Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About meReal name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan- near Clare. (dead center of lower peninsula)
Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
I thought we could use a more focused thread for winos to strike up conversation and share a virtual glass. Let's talk about favorite types, vintages, appellations, food pairings, tasting notes, cellaring, etc etc etc.
Snobs allowed! (Nice snobs, that is. Remember the Pit guidelines )
Wino? Aren't those the people who drink their wine (Boone's Farm, Thunderbird, Annie Green Springs, 20/20, etc. out of a paper bag? In a park?
We're all wine connoisseurs around here.
Or, at least oenophiles.
OK, my favorites from California.
Red - Marlstone from Clos du Bois.
White - Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay.
Those are both Russian River Valley (Sonoma).
Since I got to meet lots of the owners of the wineries back in the 80s (Wine country tours were in their infancy), I like many wines from Napa as well.
Grgich Hills makes terrific wines, as does Conn Creek, Beringer, Chateau Montelena and Mondavi. Margrit Mondavi introduced my wife and I to well aged Chardonnay when everyone thought they had to be consumed young.
Favourites.......
Red - Rockfords Basket Press Shiraz from the Barossa Valley South Australia
White - Any Savigion Blanc from the Malborough region in New Zealand.
Have yet to have any American made wine that comes close to any of these......just saying )
Huskee those 2 brands of wine are ...well what you might say the homeless drink, Aussie wines are some of the best in the world, if you get the oportunity try any Shiraz from the Coonawarra district is South Australia but spend a few dollars on the bottle.
(Upnorth) Lol, that's kind of what I thought. I have fond memories of Lindemann's but I realize it's not Australia's best. Kind of like American beers being judged by Budweiser....
I promise you I will keep an eye out for some better Aussie wines. I was just looking at a Coonawarra wine on an online retailer I buy from.
I know too that most supermarkets will never carry the good stuff, and that probably goes for American wines on Australia's shelves as well. Michigan USA makes some fantastic Riesling and Chardonnay, and Napa Valley in California is known for its and Cabernet Sauvignon, and Oregon for it's Pinot Noir. (To name a few)
Nice to hear another fan of Rockford. Had the pleasure of visiting the winery about 12 years ago during the harvest season. Really admired their vintage belt-driven power distribution system! Brought home a bottle of the Basket Press, back when you could still carry a bottle of wine on an aircraft. Alas, we drank it a couple of years ago. It was truly wonderful and brought back memories of our trip to the Barossa.
Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About meReal name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan- near Clare. (dead center of lower peninsula)
Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
I do. I have a 36 case locker at an off-site cellar about 10 miles from home, along with a small 48 bottle wine fridge at home. Staglin, Silver Oak, Phelps, a few others are sitting in the locker. I'll pull bottles out for special occasions.
I do. I have a irresponsible amount of wine. I use CellarTracker for inventory and drinking windows. I think most quality wines benefit from at least a little time. And some require it to really show their stuff. I'm super excited you started this thread!!!
Thanks Tim. I've been more into whiskey lately than wine, (re-aging my own, also aging gin in used whiskey barrels, etc) but I value your thoughts in this thread. I will likely get back into wine more in time, sooner than later probably, I tend to be kind of phasey. I only have maybe 3 reds on hand right now, a cab or two and a petite sirah I think. I just can't drink a whole bottle when I want a glass or two, and wine doesn't store after being opened like whiskey.
* - Weber 26.75" OTG
* - Weber 22.5" Premium cloaked in Crimson
* - Slow 'N Sear
* - Smoke E-Z - 26.75" (The Grain Silo)
* - Lodge Sportsman Grill
* - Weber Rapid Fire Chimney Starter
* - Thermoworks ThermoPop
* - Thermoworks Mk4
* - Thermoworks Dot
* - iGrill2 - 4 probes
* - Favorite Beer - the cold one in my hand (craft beers of all flavors; haven't had a blue yummy in over 6 years) my tastes change with the season so it is difficult to name just a couple. However, I will occasionally have a vanilla porter float in the summer (Empyrean Vanilla Porter w/a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream) as I usually drink stouts & porters in the colder months, pale ales & IPAs in the warmer months. I have to add Not Your Father's Root Beer to beers I use for floats.
* - Booze - I don't really have a favorite, but lean towards single malt Scotch & Irish whiskey
* - Wines - Reds: mainly the heavy stuff mixed in with the occasional pinot noir ( I have yet to meet a malbec I didn't like); Whites: German & Nebraska (hey, I have to support the home team)
* - Favorite Spice outlets - Volcanic Peppers - Bellevue, NE
* - Current butchers: Cure - Ft. Calhoun
Does anyone save wine- whether for a year or two or actually cellar it for long term?
I tried about 3 years ago as we have a dark corner in the basement that maintains 62-65 all year long. When we found a bottle we really liked, we would go to the store for 2 more bottles and 1 would go into the reserve wine corner in the basement. About a year later my wife had to have a knee replaced so my sister-in-law volunteered to stay with us for the first 2 weeks of my wife being home. Once she left I went downstairs and noticed that our secret stash that had been close to a full case was down to one lonely bottle. A bottle that she actually had given us for Christmas the prior year. Since then I haven't had intestinal fortitude to start a new collection. Maybe I will make this my New Year's resolution for 2016.
No kidding. But it is half my fault as I was the one that successfully introduced her to red wines that didn't taste like diesel fuel, as she used to say. Live & learn.
The season and food pairing dictates my choice in wine. For casual siping spring to fall I like a crisp rose like domaine montrose or a nice NZ sauv blanc. For weather like right now (cold, snowy and little sunlight) it's tough to beat a big Amarone, Burgundy or Malbec.
Cookers:
Weber Kettle (used/fair condition; a gift).
Grilla OG.
Pit Boss 3-Burner Ultimate Lift-Off Griddle.
SnS Kettle.
Everything Else:
Sous Vide equipment.
Instant read and leave-in thermometers.
Grill Grates.
Kingsford Blue Bag, Royal Oak Lump Charcoal, Weber lighter cubes, Weber charcoal chimneys.
BBQr's Delight Hickory & Apple flavor pellets, propane torch, 6" smoke tube.
Grilla apple & hickory pellets, Royal Oak charcoal pellets.
Rubs with salt: Meat Church, Meathead.
Rubs without salt: SnS Grills Rocky's Rub and Not Just for Beef.
Rubs home-mixed: None at this time.
Spices: Lots of 'em.
I know practically nothing about wines. I would probably try anything, but my favorite is a sweet red wine. I'll watch this thread and hope to learn something.
* - Weber 26.75" OTG
* - Weber 22.5" Premium cloaked in Crimson
* - Slow 'N Sear
* - Smoke E-Z - 26.75" (The Grain Silo)
* - Lodge Sportsman Grill
* - Weber Rapid Fire Chimney Starter
* - Thermoworks ThermoPop
* - Thermoworks Mk4
* - Thermoworks Dot
* - iGrill2 - 4 probes
* - Favorite Beer - the cold one in my hand (craft beers of all flavors; haven't had a blue yummy in over 6 years) my tastes change with the season so it is difficult to name just a couple. However, I will occasionally have a vanilla porter float in the summer (Empyrean Vanilla Porter w/a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream) as I usually drink stouts & porters in the colder months, pale ales & IPAs in the warmer months. I have to add Not Your Father's Root Beer to beers I use for floats.
* - Booze - I don't really have a favorite, but lean towards single malt Scotch & Irish whiskey
* - Wines - Reds: mainly the heavy stuff mixed in with the occasional pinot noir ( I have yet to meet a malbec I didn't like); Whites: German & Nebraska (hey, I have to support the home team)
* - Favorite Spice outlets - Volcanic Peppers - Bellevue, NE
* - Current butchers: Cure - Ft. Calhoun
I know practically nothing about wines. I would probably try anything, but my favorite is a sweet red wine. I'll watch this thread and hope to learn something.
We like to keep a bottle of Port (some labels say Oporto) around the house this time of year. Just a little nip before bed warms the bones and aids in a quick snore.
My toys:
Weber Summit Charcoal Grilling Center (WSCGC) aka Mr. Fancypants
Pit Barrel Cooker (which rocks), named Pretty Baby
Weber Summit S650 Gas Grill, named Hot 'n Fast (used mostly for searing and griddling)
Weber Kettle Premium 22" named Kettle Kid, eager to horn in with more cooks in the future
Camp Chef Somerset IV 4-burner outdoor gas range named AfterBurner due to its 30kBTU burners
Adrenaline BBQ Company Gear:
SnS Low Profile, DnG, and Large Charcoal Basket, for WSCGC
SnS Deluxe for 22" Kettle
Elevated SS Rack for WSCGC
SS Rack for DnG
Cast Iron Griddle
Grill Grate for SnS
Grill Grates: five 17.375 sections (retired to storage)
Grill Grates: six 19.25 panels for exact fit for Summit S650
gasser
Grill Grates for 22" Kettle
2 Grill Grate Griddles
Steelmade Griddle for Summit gas grill
Fireboard Gear:
Extreme BBQ Thermometer Package
Additional control unit
Additional probes: Competition Probes 1" (3) and 4" (1), 3 additional Ambient Probes. 1 additional Food Probe
2 Driver Cables
Pit Viper Fan (to pair with Fireboard Fan Driver Cable)
Pit Viper Fan new design (to pair with Fireboard Fan Driver Cable)
Thermoworks Gear:
Thermapen MK4 (pink)
Thermapen Classic (pink too)
Thermoworks MK4 orange
Temp Test 2 Smart Thermometer
Extra Big and Loud Timer
Timestick Trio
Maverick ET 73 a little workhorse with limited range
Maverick ET 733
Maverick (Ivation) ET 732
Grill Pinz
Vortex (two of them)
18" drip pan for WSCGC
Ceramic Spacers for WSCGC in Kamado Mode: 2 sets each 1/2", 1", 2". The 2" spacers work best with the 18" drip pan. The 1+1/2 inch spacers work best with the 14 inch cake pan.
Two Joule Sous Vide devices
3 Lipavi Sous Vide Tubs with Lids: 12, 18 and 26 quarts
Avid Armor Ultra Pro V32 Chamber Sealer
Instant Pot 6 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker
Instant Pot 10 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker
Charcoal Companion TurboQue
A-Maze-N tube 12 inch tube smoker accessory for use with pellets
BBQ Dragon and Dragon Chimney
Shun Classic Series:
8" Chef Knife
6" Chef's Knife
Gokujo Boning and Fillet Knife
3 1/2 inch Paring Knife
I cellar or store about 200 bottles of wine, but some of them rotate out pretty quickly, especially the whites. Lately I'm in to drinking a glass of Prosecco or a really mineraly (not sweet) Reisling while cooking supper. Like you, Craigar , whenever we find a wine we like I lay in a few bottles of it.
This Christmas we're opening a few bottles of hopefully nicely aged Amarone. One never knows with those older wines until they're uncorked and decanted how drinkable they are.
For backup, there are several good reds and whites--not expensive, bought more for flavor like Marietta Old Vine Red and Cline Ancient Vine Zin, both of which are family favorites. For a lighter red, I like Meiomi Pinot Noir.
Kathryn
Last edited by fzxdoc; December 18, 2015, 10:46 AM.
Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About meReal name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan- near Clare. (dead center of lower peninsula)
Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
Many years I bought a Vinotheque 500 wine cellar. It actually only holds about 440 bottles, durn it. I have had some great parties from its contents, a few of which I even remember! While I still have some good bottles from the 80's, I go through periods where I like older reds and those all disappear. Then I have to build up again. Right now it is at a low point, but there are some exceptional California reds that will be coming out of the wineries in the next couple of years, so it might just reach capacity again. That being said, while I only call myself a snob with my tongue firmly in cheek, I generally don't drink much but California reds, and mostly those mostly only from wineries I have visited and like. I know little about wines from countries other than the Republic of Sunny California. Although I certainly do enjoy a Premier Grand Cru Classe when offered!
My toys:
Weber Summit Charcoal Grilling Center (WSCGC) aka Mr. Fancypants
Pit Barrel Cooker (which rocks), named Pretty Baby
Weber Summit S650 Gas Grill, named Hot 'n Fast (used mostly for searing and griddling)
Weber Kettle Premium 22" named Kettle Kid, eager to horn in with more cooks in the future
Camp Chef Somerset IV 4-burner outdoor gas range named AfterBurner due to its 30kBTU burners
Adrenaline BBQ Company Gear:
SnS Low Profile, DnG, and Large Charcoal Basket, for WSCGC
SnS Deluxe for 22" Kettle
Elevated SS Rack for WSCGC
SS Rack for DnG
Cast Iron Griddle
Grill Grate for SnS
Grill Grates: five 17.375 sections (retired to storage)
Grill Grates: six 19.25 panels for exact fit for Summit S650
gasser
Grill Grates for 22" Kettle
2 Grill Grate Griddles
Steelmade Griddle for Summit gas grill
Fireboard Gear:
Extreme BBQ Thermometer Package
Additional control unit
Additional probes: Competition Probes 1" (3) and 4" (1), 3 additional Ambient Probes. 1 additional Food Probe
2 Driver Cables
Pit Viper Fan (to pair with Fireboard Fan Driver Cable)
Pit Viper Fan new design (to pair with Fireboard Fan Driver Cable)
Thermoworks Gear:
Thermapen MK4 (pink)
Thermapen Classic (pink too)
Thermoworks MK4 orange
Temp Test 2 Smart Thermometer
Extra Big and Loud Timer
Timestick Trio
Maverick ET 73 a little workhorse with limited range
Maverick ET 733
Maverick (Ivation) ET 732
Grill Pinz
Vortex (two of them)
18" drip pan for WSCGC
Ceramic Spacers for WSCGC in Kamado Mode: 2 sets each 1/2", 1", 2". The 2" spacers work best with the 18" drip pan. The 1+1/2 inch spacers work best with the 14 inch cake pan.
Two Joule Sous Vide devices
3 Lipavi Sous Vide Tubs with Lids: 12, 18 and 26 quarts
Avid Armor Ultra Pro V32 Chamber Sealer
Instant Pot 6 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker
Instant Pot 10 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker
Charcoal Companion TurboQue
A-Maze-N tube 12 inch tube smoker accessory for use with pellets
BBQ Dragon and Dragon Chimney
Shun Classic Series:
8" Chef Knife
6" Chef's Knife
Gokujo Boning and Fillet Knife
3 1/2 inch Paring Knife
All it takes, Huskee , is a place to put them. I have a wine rack wall from Wine Enthusiast built into in a dark cool area of the house--nothing as fancy as you have, Yno , but it suits our needs.
I have about a dozen bottles from the '80s and '90s, mostly cabs and amarones. Every now and again we'll open one. Sometimes they're vinegar; other times, they're the nectar of the gods. My husband always makes me take the first taste and then judging on the type of face I make or , he'll decide whether or not to join me.
Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About meReal name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan- near Clare. (dead center of lower peninsula)
Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
Ynofzxdoc I am new to wine storage, just realized I should buy a few and save instead of always buying and drinking new wine dated 2013, 2014 like what's on supermarket shelves. My question is, is it worth buying the $13-20 bottles and trying to save them? You know- Decoy, Cline, Coppola, etc, stuff that's really good but likely not 'great' to wine connoisseurs. Or are those simply not of the caliber that will benefit from storage? By storage I don't mean cellaring for 10-15yrs, I mean saving 3-5 years, maybe 7 or 8 if I can make it that long. I have a few Napa cabs that i think will be good for that, but I'm curious about the less luxury but still really good wines.
Huskee , we selectively store/age SOME.
We have a great little vintner in town and they really know their stuff. I take seriously their warning to turn the stock over or you'll have a high loss ratio. BUT, they sometimes get some wines in before they are really ready. When that happens, they'll send us an email and let us know when the wine will be at its peak.
If you can find a good little wine shop, they are worth their weight in gold.
Best thing in the world you can do to get wine figured out is to find a trustworthy and knowledgeable wine merchant in your town. They should be tasting what they buy and should have a sense of how long a wine would improve.
I find that non-luxury priced wines can definitely age, if you find the right ones. Value-driven, fruit forward CA cabs can do OK for a few years but they are produced for early drinking so you don't need to.
Huskee , I was recently at French Lick Winery in French Lick, IN (home of Larry Bird) and doing a sampling. I tried one wine that I just seemed to like and asked what they recommended to pair it with... Their immediate recommendation was BBQ! The wine was FOCH. I haven't been able to pair it myself yet but I'm looking forward to trying it with my next batch of Q.
Other than that I am always up for a good Port with some Chocolate for dessert.
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