Wine Berserkers - international wine social media, online community, and discussion

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Not yet, but I suspect the day will come when my kids get busted for doing this. They will do chores if not employed, or will use their wages to buy replacements if/when this happens; the goal is for them to think twice before doing that again. Restitution will only be part of the punishment --- aft...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

2014 La Dame de Malescot - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (11/12/2019) -- popped and poured -- -- tasted non-blind over 2 hours on Day 1; revisited on Day 3 -- NOSE: very ripe red fruits; no funk or pencil shavings; up-front fruit. Day 3 presentation was more savory and plummy. BODY: dark violet-...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

2012 Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Clos des Carmes Monopole - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur (11/11/2019) -- popped and poured -- -- tasted non-blind over 2 to 3 hours -- NOSE: honeysuckle; wooly mineral; mango – sweet potato combo; expressive. BODY: medium-light maize color; medium b...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Dammit. One of a very few producers I buy in most vintages. We'll see to what extent this impacts pricing, both on '16 and others.

Brian G r a f s t r o m

{jealous} ...

I swear, life will someday give me the opportunity to crash one of these fabulous sherry outings you put together, Jay. Great notes! And now I sit here, barely 10am, finding myself pining for a glass.

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Yes. I was referring to the illegal consumption in the parking lot.

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Thank you, Andrew.

Brian G r a f s t r o m

GregT wrote: ↑
November 11th, 2019, 11:52 am
...There's one near me who won't charge corkage as long as the wine is at least 10 years old and the owner gets to try it. Seems pretty fair to me.

O.K.. I'll play. Which restaurant? I like the policy.

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Sad to have missed this event, but I'm really appreciating the notes, everyone. Thank you!

Brian G r a f s t r o m

That is why I hate going to offsite; my back is older than I am, and I feel my offsite visits for at least a couple days afterwards.

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Matt Allen wrote: ↑
November 12th, 2019, 7:31 pm
CBS, on nitro

now *that* sounds awesome!

Brian G r a f s t r o m

AD Northup wrote: ↑
November 12th, 2019, 5:17 pm

Brian G r a f s t r o m wrote: ↑
November 12th, 2019, 5:06 pm
Anyone have experience with the Le Macchiole Paleo Rosso? Only thing giving me pause is some high(er) abvs listed in CT notes for some past vintages.
Didn’t get that offer. What’s the vintage/price?

2016
$100

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Anyone have experience with the Le Macchiole Paleo Rosso? Only thing giving me pause is some high(er) abvs listed in CT notes for some past vintages.

Brian G r a f s t r o m

No, not all the wines I buy come with screw caps. That's why you need to carry a corkscrew when you shop! I want to try before buying but can't always. If I know the producer, I'm usually OK buying blind, but wouldn't buy anything in quantity from a producer I don't know pretty well. But that's whe...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Hi Bob, re: 2014 Bordeaux, you are not alone. I absolutely *love* the '14s. I cracked into this one because my local Costco has had them at $90 a pop, which struck me as a good deal; I've put at least a bottle in my cart on three separate occasions, and I finally decided it would be wise to actually...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

2014 Château Pontet-Canet - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (10/28/2019) -- decanted immediately before initial taste -- -- tasted non-blind over a couple hours -- NOSE: smoky oak; black cherry Twizzlers; raspberry reduction; hints of cumin and bitter orange peel. BODY: superfine particulate matt...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

2005 Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (9/22/2019) -- decanted immediately before initial taste -- -- tasted non-blind over a couple hours -- NOSE: stinky cheese --- epoisses; dark, tanned leather; dark strawberry jam; some alcohol fumes n...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

That's a lot of bottles for only $65 worth of wine.

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Mark Y wrote: ↑
November 10th, 2019, 9:19 am
E4941107-6B2B-440A-997C-D130DCC2E285.jpeg

As good as beer gets pretty much...
Reputation preceeds it, but it still lives up to the hype.
Thanks for sharing Travis!

What is it?

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Yep. I'll try one from time to time to see if I can find a diamond in the rough; notsomuch this time, but at $11 I can't really be disappointed, either.

Brian G r a f s t r o m

2016 Château Castegens - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux (11/10/2019) -- popped and poured -- -- tasted a couple small pours non-blind on Day 1; re-visited on Day 4 -- -- 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc -- -- Diam 3 closure -- Terribly oaky --- unpleasantly so on Day 1, but...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

2015 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (11/10/2019) -- popped and poured -- -- tasted non-blind over approx. 3 hours -- Very approachable --- more approachable than I'd prefer for a GPL of this age. Red-fruited, mostly, with medium-low acidity. Not tannic. Clean. Sweet, ...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Any thoughts on Manuela? Corkage policy? Thanks! Cheers! Marshall [cheers.gif] Just dined there last Friday night. Loved the vibe and food was good - flavorful and well portioned. However, service can be hit or miss. Our particular server really wasn't feeling it that day and acted like he didn't w...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Is that Fu picking his nose but just so warmed-up he missed?!?

Cool pic. Michael.

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Would have guessed Cab Franc

Brian G r a f s t r o m

I had essenti6y the same impression of this wine. I bet it will age amazingly well.

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Mich@el Ch@ng wrote: ↑
November 5th, 2019, 4:59 am
Was browsing through old pics and came across a gem with fu and Jonathan gold candidly in the same picture at majordomo.

Pic or didn't happen.

Brian G r a f s t r o m

For a long while (a year or two?) In the recent past CBS bombers were always stocked on WF shelves. They pretty much dried up earlier this year, though

Brian G r a f s t r o m

I chose the top 3 options: Yes, when I have willpower. No, expand storage (during wintertime; and this is usually accompanied by a slow-down in purchasing) No, add off-site (when the problem has become exceedingly bad; this level of bad behavior has only been reached three times --- my initial foray...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Damn!!! Yay!!!! I have been waiting for CBS 4packs! I bought 24, Ha! Over a hundred dollars in beer, but Screams like a deal when you don’t have to look at those bombers... Great Sunday brunch beer. It is my second-favorite breakfast beer, behind only Aecht Schlenkerla's Urbock Rauchbier. I, too, w...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Damn!!! Yay!!!! I have been waiting for CBS 4packs!

Brian G r a f s t r o m

William, You *did* malign an entire generation. That is not likely to go over well with members of said generation, many of whom participate here. The age-old trope of deriding members of (the) younger generation(s) is just that: old. Old, and devoid of nearly any meaning. Trafficking in said tropes...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

2016 Tercero Carignane - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County (11/2/2019) Cracked and poured. A small group made this disappear fairly quickly over homemade pizzas. Very approachable. Fruity. Love the 12.1% alc.. This was exactly what we wanted in the moment --- essentially, a fine ...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

It really was something special, Jay. Sad to know I'll never come across another bottle. C'est la vie!

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Thanks, guys.

it's a worthy buy if you come across a bottle in good condition and the price is reasonable.

Brian G r a f s t r o m

I think Bottle Rock does this as well. The bottle is more-than-paid-for after the first two glasses.

Brian G r a f s t r o m

I have one bottle of the 1999 Királyudvar Furmint Tokaji Lapis left. I've tried this 5 times over the years with the last being about 5 years ago. My impression on aging is to consume within 5-7 years. I'm fairly sure that my last bottle will show poorly. VM Oh, boy! I will most certainly be on the...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

NV Equipo Navazos Jerez-Xérès-Sherry La Bota de Fino "Macharnudo Alto" Nº 15 - Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry (10/25/2019) -- popped and poured -- -- tasted non-blind over a few hours -- -- saca de Junio 2008 -- NOSE: expressive; quite rich for a Fino; tawny; nutty; typical Sherry saline note...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

2004 Finca Sandoval Manchuela - Spain, Castilla-La Mancha, Manchuela (10/21/2019) -- decanted immediately before initial taste -- -- tasted non-blind over a couple hours -- -- 83% Syrah, 9% Mourvedre, 8% Bobal -- NOSE: cigar wrapper up front, with a brooding black cherry Twizzler note laying undern...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

2018 Weingut Keller Riesling Limestone - Germany, Rheinhessen (9/23/2019) -- popped and poured -- -- tasted non-blind over a couple hours -- -- AP#: … 05 19 -- NOSE: lightly tropical and floral --- somewhat reminiscent of Sancerre; honeydew melon; smells like it's going to be acidic. BODY: little b...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

John, Sarah, and Greg,

Thank you for the additional insights.

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Mike Grammer wrote: ↑
October 31st, 2019, 2:44 pm
Could be all the scotch
...
Mike

random tip of the day: take some aged parmesan cheese and either shave it super thin, or cut it into thin matchsticks. Pair with scotch (smoky malts work best). Amazing pairing.

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Seems like you drink a lot of disappointing/overpriced wines or just don't post on the good ones and corner the market. [rofl.gif] A few things: 1. I fancy myself a somewhat stringent scorer. If you ever see me score something 94pts or higher, I seriously loved that wine. 88 or 89 points from me is...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Any experience drinking this wine with some age on it, Sarah? Let's call "some age" 8+ years.

Brian G r a f s t r o m

Good to hear re: a slightly more restrained winemaking style, Greg. That said, I don't think "dialed back a bit" is enough to pique my interest.

Brian G r a f s t r o m

2015 Királyudvar Furmint Tokaji Sec - Hungary, Tokaji (9/18/2019) -- popped and poured -- -- tasted non-blind over a couple hours on Day 1; TN from Day 1 -- NOSE: smells sweet; papaya jellies; lychee; expressive. BODY: maize color of medium depth; medium-light bodied. TASTE: zesty; high acidity; sw...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

2015 La Ca' Nova Barbaresco Montestefano - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco (9/1/2019) -- decanted immediately before initial taste -- -- tasted non-blind over 2 - 3 hours -- NOSE: intense red berry; hint of sulfur; not complex. BODY: garnet color with slight bit of the typical bricking througho...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

2005 Bodega Numanthia Toro Numanthia - Spain, Castilla y León, Toro (10/31/2019) -- decanted approximately 45 minutes before initial taste -- -- tasted non-blind over 2- 3 hours -- NOSE: concentrated purple fruits; a bit smoky; oaky; moderately fumey (alc.); medium+ expressiveness. BODY: violet – b...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

2015 Rudolf Fürst Centgrafenberg Riesling Großes Gewächs - Germany, Franken (9/9/2019) -- popped and poured -- -- tasted non-blind over 3 hours -- -- AP #: … 008 16 -- NOSE: light pineapple; medium-light petrol; powdered sugar; a light smoky note emerged with air exposure. BODY: medium-light bodied...

Brian G r a f s t r o m

2009 Domaine Taupenot-Merme Chambolle-Musigny - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny (9/2/2019) -- popped and poured on Day 1 -- -- tasted non-blind over a couple hours on Day 1; revisited on Day 3 -- NOSE: ripe red fruits; anise seed; a bit fumey, despite the 13% alc. on the label. B...

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