Greetings all of you wine connoisseurs! I am approaching a personal milestone and want to celebrate with a bottle of vino. I'm looking for suggestions on what I should buy. I like reds - Chianti and Shiraz especially, the bolder the better. I have a budget constraint so it must be kept under $30.00. Any one have any suggestions?

Tell us the personal milestone, and I might come up with a suggestion? Could it be say, 40ish?

Not yet! There is a birthday coming up soon, but 40 is a few years off still. I'm celebrating my first real paycheck as a professor. I figure transitioning from adjunct to contract is a big deal, but only to me - hence the personal milestone.

Well that is a big deal Tribs, congrads 2-u.

Will you be having the wine with a meal?

Tribs, congratulations! I say skip the meal and get the entire buzz out of that 30 bucks...lol...

(Message edited by cyndelee on August 8, 2006)

QGH, how did you make out at the Dr's?
We missed you today!

Just put the wine in a paper bag and go sit in the park.

Not sure of the meal...maybe just some cheese, crackers, out on the deck enjoying the "buzz."

Yalumba-Shiraz-Viognier. Barossa 2003
$17.00 Buy two. Good value.

Do a French night.
Baget.
Cheese.
Hard meats.
Grapes.
Spring water. (drink equal amounts of water to the wine) you will make pee-pee more, but no big head in the am.

Enjoy Tribs.

CONGRATULATIONS, PROFESSOR!!
You know we are so proud of you!

The first wine that comes to mind is Far Niente it's a cabernet savignon and a bit more than $30.00 but the name means Without a Care. Sounds loverly, no?

Well, I have become a California snob when it comes to reds. If you like big reds, with a lot of gusto, old vine zinfandels are tremendous. I am more into Sonoma wines than Napas.

Hess, Cline, Sausal, and St Francis are some of my favorites. Their Cabarnet Sauvignons are very good as well. Cline is actually in Carneros, which is the southern end of both Napa and Sonoma. I hope you found something good. And I also want to give you a big congratulations on your contract.

Tribs , congratulations Professor !!!
Welcome to the world of paychecks ;-)

At home I have some very good South african wine , it's called "Kanonkop" , Canonhead , and it is not the way you feel after a botlle of it


Let's meet at Jerry's sometime , I would love to have a good oldfashion wine-tasting again.

Sjosss

Jos...if you make the flight to Jerry's I will be there! (Now...will Jerry be there?)

These are all good suggestions, and Boom, I do like the name of that wine. I have until Sept 1, so I can mull over my choices.

Wes was joking that I would probably have enough suggestions to order an entire case of wine. LOL! Then I gently reminded him that I was going to be responsible and only buy one bottle (or at least not break the $30.00 limit).

Every fall I host a wine tasting in my Japanese garden. Weather permitting. This year it will be Oct 7th, We will be tasting wines made in the new style, made to drink now. The US is producing some outstanding wines ready to drink, no cellaring needed.
You are invited. R.S.V.P.

Congratulations, Jeanine. Hope you enjoy what ever you drink.

Wish I could come to the wine tasting in Oct., Jerry. The Japanese garden sounds lovely. I could even bring some Spam appetizers. :-)

I had a surprisingly pleasant wine from a local winery in Cape May, NJ while on vacation. Of course, I can't remember what it was exactly (the heat, you know) but I think it was a Pinot Gris.

I'm into bold cabs and related reds. My favorites for < $20:

Casa Laspostalle/Alexandar Valley (Chile) ~$16
Penfolds Bin 407 (Australia) ~$19

had a fabulous California Cab from Wellington. Can't get it any more.

There are lots of good Chianti Classicos (must be Classico!!) out there for <$20; that's always my safe wine in restaurants with random wine lists.

I read a recent article that you should spend your new age on the wine you drink on your birthday!

I like the idea of that article Sue. A person's first "legal" bottle would be $21.00 - not too shabby.

I love Chiantis but around here they are not that prevalent. Just the run of the mill Ruffino and Ecco Domani. On the occasion that I have some extra money and can stop in the wine shop they usually only have about 5 to choose from. So sad...

Here is a fun game.
Go to www.winecommune.com search year of your birth.

Jerry Gauron. 1951
Item Name: 1951 Charles Krug Napa Valley Cabernet
Item Number:
Quantity: 1 available
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Price: $600.00

OMG...if I only had this kind of cash to spend on wine!!!

Jeanine Clark 1970
Item Name: 1970 Petrus Pomerol
Quantity: 1 available
Bottle Size: 1500 ml
Price: $6,874.89

Mine is a bit pricey - but I didn't do it right, apparently. It didn't print up like yours.

1950 Lafleur Pomerol
Size: 1500, Bottles: 1 $18,749.89

Hey Gail...just click on Lafleur Pomerol and it brings you to another screen. Lucky you! There are two bottles of that one. LOL!

Ok...I'm avoiding work, so I searched on Wes' year.

Item Name: 1965 Latour Pauillac
Quantity: 3 available
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Price: $490.00

Hmmm.... all that comes up for me is Port (mind you I'm not complaining, I love Port)

Tara Smith: 1963
Item Name: FONSECA..1963..VINTAGE PORT
Quantity: Only 1 remaining
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Price: $399.99

And for good measure here is hubby's

Guy Smith: 1956
Item Name: 1956 Latour Pauillac
Quantity: 3 available
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Price: $795.00
* 1956 Latour Pauillac recorked at Chateau 2002--3hs

Boom you would be worth every penny. You tell Guy that. LOL

Awww, thanks bro! *You have to say that~ you're family

And one last one (I've got to get back to work!!)

The year I married my best friend: 1997
Item Name: 1997 Jayer, Henri Vosne Romanee Cros Parantoux
Quantity: 2 available
Bottle Size: 1500 ml
Price: $3,599.99

Any idea on what kind of wine this is?

boom, does you husband know about your friend? Do you live in NV?

LOL, Jerry, hubby is thankful for the BF - takes some of the pressure off him
*When I refer to him as the BF it's all good!

Not in NV ~ we're in Cali, why do you ask?

It's a Morman state, no?

he he
Big Love

Boom you have very expensive taste.
The Pinot Noir attains such a quintessential "tanginess" and opulence in this vineyard, that I would have to rank it as my paradigm of red Burgundy. The 1991 is a magnificent wine: the nose explodes from the glass with scents of sweet raspberry, plum, coffee, forest floor, Vosne spice, and toasty new oak. Medium-full and quite tangy on the palate, with a juicy core of fruit, laser-like focus, and a long, complex, moderately tannic finish. A stellar wine that has put on weight and richness in the bottle. Not the best bottle of the vintage, but a sentimental favorite. Give it a couple more years to really blossom.

Ah, if only it wasn't cyberspace...
I can almost smell it, feel it on the back of my tongue and then towards the front of my mouth...
look at the legs in that glass...
let me just sit and enjoy...

thank you for such a wonderful description

This is exactly why I am not ready for a wine tasting....you two lost me completely!

Try Archery Summit, it's every bit as sexy. Serve it with baby lamb chops, grill pan cooked with garlic and lemons, a dash of oregano, and a splash of olive oil.

1950 must have been a very good year!

Item Name: 1950 Petrus Pomerol
Item Number:
Quantity: 1 available
Bottle Size: 1500 ml
Price: $18,749.89
1950 Petrus Pomerol WA99

Hey Jerry, do you have a description of Gail's wine??? I can't imagine a wine worth 18 grand!!!

Yo, Tribs.......... Go Ahead and celebrate
BIG TIME!!!!

Back in the days when I was South of the Border, there was an excellent wine - a rosy - no definitely not Rose, and with your $30.00, you could definitely afford a case, and more than likely get a lot of change back - if they still produce it!!

Jerry - with your great expertise,how would you categorize

Strawberry Fields
Remember????? That cute little jug????

Available at any corner store for about $1.79 as I recall

Of course, that was a few years ago..........

Bill

I've heard some people are quite happy with Two-buck chuck from Trader's Joes...

forgot to add if you live in a state where you can accept shipments, we have a great local wine store that ships:

www.winelibrary.com

if that doesn't work, this place I think this place does mailorder and is found in more states, plus is owned by friends of the family:

www.totalwine.com

Sue - 2 Buck shows up at our parties a lot and there's never any left
I love Trader Joe's!

how about this for a nice 25th anniversary present next year:

Item Name: 1982 Margaux
Category: Bordeaux Blend

Bottle Size: 750 ml
Price: $949.00

Sounds devine - oh, Jerry please give us the whole picture

Congrats, Professor!

I think you've been given very good wine choices. And we expect pictures. lol

Well, I thought, my year, 1949 was going to be a winner. The price of my Petrus Pomerol was $12,468.89. However, look at the price of Gail's above. The good year of 1950 WOW!!! Gail, you are a fine vintage year!!!

Felicitaciones Profesor!!!!

I think you've got pretty good choices. Let us know what u did

Appellation Pomerol Controlée



Location:Chateau Petrus is 500 meters north of the Saint-Emilion appellation. (Appellation Pomerol Controlée)

Vineyards: 30 acres producing 4,000 cases.

Classification: Petrus is a famous growth of Pomerol

Grape Variety: 95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. Average age of vines is 42-45 years.

History: During the 19th century, the domaine belonged to the Arnaud family. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Arnauds founded the "Societe Civile du Chateau Petrus", the shares of which Madame Loubat began to acquire in 1925. By the end of World War II, Madame Loubat was the sole proprietor of Chateau Petrus. At this time the establishment of Jean-Pierre- Moueix, a company of wine merchants from Libourne, had the monopoly for its distribution. In 1961, Chateau Petrus went to Madame Loubats nephew and niece: Madame Lacoste and Monsieur Lignac. Since then, Jean-Pierre Moueix has bought Monsieur Lignac's shares.

Under the direction of Jean-Pierre's son, Christian, and their oenologist, Jean Claude Berrouet, Petrus receives the care of a pampered child. The grapes are picked only in the afternoon, when the morning dew has evaporated, so as not to risk even the slightest dilution of quality. Vinification and aging: The composition of the topsoil and the subsoil at Petrus is almost all clay (whereas in adjacent properties the soil is a mixture of gravel-sand or clay-sand). Merlot flourishes in this soil and for this reason, Petrus' vineyard is planted with 95% Merlot. The vines are unusually old and are only replanted after they reach 70 years of age. Replanting takes place plot by plot, instead of vine by vine, in order to guarantee that the average age of vines is maintained at a high level. Fermented in cement vats, the wine is aged in 100% new oak barrels for 22-28 months. Clarified with 5 fresh egg whites per barrel. Never filtered for fear of removing some of its remarkable richness.

Christian Moueix also owns the Dominus Estate in the Napa Valley of California.

Evaluation: The quality equivalent of a First Growth.

Style: Bordeaux's most intensely concentrated, richly flavored and unique red wine. An incredible power, depth and richness yet a remarkable balance with penetrating aromas of ripe mulberry, black currant and fruit and spicy vanilla oak, setting it apart from all Bordeaux's finest wines.

Food: An excellent complement of beef, lamb, veal and game.

I will be bringing my last bottle of Petrus down to Bon in Jan. I picked up two years ago from a collector that went bust. Don't remember the price, but it had to be less then $200.00. I will never pay more then that for any wine.

Wow, thanks for the story.

Jerry - so you really have some valuable stuff? We have 2 bottles of the Margaux - picked it up several years ago for about $200 each in anticipation of our 25th anniversary. (thought my husband was nuts; we have been aware that '82 was a fabulous Bordeaux year) When I saw the prices yesterday, I am seriously considering selling it. While I love wine, I can't see it being that great - if we sell both, we could finance a very nice vacation. Am I too much of a realist?

Sue, if you have a 82 Margux, or two, and you are not "wine snobs" SELL.

The 82's are at peak right now. Soon it will start to go downhill.

I opened my last one last year, it was just ok.
Not worth the price I paid back in 83 $50.00
French wines are OVER PRICED big time now.

Jerry - we do have 2 regular sized bottles, which were purchased for our 25th anniversary, which is next summer. I'm a capitalist, not a wine snob, I'm inclined to sell!

Try the winecommune, if it sells, your rich, if it does not sell, enjoy! It's a win win thing.

Jerry, where do you buy your wine down on Bonaire? Do you ever use Atillean Wine Co.? I have also been going to that place right on Kaya Grande. My CRS just kicked in and I can't remember the name. They don't have a lot, but they have good wine, what they have. Every once in a while, that supermarket in back of the church, has good vino as well.

Yes to the AWC.
Yes to the Bonaire Gift shop.
No to the non-cooled places, the wine is cooked.

Bill, I started to mention Annie Green Springs or was it Boone Springs? and Mad Dog 20-20. They were the options of choice where I grew up oh so many years ago. ;-)

Christine are you thinking "Boones Farm strawberry Hills??" i am sorry I tainted this thread with those words... sorry Jerry oh great one of wine...

Do not drink that stuff, I use it to clean bicycle tires.

You are right on the wine cooking. However, I think no matter where you buy wine on Bonaire, including the gift shop, it still had to get there on containers. It was probably long cooked already sitting in a Venezuelan port, especially if they were on strike that day.