What's in your glass today?

[GVan]

Had a vertical of these on display in the wine cellar - 1992 through 1996. Just opened the 1996 Private Reserve and it was absolutely amazing. Decanted for 5 hours and it was a 97 point wine all day long. Now I will start going backwards through the vertical - who knew a NAPA wine would last 30 years!

[BrightonCorgi]

I used to buy the Georges de Latour's at auction. A good decade ago and they were really affordable. People weren't chasing them as they are now. They do age amazing and 30 is on a plateau that will ride for some time. 

I still look and bid on them, but now it's better deal on large format instead if they come around. I think '87 was the last one I drank. I don't think I have any more GL's 😒

[BG318]

Having a really good dinner at Mon  Lapin tonight in MTL. Great wine list!

[BrightonCorgi]

15 hours ago, BG318 said:

Having a really good dinner at Mon Vin Lapin tonight in MTL. Great wine list!

Condrieu, very fancy. What is the red wine? I'm unfamiliar with it.

[BG318]

It's the last vintage of Les Jardins de la Martiniere produced by winemaker Xavier Caillard before the property was sold. Loire, Cab Franc, natural wine with very limited production. Barnyard-y as hell but still fresh. The list was chock full of these esoteric wines and they don't really post the list online so no advance studying. It took me 30 minutes to find it. Great choice ultimately. The best thing I can say about it is that the staff was freaking out when they tasted it and they changed the tasting menu I ordered to suit it. It turned what was starting as a slightly above average experience into a fantastic evening. The Condrieu was ok, but it was really my third choice because they were out of the first choice. It took awhile for them to get back to me so it was a clunky beginning but the Loire bottle really saved the night with its uniqueness.

[BrightonCorgi]

That's disappointing on the Condrieu. I have only a few bottles and seldom a reason to open. I am a big fan of Loire reds!

[BG318]

6 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

That's disappointing on the Condrieu. I have only a few bottles and seldom a reason to open. I am a big fan of Loire reds!

The Condrieu was fine, but they had a Riesling from Egon Muller on the list which I was salivating about. I guess that there is almost always a more interesting option. The nearly half hour between ordering that and getting the news that they were out was deflating. They really rallied from about 3 touchdowns down though. The kitchen is strong, so is the service, so is the wine list. It's the kind of place that I am interested in picking the wine and then let the staff match it up with the food which they did. The list has lots of geeky cult wines which are hard to find anywhere and you have to be prepared to spend as much as you feel comfortable with but the markups are more than fair.

[loose_axle]

[GVan]

As promised from the "Collecting Nerds" and "Average Joe's" front page post:

I had some spectacular wine at the Golf League party. Interestingly, according to the Red Wine drinking attendees -- the 2002 Napa Winston Hill from Frank's Family Vineyard beat the 2000 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion Bordeaux. Both have been in my cellar, stored exactly the same, since acquisition. Apparently, our own 2026 version of Bottle Shock. I decanted 4 bottles of each wine for 7 hours. Who would have guessed the Napa would win. Personally, I thought both were excellent examples of what they are supposed to be. The Napa was definitely more fruit-forward which carried the evening for the guests.

Also posting the Wine descriptions that were just for us "Wine Nerds" that I displayed at the party. I did see a lot of people reading the history of the wines. Something I like to do and consistent with my firm belief that -- He or She who dies with the most stories - WINS !!!

La Mission Haut Brion.pdf Winston Hill copy.pdf

[Ken Gargett]

On 1/31/2026 at 5:05 PM, loose_axle said:

love navazos. the de borts is always good as well. 

[loose_axle]

4 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

love navazos. the de borts is always good as well. 

Yeah love the e-nav. I've a few bottles of the 116 Oloroso stored away and was going to bring one out -  but the crowd that night aren't fans of sherry apart from PX 

[painfreefishing]

Blanton's SFtB. For me Blanton's is good but not great this however makes me think they are ruining barrels of great bourbon.