What are you drinking right now?

[Spatlese]

Long week. Winding down with some Trois Pistoles.

 

[Huntsman]

Love that Vieux Telegraph. CdP FTW! Sitting with my father tonight, admiring the bar. He says to me, "there's only one thing wrong with this picture." I agree, get up, and take two cracked glass tumblers from the shelf. A bottle is next. The seal is cracked, the cork removed, the contents spill out, splashing in the glasses, exploring it's new and temporary home while filling the air with spice, caramel, and vanilla. Glasses clink, we sip -- caramel, vanilla, cake, the pepperiness of rye, and the starchy green taste of corn, balanced by the an undercurrent of classic sour mash -- not violent and overbearing like JD, but balanced, complex and elegant. This is A.H. Hirsch Reserve. This is the Bourbon.

 

[jessetk313]

My Long time favorite in the beer world...

 

[lost in va]

Need some bottom shelf bourbon to kill this cold and help me have fun this weekend....this week has been HELL at work.

Beam and Sprite will be my goto tonight.

 

[Piobaire]

The Tokaji on the right, last night. The Rhone on the left is gone already too. Still have half of my first bottle of Vya, which I am greatly enjoying.

 

[IUtoSLU]

I had a couple of dry Tanqueray martinis last night at a friend's going away party. They were a good change since I have been focusing on all drink recipes that contain sweet vermouth lately.

 

[DNW]

Saranac Adirondack Lager, on a gloomy day. I love this brewery--everything they make is consistently good.

 

[audiophilia]

Pretty good daily drinker. Smooth but without too much complexity. I like my cabs are little more sophisticated.

88/100

 

[kwilkinson]

Audiophilia- when you, or anyone for that matter, rate wines, how do you do it? Do you taste it and decide that it's an 88/100, or is it more like there are 4 categories each worth 25 points and that wine scored an 88 when you add them all?

 

[chas]

3 parts Hendricks Gin, 1 part St. Germain, 3 parts Q Tonic and a cucumber slice.

 

[audiophilia]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

Audiophilia- when you, or anyone for that matter, rate wines, how do you do it? Do you taste it and decide that it's an 88/100, or is it more like there are 4 categories each worth 25 points and that wine scored an 88 when you add them all?

Honestly, I'm a complete newb. I've read a lot of reviews and judge the prose from those and the inspiration from the taste. It's been fun learning.

That said, the wine I drink now is rarely plonk. There seems to be a standard of numbering. I've seen Canadian vinegar rated as low as 80. With wines going up from there. Personally, I judge the taste and character of the wine. If I don't mind drinking it again and gives pleasure, I'll go 87 and above. If I'd buy it again, I go 90 and above. Not arbitratry, but not science.

The 05 Vieux Telegraphe I had Friday for instance, I'd rate a 95/100. But as yet, I know nothing of great Bordeaux'. I'd like to score a Margeaux or Latour sometime

 

[Piobaire]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

Audiophilia- when you, or anyone for that matter, rate wines, how do you do it? Do you taste it and decide that it's an 88/100, or is it more like there are 4 categories each worth 25 points and that wine scored an 88 when you add them all?

* 95-100 Classic: a great wine
* 90-94 Outstanding: a wine of superior character and style
* 85-89 Very good: a wine with special qualities
* 80-84 Good: a solid, well-made wine
* 75-79 Mediocre: a drinkable wine that may have minor flaws
* 50-74 Not recommended

That is the standard ranking. Here is another way of looking at it:

90-100 is equivalent to an A and is given only for an outstanding or special effort. Wines in this category are the very best produced of their type. There is a big difference between a 90 and 99, but both are top marks. As you will note through the text, there are few wines that actually make it into this top category because there are not many great wines.

80-89 is equivalent to a B in school and such a wine, particularly in the 85-89 range, is very, very good; many of the wines that fall into this range often are great values as well. I have many of these wines in my personal collection.

70-79 represents a C, or average mark, but obviously 79 is a much more desirable score than 70. Wines that receive scores between 75 and 79 are generally pleasant, straightforward wines that lack complexity, character, or depth. If inexpensive, they may be ideal for uncritical quaffing.

Below 70 is a D or F, depending on where you went to school. For wine, it is a sign of an imbalanced, flawed, or terribly dull or diluted product that will be of little interest to the discriminating consumer.

Here is a way to break it down into components:

50 - base points
5 - color and appearance (usually 4 to 5)
15 - aroma and bouquet, including cleanliness
20 - flavor and finish, including cleanliness, balance, depth and length
10 - overall quality including aging and improvement ability

 

[kenosis]

I had a great margarita at La Pineta in Alameda

 

[PandArts]

Friday: Domaine Gautier 2006 Fitou

Saturday: Juan Gil 2006 Monastrell

Sunday: Borsoa Crianza Seleccion 2005

 

[raclotz]

water... that too warm...