So, what are your recent acquisitions?

[RichG]

Tragically, it appears I scarfed down about 25-30% of that new bottle of Glen Scotia, and cracked that Macallan during a party this past weekend. No memory of their performance, so they will be like new when I try them again!

A few of my closest friends from high school rent a house every year with our families for a few nights. Cooking, swimming, drinking and some crazy laughs. Its fantastic because our wives all get along incredibly well also. Only two of us are Scotch drinkers. This will be my contribution, and my buddy is bringing Glendronach 18. Have not tried either...hoping we picked some winners...and counting down the days. 

[Baccy]

On 6/4/2021 at 11:02 AM, Mr.T said:

I've always wanted to try that stuff but now I can't seem to find it anywhere. I used to always see it on the shelves at liquor stores and just gloss over it. What's it like?

[Mr.T]

I've always wanted to try that stuff but now I can't seem to find it anywhere. I used to always see it on the shelves at liquor stores and just gloss over it. What's it like?

It’s not at all common on the shelves where I live. I’ve only seen it in one store where I live. You get some heat on the front end but it mellows after that. The corn really comes through since it has to have 80% corn in its mashbill…it’s simple and light and there’s some vanilla and oak to it. I will say it’s very unique and if you’re looking to for something different from the high wheat and rye stuff, it’s with a try..and at $15 if you don’t like it your wallet won’t mind too much


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[Mr.T]

I snagged the last one on the shelf….and at MSRP!

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[Fuzz AI]

Picked up a 6pk of Shark's Block McLaren Vale Shiraz, Black Wattle Mt Benson Shiraz and Giaconda & Chapoutier Ergo Sum.

Looking forward to trying the Ergo Sum, as I have heard good things about it.

[treberty]

Soooooo it seems that there was a bit of a glitch this week in our state run liquor commission distribution system: one store got 10 cases of Weller. Only 4 stores in the same area shared 16 cases or so. Weird.

I picked up one case - my lucky day.
Will likely share with some friends... don't know what the price is in the US, but I paid about 30usd per bottle. Great value, imo.

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[Lycosa]

This is my first bottle of port wine ever. I'm a newbie when it comes to wine in general (especially red wine, not a fan so far). I've seen so many cigar smokers who drink port and it's supposed to be one of the best (alcoholic) beverage pairings with cigars. I've tried it and I actually quite enjoy it!

[potpest]

Couple for the cellar arrived today

[BrightonCorgi]

@Lycosa Taylor 10 is a good one to start off with!  Tawny is a lot easier to the casual port drinker than a Vintage Port.  Before you kill that bottle, you may want to consider picking up a Taylor 20 to compare it too.  20 doesn't always mean better.  They're both different and "scratch different itches".

If you like port after both, I would move onto a 10 year Madeira.  Similar to port, but more acidity and basically an infinite shelf life.  Tawny port will last about a month open.  Madeira is perfectly suited to cigars; more so than port.  Port is historically more associated to the British, while Madeira is more associated to the United States.

[Stogiepuffer]

Gift from a good friend.

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[David88]

Just back from a successful trip to Scotland. Some pickups from a springbank tour (highly recommended!) and some shopping in Edinburgh. 

[Luca]

Today's delivery! 

[Islandboy]

Got lucky at my local liquor store today. My money’s on barrel 44 in warehouse H.

[inter4alia]

From my recent trip through Kentucky. Took it easy this trip. 

[Baccy]

My fave...

[Ken Gargett]

On 7/9/2021 at 9:22 PM, Fuzz said:

Picked up a 6pk of Shark's Block McLaren Vale Shiraz, Black Wattle Mt Benson Shiraz and Giaconda & Chapoutier Ergo Sum.

Looking forward to trying the Ergo Sum, as I have heard good things about it.

i thought you'd posted about ergo sum before? good things indeed. from giaconda, or at least rick kinzbrunner and michel chapoutier, though i think they have bowed out. 

[potpest]

One more for the cellar arrived today

[potpest]

One last bordeaux purchase for a while. That's what I told myself anyway.

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[BrightonCorgi]

9 hours ago, potpest said:

One last bordeaux purchase for a while. That's what I told myself anyway.

Are you buying cases of each wine you've recently posted? 

[potpest]

Are you buying cases of each wine you've recently posted? 

Unfortunately not. I've not got a proper cellar, just a couple of wine fridges. Tend to pick up a few bottles each year to lay down and enjoy in the future.

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[potpest]

Just had a delivery from Spain

[Baccy]

On 7/9/2021 at 9:22 PM, Fuzz said:

Picked up a 6pk of Shark's Block McLaren Vale Shiraz, Black Wattle Mt Benson Shiraz and Giaconda & Chapoutier Ergo Sum.

Looking forward to trying the Ergo Sum, as I have heard good things about it.

What's with Australian winemakers and using the stupid twist tops? I'm not sure how many other companies are using them but I know that Mollydooker was using them a while back and it seems like a trend over there... lol. I hate them because it just seems cheaper and less traditional but also prevents me from using my Corvin.😬

[Ken Gargett]

5 hours ago, Baccy said:

What's with Australian winemakers and using the stupid twist tops? I'm not sure how many other companies are using them but I know that Mollydooker was using them a while back and it seems like a trend over there... lol. I hate them because it just seems cheaper and less traditional but also prevents me from using my Corvin.😬

australian and kiwi makers use them because we were so sick of wines ruined by dodgy corks, oxidation and the dreaded TCA. there are other producers around the world and in time, i can see the vast majority going that way. the recent halliday challenge which saw thousands of wines judged, i believe 88% were under screwcap and of that, 96% of whites. and of those under cork, most of those would only still be under cork because the makers believe that overseas markets won't buy wines under screwcap, not because they think they are a better seal. i believe that will eventually change. 

winemakers use it because it is undeniably a better closure. and that includes long term ageing (especially, long term ageing for some). 

the portuguese were selling local winemakers dodgy corks. they put their money into marketing and not research at the time and they lost several markets. they have learnt and they have done considerable research and improvements since, but if you treat your market like idiots, hard to get them back. 

so many wines were ruined by cork taint. and at the time, we'd just be patted on the head and told that they knew best. end of market for them. 

you mentioned Giaconda - i'm not sure that Giaconda are still involved with the ergo although they certainly once were - some years back, they (as did many producers) put half their production under cork and half under screwcap. they were concerned that, even though they saw the screwcap as the better closure, their customers would still prefer cork. their wines under screwcap sold out immediately (giaconda always sells out) but for this release, long term customers who'd always bought under cork as their was no option, suddenly refused to buy unless they could have the screwcap.

i do not want to speak for penfolds but i suspect most wine writers are under no illusion that most of their winemakers would prefer to see grange under screwcap, but the marketing dept won't allow it. 

i have done many tastings comparing wines under screwcap and wines under cork. when the wines are young, there is usually not much variation, but after a few years you really notice it. the wines under screwcap are so much fresher, cleaner and simply better. 

if i have the choice, i will always buy a wine under screwcap - and that would apply to cheap and cheerfuls or wines that are the level of Bordeaux First Growth or Burgundy Grand Cru, including DRC, if i had that option. and if i could afford them. 

as for your coravin, understand (told they are making one for screwcaps though not sure how that will work), but a wine under screwcap will last longer, after opening, than one under cork. other than perhaps very mature wines, put the screwcap back and it will last 3-4 days easy in the fridge. an alternative is to have a few half bottles on hand, cleaned. decant into those, leaving no space, and put the screwcap on and they will last for much longer in the fridge. 

as for tradition, i know that is a regular argument but i'd suggest a fallacy. when corks replaced oily rags etc, you reckon the oily rag salesmen had any success claiming tradition. i am not against tradition but i'd much rather a better wine or not wasting my money on a dud. 

one day, something will come along which improves on the screwcap (no doubt, they'll be claiming tradition), but until then, i have not the slightest doubt that screwcaps are the superior seal. 

 

[Baccy]

Wow! Nice explanation Ken, I definitely trust your experience when it comes to wine. Guess I'll have to give them another try...

[Ken Gargett]

1 hour ago, Baccy said:

Wow! Nice explanation Ken, I definitely trust your experience when it comes to wine. Guess I'll have to give them another try...

one other minor benefit is that you can store your wines standing up.