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Mine just arrived yesterday. Pretty interesting to see six 750s and one mag already on WineBid for huge markups - $345 and $710, respectively. There’s a bid for a 750.

I’ve been drinking a number of 2016s including the Vajra Coste di Rose and Vajra Albe mentioned above. They’re good now with some air and great on day 2. Also agree the 2014s are even more approachable. For my taste, I don’t think there is need to age young Barolo for 10 or even 20+ years as was gen...

Is the Vaso ~$90? Lots of great wine in that range.

Brent S wrote: ↑February 27th, 2021, 3:51 am Was just offered the 9 pack owc set for $675. Probably as cheap as I’ll find it. Should I buy it????

Seems like a good deal, certainly relative to everything else I’ve seen. If more are available, would love to know where.

Flickinger had the box set for $829.

By the way, who sniped the 3 bottles of 2004 Asili this week on benchmark? I had them in my cart and when I finished the order my email confirmation was just for a shipping charge with no wine.

I didn’t get either but did get offered a 3 pack of the ‘18 cab. $675 - 3 pack, $550 - 1.5L, $2000 - 3L. Now back to the debate about whether it’s worth the price when compared to something like the Bard at half the price.

Interestingly, Jeb gave it 99 vs 98 for the Crane and LPV.

Feels like 17 will be tough sell with so many good 16s still available.

What do you guys think about the vineyards featured here? I was assuming the price point was more commensurate with these not being among the highest tier sites in Napa, but I could be completely wrong. I don’t know where Alluvium and Ceniza relative to the primo vineyards are in St. Helena and Coom...

SeanHarding wrote: ↑February 9th, 2021, 6:17 pm Cellartracker has "2018 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Houyi Vineyard" and "2018 Realm Cellars Houyi Vineyard."

Are these the same, or are there two wines from Houyi?

Same

I think these, particularly when young, need a ton of air. Every one I’ve had, including the ‘17 and ‘18 Di Co, was better on day two.

Well, I feel that MM, Realm, and VV are all high quality wines. It’s hard to pinpoint the difference because if you like one......you’re sure to like the other. It comes down to price and availability. If I had to pick, Memento Mori is probably my favorite. Their main Cab is my favorite and the peo...

I’m sure I haven’t had as many of these as others, but I think the Ah So should work fine if you’re careful. I used it on a 77 BV recently. I wouldn’t feel the need decant for long, but would do it to remove sediment. It may be best (for my palate) in the first hour or two before the remaining fruit...

Where would you guys put MM on a list including Vice Versa, Realm, TOR, Bevan, etc.? As always, there are many great choices out there and you can't buy them all.

Just getting into Brunello. Have recently had a couple each of Fuligni and Il Poggione of various ages and enjoyed them. Anyone have favorites in the <$100 price range? Hi Owen, This is my first post so please excuse any formatting weirdness. My budget is definitely in that <$100 range, and I tend ...

Just getting into Brunello. Have recently had a couple each of Fuligni and Il Poggione of various ages and enjoyed them. Anyone have favorites in the <$100 price range?

From what I know about his tasting regiment in the past, some of his tastings are done individually with winemakers, but others are done in larger groups ( he chooses who he gets to taste with). What would be interesting to see is, of the wines he tasted en masse, how many received 99 other 100 poi...

Talk of bell curves is somewhat purposeful distraction from the point. Since when does anyone agree there should be a perfect distribution of scores starting at 100 every vintage? That curve should be different every vintage and it should most definitely not be lighting the bell at the top every ye...

To me, scores are best used not as absolute but as relative to compare different wines and also the same wine across vintages. I also like the tasting notes, drinking window info, general commentary, and small tidbits (watch out for new wine x coming from producer y, etc.). Jeb and others try hundre...

He also mentioned noticeable smoke taint in many 2018 Howell Mountain wines.

Agreed, although he seems to like 2019 even better?

He also tasted more than 1,600 wines for the report, which is hard to imagine.

Those were barrel sample scores from last year. His final scores were 100 (M) and 98+ (A).

For what it's worth, I really like the champagne glasses, particularly at their price point. They probably aren't quite as thin/light, but they also feel durable, so a nice compromise.

Thanks Nola. Ordered the paella kit and seafood sampler. Excited about both!

The website mentions paella help. Would you share a recipe?

so what were the monopole offers? only saw flannery

Thanks Steve. Having trouble finding the purchase section on the website. It keeps looping me back to the account page. Any ideas? Apologies if this is user error. Try this, need to register as a new user to get to the shopping cart, let me know if not. https://www.riverainwines.com/shopping3/accou...

Thanks Steve. Having trouble finding the purchase section on the website. It keeps looping me back to the account page. Any ideas? Apologies if this is user error.

J. Rock wrote: ↑January 24th, 2021, 12:13 pm
F.Daner wrote: ↑January 24th, 2021, 11:52 am I got the 18 Bard and realized I never entered into CT. What was the release price this year ? Can't remember...

thanks
I believe it was $110, exclusive of tax and shipping.

Agreed

I’ve been trying many 2016 Barolo and Barbaresco. My general view is to open them the first night and try a half glass. It will likely be tight and generally not that enjoyable unless it’s one of the few with a more open style like Scavino Prapo or Vajra Albe. Put a cork in it and in the fridge. On ...

Thanks for sharing, Jordan. I've also had a good experience with BVPRs from this era, although none have been the pre-1970 classics Stan noted.

Unfortunately the prices for BVPR, Mondavi Reserve, Dunn etc. seem to have climbed quite a bit in the past year or two.

Chris Atkins wrote: ↑January 19th, 2021, 8:16 am How much might the Farella Vineyard cost?

Believe it was $150 for the '16 (offered Feb 2019). Don't think they made the Farella in '17.

I was offered one each of Dr. Crane and To Kalon last year. Previously, I had only wishlist and none were granted. Given 2018 yields were strong (not a Realm specific comment, but my understanding for Napa in general), maybe there will be a little more to go around?

I know you’ll say this is way too soon, but I had a ‘15 Paje recently that was very enjoyable. A half glass on day one wasn’t all that good, but on day 2 and particularly day 3 it came together and was really nice.

I think there’s probably a decent chance the kid isn’t all that interested when the time comes. Mine are 2017 and 2020. For the ‘17 I put together a case or so of port, Dominus, Ridge Monte Bello, and Dunn Howell Mtn. Mix of mags and 750s. Would have liked vintage champagne, too, although that seems...

Thanks Owen. Not much to be learned from Beta's website, but I've signed up. Honestly, I should have been more forgiving in the title of my post. I generally prefer to not venture beyond 14.5% if I can. The stuff that just kills me are these Napa cabs clocking in over 15%+ ABV. You may as well just...

Dunn is also a great choice. I believe they typically come in around 13.9%.

Beta, some of which may even be sub 13%.

I believe the Di Costanzo cabs are around 14.1%.

I received my first allocation last fall with an opportunity to buy some of the appellation chard. I enjoyed one but I’m not at the place in my wine journey where it makes sense to me to pay ~$100 a bottle for chard, with a six bottle minimum. I just don’t get as much enjoyment (or see the same leve...

i cracked open a '17 Materium the other week (from 375) and it was excellent

It will be a special spring release

AG really liked the 17 Howell Mountain too, but it seems like the El Camino is a one-time offering from a vineyard that was ripped out after that harvest.

It is a special limited release called El Camino, not the regular HM. Believe AG said 180 cases.

J.Vizuete wrote: ↑January 10th, 2021, 7:12 pm F7A732A6-58DD-4329-A121-92361F0F43E4.jpeg

David, if you think you’re not an influencer, think again! Watch out Fu

I lobbed in an early bid around $65 and got blown away. Was definitely thinking the same thing about some newfound excitement from this group.

I would decant for sediment but try it soon thereafter. If you’re looking for fruit, it may be best in the first couple hours.

On the opener, a Durand would be great, but I have pretty good success with a monopol/ah so type opener for about 1/10 the cost.

I order from empire all the time. They’re great.

I bought six originally and after drinking one went back for six more a few weeks ago. Free shipping if bought direct from Caterwaul website. Hard to beat that.

Everyone loves value and there are plenty of good wines in this price range, but hard to be a credible top 100 list when nearly 60 of the wines are $30 or less, including many <$20. Agree I don’t want to drink most of these. And I second the comment on Austin Hope.

I put away a couple each of ‘17 Dunn HM and Dominus from Napa for my son’s birth year. Also some Taylor Fladgate vintage port, as has been recommended.

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