom I will break them out again, things get old you know sometimes you just want something new…
@rjquillin something wrong with them? Nope just trying something new, same reasoning that got us to have so many damn bottles in the cellar
2016 Dutton Goldfield Pinot Noir Dutton Ranch, RRV with pork chop Parmagiano
Moving on to 2015 Bornheimer Hähnchen Riesling Spätlese.
Am I drinking alone tonight? Where are Scott and JMD hiding?
@karenhynes It’s a shame to drink alone, that’ll never do. We just finished a bottle of Gruet Blanc de Noirs.
@InFrom Yum! I finished the last of my Gruet about a month or so ago when we had a farewell party for my bff just before she moved out of town. I sacrificed about a case of mixed goodies for that fabulous evening.
@karenhynes 2013 Black Cat Vyd Family Cuvee with grilled salmon and a lemon/vermouth reduction sauce, zucchini/asparagus orzo and al dente broccoli.
@karenhynes Refresh my memory, who moved? Sheila?
@jmdavidson1 Shari moved down to Lexington, KY.
Tonight I had dinner at Lago alone.
@jmdavidson1 that sounds delicious!
Ooopsie now this bottle is empty.
@karenhynes
2014 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Berserkers’ Cuvée
Some additional cellar time has been very kind to this bottle.
Last sampled 12/31/2016 - and commented
“Good now, high acid, should be better with time.”
True dat!
@rjquillin Thus far, I’ve avoided Berserkers Day. I have too much wine as it is. @winedavid49 causes enough problems over here. That, and local wine tastings. I buy far more than I drink. I think I need to up my game.
@karenhynes @rjquillin I like BD for stocking up on some really good PNs (and recently rosé), plus this year grabbed some Gabriel Glas wine glasses, and I believe they were ½ off. Never had nice glasses before.
Tonight with lasagna
2009 Arbor Bench Reflections (bdx blend) Dry Creek Valley. Another GO special…
Tonight with burgers my secret santa wine, alcohol in check at 13.4 and has nice structure but comes off a bit sweet for me, not bad.
@ScottW58 It’s likely just those new glasses, that look oh-so-similar to the older new glasses from GG.
@rjquillin Very similar to the GG, the top opening is tapered in a little more than the GG so a smaller opening. I like them a lot.
@rjquillin @ScottW58 Yeah, they were nice to drink from.
2009 Robert Craig CS Mt Veeder
2010 Bell Wine Cellars CS Napa valley
2006 Domaine de la Terre Rouge Syrah Pyramid Block Sentinel Oak Vineyard
Didn’t know I had it, or where it came from, but found a few bottles. BD perhaps?
Gonna go well with some smoked pork belly tonight.
@rjquillin Didn’y you get that on the tour stop there this summer? DTR/Easton share a tasting room just up the block from Scott/Turley…
@klezman No, this looks to be a mixed case with a Jan 18 ship date. At times it really is like Christmas around here digging thru cases.
Guess I should use my ‘wine on 49’ glass for it this evening.
@klezman @rjquillin lol, im glad someone remembers for Ron. CT is a wonderful resource…
Tonight bubbles: got through a busy week and happy to be staring at a few days off.
Gloria Ferrer blanc de noirs carneros
@CorTot Yum! They make some lovely bubbles. Enjoy your time off!
@CorTot Enjoy!
We’re about to open up a 2012 Iron Horse Unoaked Chardonnay
2013 Testa Rossa Pinot Noir Doctor’s Vineyard
2008 Wellington Victory
Went to a friend’s place:
2015 Dry Creek Vineyard Fume Blanc
2016 Harvest Moon Pinot Noir
2015 Tercero Cinsault
Somebody else opened some plonk that smelled like candy.
@klezman With that list it could have been nearly any w.w or cm’er; except for the candy. Must have been someone crashed the party.
Not sure for tonight. Bubbles perhaps and possibly a WineSmith today or tomorrow.
@rjquillin No, it’s a couple who doesn’t much care about wine, so we take bottles they will enjoy. Their friends who were there cared even less about wine, so they got to open the $5 supermarket crud.
Tonight I think we’ve got a couple friends coming over for Chinese food. So probably at least one bottle of white
Last Night:
2013 Laura Michael Zin. Not Flawed/flabby. Drinking smooth.
Westland whiskey
Tonight:
Maybe some Ardente, or something else with some rib eye roast + wild mushrooms and wild rice.
More Westland whiskey… .so much flavor
Kiddos had a drop of Ardente 2006 CS. They chimed in saying “sour cherries and bitter.” Needs more time, I agree! Happy holidays my casematees’! Be safe.
Starting off the afternoon/evening with a half bottle of Ernest Rapeneau Brut. For $10 at TJ’s this will be one we get a few of to keep around.
Then on to:
2004 Esterlina Dry Riesling. Nearly over the hill, but a very nice nose.
2015 Tercero Mourvedre Rose
Momokawa Silver Junmai Ginjo Sake
Went to Texas de Brazil for dinner. Had a bottle picked out but forgot to bring it, so ordered one off the menu.
2017 Diseño Old Vine Malbec - $40
Made the mistake of looking it up on CT while we were there to find that it has an average value of around $8 and in fact is available at empirewine.com for $7.95/bottle. Don’t think I have ever seen a 500% markup on wine before!?!?
That said, it really was pretty good and paired well with all the meats. Great QPR wine under $10, not so much at $40!
Ever hear of MoviPrep?
Avoid it!
Nothing to do with entertainment, unless you’re a really sick puppy.
That following a poor effort to work up a rat for tonight’s offer I really wanted some solid food with.
@rjquillin Yuck. The prep is worse than the procedure, IMO. Hope it all goes well, in any case.
@rjquillin PS the rattage was especially heroic in light of what was to follow. We salute you.
With Mexican food from a local carry out, 2012 Kirkland Gran Reserva Rubera del Duero (100% tempranillo). If you ever see it at Costco, it is a buy.
@jmdavidson1 I’ve gotten it in the past. I’ve been checking the Oak Brook Costco every time I’ve been there and never seen it (recently).
Yesterday I was browsing through Costco and picked up the 2016 Kirkland Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District and some prime NY strip steaks that were on sale. Seasoned a couple of the steaks with salt, pepper, and ground chipotle, cooked them sous vide, then at the end of the sear added some butter, sage sprigs, and garlic. It made a nice dinner.
2013 Laura Michael Oat Hill Zinfandel. A lesser bottle than my first. Fine enough, but a little sweet and sour. Just one left…
2010 Attilio Ghisolfi Barolo Bricco Visette
2013 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon Rose (Corazon)
1991 Chateau St Michelle Late Harvest Riesling
Really nice Barbera imho, with Chinese take out.
J. Lassalle Champagne Premier Cru Brut Reserve Cachet d’Or
Gotta drink bubbles for charity! Oh well…
@klezman It’s easy to make a difference
@ScottW58 Tough job…
Thank you as well for chipping in on a couple of these recent charity drinking/selling threads.
Thanks I try to do as much as I can.
2011 Arnione Campo alla Sughero Bolgheri Superiore
2014 Nichols Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford
2007 Buena Vista Ramal Pinot Noir with filet in green peppercorn sauce.
@rpm That’s the one with the Stelvin closure, no?
@rjquillin yes. Grrrr! The wine was really quite lovely, despite the closure.
Having our first pair of Holy Grail Steaks - American Wagyu. With a 2000 Corison Cabernet.
@klezman nice!
@klezman Tastes like a good way to close out the year.
@CorTot @rjquillin
Gotta have the good stuff sometimes! The debate was Flannery vs Holy Grail…clearly we’re in for a nice night.
Just opened the wine. Initially a ton of aroma that filled the room, but it’s shut down pretty quickly. Good thing there’s another half hour or so until dinner.
@CorTot @klezman @rjquillin Further report?
@CorTot @rjquillin @rpm
Time in the decanter was needed and rewarded. Being 18 years old, and despite my experience having done the full Corison vertical with Tim, this was surprisingly youthful. I should have opened it up an hour before I did, because it was really hitting its stride toward the end of dinner.
Otherwise it was a fairly classic Corison, even if it tasted closer to 8 years old than 18. It kept changing throughout the night. At one point it was cherries, others it was cassis, herbs came and went, etc.
Then we followed it up with a Magnotta Sparkling (Charmat method) Riesling Icewine from Niagara. Only catch with it was the complete and total lack of bubbles. The underlying icewine was fantastic.
2013 WineSmith Meritage
2013 Dilecta Wines Syrah Shadow Canyon
2005 AVC CS
Happy New year everyone! I had an epiphany wine tonight and I an not happy about it
@ScottW58 ???
@ScottW58 lol, we shared a Trader Joe’s brut rose while sitting in the dark because the power went out with the wind. Not talking to each because candace was mad at me.
Excited for a new year .
@ScottW58 This requires some further verbiage.
@ScottW58 Is this going to force you to buy even more expensive wines?
@rpm We had some very nice wines last night…
1995 Heitz Bella Oaks vineyard
2004 Stoney Hill chard
2008 Sassicaia
2008 Cristal
But to start it all off a friend pulled out this 1961 grand cru Burgundy that was so perfect in every way, balance, structure, vinous sweetness, and depth. So good it made me question everything I have in my cellar which I like to think is a pretty good cellar I guess I could afford to buy a few wines like this every year but i’m to old to let them age properly and biggest of all SWMBO would kill me post haste! Well who knows I might get to try another bottle like this someday?
@CorTot Haha pretty sure I have been there and done that! Well at least sitting in silence because Andrea was mad at me
@ScottW58 Well done!
Nice spread! What’d you serve for dinner?
@ScottW58 Those old scuffed up labels come at a cost.
Well done, looks great.
@klezman Whoops got lazy, short ribs cauliflower puree.
@ScottW58 So it’s all downhill from here?
@InFrom
No I’ve come to terms with my limitations
@klezman @ScottW58 That looks like it’s sitting on a wheel of brie.
@ScottW58 As bitter pills go, that one doesn’t seem so bad.
@klezman @rjquillin @ScottW58 Look closer, that looks like some might fluffy cauliflower. What did you whip into that stuff, it looks so creamy. (Need I say, yum.)
@InFrom @klezman @rjquillin
Two heads of califlower lemon juice and zest a stick of butter and a vitamix. Salt and pepper and it’s good eats