The Official Wine Thread

[venividivicibj]

Rhys is good, but pricey.

@Piobaire used to get Sea Smoke I believe, think he stopped when they claimed to be a 'California grand cru'

 

[patrickBOOTH]

 

[ocooney]

A couple from Santa Cruz last night. The SCMV is 13.6% and everything that most Napa cabs are not. Restrained, minimal oak, nice acid and not too ripe. Needs time. I had the 79 earlier this year and it was great. Big Basin Pinot was really nice.

 

[venividivicibj]

The past week

 

[alexg]

Any opinions on Rhys Vineyard or Sea Smoke?

I was given allocations.

Which Rhys? I prefer their chardonnay to their pinot, but I also don’t generally drink California pinot. Never tried their Syrah, but I've heard great things. If you've never had them, they're worth trying. The owner was serious enough (and rich enough) that he was able to take soil samples and install weather monitors in vineyards in Burgundy, and found vineyards in California with similar terroir.

 

[RedLantern]

Bordeaux two days ago-

That can't be good for the grapes ...

 

[djblisk]

Which Rhys? I prefer their chardonnay to their pinot, but I also don’t generally drink California pinot. Never tried their Syrah, but I've heard great things. If you've never had them, they're worth trying. The owner was serious enough (and rich enough) that he was able to take soil samples and install weather monitors in vineyards in Burgundy, and found vineyards in California with similar terroir.

I have started to hate California pinot to be honest. The price point for what you are getting is ridiculous, especially if you can get the same for much cheaper from french wines. Etc.

Anyways. Here is my allocation. Any advise on what to get if any.

2015 Rhys Bearwallow Vineyard Chardonnay - $59
2015 Rhys San Mateo County Pinot Noir - $45
2015 Rhys Family Farm Vineyard Pinot Noir - $59
2015 Rhys Alpine Vineyard Pinot Noir - $79
2014 Rhys Horseshoe Vineyard Syrah - $79

 

[patrickBOOTH]

 

[venividivicibj]

Thivin CdB today - great QOR as always. Have some of the simple vineyards, but haven't tried yet.

 

[CBrown85]

The past week

View attachment 982868

Fuckin love Lanessan. It was my first >$30 bottle.

I just picked up a few “natural wines” to see what the fuss is about and a bottle of 2015 Machete. Heard good things about it.

 

[venividivicibj]

Fuckin love Lanessan. It was my first >$30 bottle.

Was it an older bottle? Most of the Lanessan’s I see are $15-$19

 

[CBrown85]

Was it an older bottle? Most of the Lanessan’s I see are $15-$19

It was a 10 year old bottle, I was at an expensive restaurant, and I’m Canadian.

 

[venividivicibj]

It was a 10 year old bottle, I was at an expensive restaurant, and I’m Canadian.

For that age + restaurant pricing, that’s really good

 

[CBrown85]

For that age + restaurant pricing, that’s really good

TBH, I think it was probably closer to $45, but this was like 2010 or ‘11 because I remember it being a 2001. Regardless, it’s what got me into wine as something I could enjoy rather than simply drink with dinner and showed me that wine could actually have complexity and/or subtlety.

 

[Piobaire]

In the last week we had dinner at the Vintage Cave Club in Honolulu. They sell memberships (from 100-500k) and members can store wine in personal lockers and the main cellar. Before I post some pics of the cellar I'll mention I pulled a Sine Qua Non off the list for just $375 to go with our red meat/richer courses. It was a 2012 Female, and if memory serves retails for a little over $200. Considering the venue I thought that was a killer price. The somm came over to chat me up saying how it's a rare person that pulls something like that and figured I had some wine knowledge. He ended up bringing over several samples of his BTG program for us to try and some of those were pretty nice too. A Chablis by Raveneau, a Lewis Syrah, and a Napa Cab I'm afraid I can't remember and two others escaping me at the moment. Anyway, here's a few pics of the cellar.