i'm retiring
 

I am retiring in a couple of months, and want to treat myself to an extra
special bottle of wine. We usually drink bottles that are about $20-$25. I
want to splurge and buy a bottle for about $150. Any recommendations? Red
or white does not matter, sparkling or not does not matter, just want to buy
myself a very nice celebration bottle. I am going to stop by my local
liquor store to see what they suggest too.

i'm retiring
 

On Sun, 27 Aug 2006 12:02:05 -0700, "ginmill01" >
wrote:

>I am retiring in a couple of months, and want to treat myself to an extra
>special bottle of wine.

For a celebration, Champagne sounds like a good idea. But tell us
more about what you like - might prompt more relevent suggestions.

--
Steve Slatcher
http://pobox.com/~steve.slatcher

i'm retiring
 

Steve Slatcher > wrote in
:

> On Sun, 27 Aug 2006 12:02:05 -0700, "ginmill01" >
> wrote:
>
>>I am retiring in a couple of months, and want to treat myself to an
>>extra special bottle of wine.
>
> For a celebration, Champagne sounds like a good idea. But tell us
> more about what you like - might prompt more relevent suggestions.
>

I would agree, champagne is the thing, go for something excellent but
without airs such as Taittinger Comte De Champagne or Cliquot's Grande
Dame, avoid the excess freight charges for Kristal and Dom P.

--
Joseph Coulter
Cruises and Vacations
http://www.josephcoulter.com/

i'm retiring
 

I disagree...if you have a good retirement plan...go for Dom or Cristal.
They are both EXCELLENT. Dom is very ageable as well. I had some over 30
year old RD (Recent Disgorged) that was the MOST complex wine of any kind I
have ever had.

Other fine examples in USA are Schramberg from Napa...they have a J Schram
for about $90 that is killer stuff., Etoile Rose from Chandon,
Yountville...outstanding. Takes a real man to drink this pink Sparkler.
(That said its more salmon colored.)

My other favorite is much less expensive...it is Roederer-L'Hermitage from
Anderson Vally. Same producer as Cristal from France. Outstanding. I do
like the L'Hermitage perhaps more than the French Cristal. But the Cristal
is most special.

Good luck on your choice. Wishing you a GREAT retirement.

Dick


"Joseph Coulter" > wrote in message
. 97.136...
> Steve Slatcher > wrote in
> :
>
>> On Sun, 27 Aug 2006 12:02:05 -0700, "ginmill01" >
>> wrote:
>>
>>>I am retiring in a couple of months, and want to treat myself to an
>>>extra special bottle of wine.
>>
>> For a celebration, Champagne sounds like a good idea. But tell us
>> more about what you like - might prompt more relevent suggestions.
>>
>
> I would agree, champagne is the thing, go for something excellent but
> without airs such as Taittinger Comte De Champagne or Cliquot's Grande
> Dame, avoid the excess freight charges for Kristal and Dom P.
>
> --
> Joseph Coulter
> Cruises and Vacations
> http://www.josephcoulter.com/
>

i'm retiring
 

I was sort of thinking champagne also. Right now for special occasions, I
ususally buy Chandon White Star, which I like a lot.


"Richard Neidich" > wrote in message
k.net...
>I disagree...if you have a good retirement plan...go for Dom or Cristal.
>They are both EXCELLENT. Dom is very ageable as well. I had some over 30
>year old RD (Recent Disgorged) that was the MOST complex wine of any kind I
>have ever had.
>
> Other fine examples in USA are Schramberg from Napa...they have a J Schram
> for about $90 that is killer stuff., Etoile Rose from Chandon,
> Yountville...outstanding. Takes a real man to drink this pink Sparkler.
> (That said its more salmon colored.)
>
> My other favorite is much less expensive...it is Roederer-L'Hermitage from
> Anderson Vally. Same producer as Cristal from France. Outstanding. I do
> like the L'Hermitage perhaps more than the French Cristal. But the
> Cristal is most special.
>
> Good luck on your choice. Wishing you a GREAT retirement.
>
> Dick
>
>
> "Joseph Coulter" > wrote in message
> . 97.136...
>> Steve Slatcher > wrote in
>> :
>>
>>> On Sun, 27 Aug 2006 12:02:05 -0700, "ginmill01" >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>I am retiring in a couple of months, and want to treat myself to an
>>>>extra special bottle of wine.
>>>
>>> For a celebration, Champagne sounds like a good idea. But tell us
>>> more about what you like - might prompt more relevent suggestions.
>>>
>>
>> I would agree, champagne is the thing, go for something excellent but
>> without airs such as Taittinger Comte De Champagne or Cliquot's Grande
>> Dame, avoid the excess freight charges for Kristal and Dom P.
>>
>> --
>> Joseph Coulter
>> Cruises and Vacations
>> http://www.josephcoulter.com/
>>
>
>

i'm retiring
 

As others noted, knowing tastes makes a big difference. Lots of good
Champagne options, but if you prefer Extra Dry, Brut options like most
tete de tetes might not be best choices.

Also, do you have a plan for serving? If with a group, maybe consider a
dessert wine, where smaller pours are plenty. But if just you and your
SO, maybe a table wine to savor over dinner. Lots of great wines (for
my tastes) for $150, but a glimpse at what you like might enable folks
to make better suggestions. What have your favorite wines been?

i'm retiring
 

> I want to splurge and buy a bottle for about $150.

You might consider buying three $50 bottles. That's what I would do.
Depending on how far your palate has developed, you may not appreciate
the difference between a wine "worth" $50 and one worth $150, but you'd
probably appreciate the difference between the $50 and the $20 bottle.
If you like the $50 one, three of them is triple the pleasure, spread
out over more time. Get three different ones, and set up three special
dates to open them.

Post the results. :)

Jose
--
The monkey turns the crank and thinks he's making the music.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

i'm retiring
 

Joseph Coulter wrote:

>>For a celebration, Champagne sounds like a good idea. But tell us
>>more about what you like - might prompt more relevent suggestions.
>>
>
>
> I would agree, champagne is the thing, go for something excellent but
> without airs such as Taittinger Comte De Champagne or Cliquot's Grande
> Dame, avoid the excess freight charges for Kristal and Dom P.
>

Yes, my thinking, too. For that price, one could get Pol Roger Cuveé
Winston Churchill or Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Blancs, too.

Mark Lipton

i'm retiring
 

"Mark Lipton" wrote .....
>>
>> I would agree, champagne is the thing, go for something excellent
>> but without airs such as Taittinger Comte De Champagne or
>> Cliquot's Grande Dame, avoid the excess freight charges for
>> Kristal and Dom Perignon.
>
> Yes, my thinking, too. For that price, one could get Pol Roger Cuveé
> Winston Churchill or Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Blancs, too.
>

I still regard the 1985 Pol Roger Cuveé Winston Churchill as, perhaps, the
very best I have tasted.

I also rate the Laurent-Perrier Grande Siecle 1982 is the finest Rose
champagne I have tried - for something a little different and special.

If the occasion is truly special, then I endorse what others have said -
go for the best you can find and afford.

--

st.helier

i'm retiring
 

"Richard Neidich" > wrote:

> Etoile Rose from Chandon, Yountville...outstanding. Takes a
> real man to drink this pink Sparkler. (That said its more salmon
> colored.)

Excellent recommendation. Furthermore the bottles have crown-cap
closures, so no chance of cork taint:

<http://www.chandon.com/wines/etoile.html>

M.

i'm retiring
 

Yes they do. For Sparklers...it is acceptable to me.

I am only concerned with the long-term ageable red wines with regards to the
crown or stelvin seals.

:-)

"Michael Pronay" > wrote in message
...
> "Richard Neidich" > wrote:
>
>> Etoile Rose from Chandon, Yountville...outstanding. Takes a
>> real man to drink this pink Sparkler. (That said its more salmon
>> colored.)
>
> Excellent recommendation. Furthermore the bottles have crown-cap
> closures, so no chance of cork taint:
>
> <http://www.chandon.com/wines/etoile.html>
>
> M.

i'm retiring
 

I am surprised that no one mentioned Krug. As the saying goes Krug is Krug,
for my palate concisely the best Champagne.


"DaleW" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> As others noted, knowing tastes makes a big difference. Lots of good
> Champagne options, but if you prefer Extra Dry, Brut options like most
> tete de tetes might not be best choices.
>
> Also, do you have a plan for serving? If with a group, maybe consider a
> dessert wine, where smaller pours are plenty. But if just you and your
> SO, maybe a table wine to savor over dinner. Lots of great wines (for
> my tastes) for $150, but a glimpse at what you like might enable folks
> to make better suggestions. What have your favorite wines been?
>

i'm retiring
 

ginmill01 wrote:
> I am retiring in a couple of months, and want to treat myself to an extra
> special bottle of wine. We usually drink bottles that are about $20-$25. I
> want to splurge and buy a bottle for about $150. Any recommendations? Red
> or white does not matter, sparkling or not does not matter, just want to buy
> myself a very nice celebration bottle. I am going to stop by my local
> liquor store to see what they suggest too.

Anything by Angelo Gaja.

i'm retiring
 

I would absolutely agree with you about KRUG. It is the BEST!!!!

I found if I take a cheaper Chandon of Carneros and add a drop or two of
Cognac or brandy to a glass...its tastes Krug like. I always wondered if
the final dosage for Krug is Cognac!!!




"sibeer" > wrote in message
...
>I am surprised that no one mentioned Krug. As the saying goes Krug is Krug,
>for my palate concisely the best Champagne.
>
>
> "DaleW" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>> As others noted, knowing tastes makes a big difference. Lots of good
>> Champagne options, but if you prefer Extra Dry, Brut options like most
>> tete de tetes might not be best choices.
>>
>> Also, do you have a plan for serving? If with a group, maybe consider a
>> dessert wine, where smaller pours are plenty. But if just you and your
>> SO, maybe a table wine to savor over dinner. Lots of great wines (for
>> my tastes) for $150, but a glimpse at what you like might enable folks
>> to make better suggestions. What have your favorite wines been?
>>
>
>

i'm retiring
 

"Richard Neidich" > wrote:

> I found if I take a cheaper Chandon of Carneros and add a drop
> or two of Cognac or brandy to a glass...its tastes Krug like. I
> always wondered if the final dosage for Krug is Cognac!

I don't think so, but I guess it would be legal. These concoctions
were called "bonificateurs" in the old days, and, yes, brandy was
amongst the list of approved substances.

M.

i'm retiring
 

When I was in Napa 2 weeks ago there is a new restaurant called REDD.

People are comparing the food quality to the French laundry which I have
never been able to get into. However the building does not look as
interesting as French laundry.

http://www.reddnapavalley.com/

While walking up to the restaurant alone for dinner (wife not on trip) I see
J. Laube of the Wine Spectator outside. He is the guy that claims he
trained his pallate to notice cork taint in levels that even a lab could not
notice........he had about 25 glasses of wine in front of him.

I could not imagine with that much wine....that anyone could tell the
difference of wine made with Thompson Grapes or pinot noir.

I felt like saying....I smell cork taint from 2 miles away in a sealed
bottle...I won....But I said nothing...went in and ate a GREAT meal. Nice
dining experience.

I highly recommend REDD in Yountville for those going that way.



"Michael Pronay" > wrote in message
...
> "Richard Neidich" > wrote:
>
>> I found if I take a cheaper Chandon of Carneros and add a drop
>> or two of Cognac or brandy to a glass...its tastes Krug like. I
>> always wondered if the final dosage for Krug is Cognac!
>
> I don't think so, but I guess it would be legal. These concoctions
> were called "bonificateurs" in the old days, and, yes, brandy was
> amongst the list of approved substances.
>
> M.

i'm retiring
 

In article et>,
"Richard Neidich" > wrote:

> When I was in Napa 2 weeks ago there is a new restaurant called REDD.
>
> People are comparing the food quality to the French laundry which I have
> never been able to get into. However the building does not look as
> interesting as French laundry.
>
> http://www.reddnapavalley.com/
>
> While walking up to the restaurant alone for dinner (wife not on trip) I see
> J. Laube of the Wine Spectator outside. He is the guy that claims he
> trained his pallate to notice cork taint in levels that even a lab could not
> notice........he had about 25 glasses of wine in front of him.
>
> I could not imagine with that much wine....that anyone could tell the
> difference of wine made with Thompson Grapes or pinot noir.
>
> I felt like saying....I smell cork taint from 2 miles away in a sealed
> bottle...I won....But I said nothing...went in and ate a GREAT meal. Nice
> dining experience.
>
> I highly recommend REDD in Yountville for those going that way.
>
>
>
> "Michael Pronay" > wrote in message
> ...
> > "Richard Neidich" > wrote:
> >
> >> I found if I take a cheaper Chandon of Carneros and add a drop
> >> or two of Cognac or brandy to a glass...its tastes Krug like. I
> >> always wondered if the final dosage for Krug is Cognac!
> >
> > I don't think so, but I guess it would be legal. These concoctions
> > were called "bonificateurs" in the old days, and, yes, brandy was
> > amongst the list of approved substances.
> >
> > M.

To each his own. I didn't feel Redd lived up to the hype. We had a very
average meal at a high price in July. This had such a big buildup lately
I expected more and this is in French Laundry country. But then I have
seen one of my favorites in the area Brix go down the tubes with totally
unimaginative food at a high price. Such is the way with Napa.

i'm retiring
 

What a great idea, triple the pleasure. I do like a drier Champagne. Like
i had mentioned before, when we want a birthday or anniversary, we usually
go with Chandon White Star. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for all the great
suggestions.


"Jose" > wrote in message
et...
>> I want to splurge and buy a bottle for about $150.
>
> You might consider buying three $50 bottles. That's what I would do.
> Depending on how far your palate has developed, you may not appreciate the
> difference between a wine "worth" $50 and one worth $150, but you'd
> probably appreciate the difference between the $50 and the $20 bottle. If
> you like the $50 one, three of them is triple the pleasure, spread out
> over more time. Get three different ones, and set up three special dates
> to open them.
>
> Post the results. :)
>
> Jose
> --
> The monkey turns the crank and thinks he's making the music.
> for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

i'm retiring
 

Brix used to be great!!! I had a very good meal at REDD and it was
expensive.

The best meal I have ever had was Chez Panisse in Berkely.
Outstanding...not pretensious.

I have tried for 5 year to get into the French Laundry with no success so I
really don't know what I am missing. But when I walk by their building...it
looks great. The ambiance can be a very important part of a meal. REDD was
very sterile.

What I love is Bistro Jeanty. Country french food. That is really my
absolute favortite place in Napa. My other favorite place was the Pinot
Blanc...but apparantly others did not like as it closed since last year.
Honestly...it was not that good last year either.

Dick

i'm retiring
 

In article . net>,
"Richard Neidich" > wrote:

> Brix used to be great!!! I had a very good meal at REDD and it was
> expensive.
>
> The best meal I have ever had was Chez Panisse in Berkely.
> Outstanding...not pretensious.
>
> I have tried for 5 year to get into the French Laundry with no success so I
> really don't know what I am missing. But when I walk by their building...it
> looks great. The ambiance can be a very important part of a meal. REDD was
> very sterile.
>
> What I love is Bistro Jeanty. Country french food. That is really my
> absolute favortite place in Napa. My other favorite place was the Pinot
> Blanc...but apparantly others did not like as it closed since last year.
> Honestly...it was not that good last year either.
>
> Dick

I really like Bistro Jeanty as well and I have never had a bad meal at
Mustards or Domaine Chandon. Redd was sterile looking and that was some
influence. Just wasn't impressed for the price. I have been trying for
about 5 years as well and have never gotten into French Laundry either.
I have a narrow window in time I can go and I can never get a
reservation when I try for the times I want.

i'm retiring
 

There is a very neat place in Yountville to stay at called Maison Fluery.
Its part of the foursisters chain of inns.

Its not going to be a fancy place but it is litterally behind Bouchon which
I find is average compared to Bistro Jeanty. But walking distance
everywhere.

They have a small pool, outdoor hot tub for about 10-20 people, great
breakfasts, bikes to ride anytime, and the best of locations. Plus from
their roof top deck you see vineyards everywhere. Rooms are a bit on the
quaint to slightly worn style but its very cozy. No TV's in most rooms.
But if you need TV in napa there is something wrong. They do have wi-fi so
that was good.

Here is a link:

http://www.maisonfleurienapa.com/

I felt like I was in France. GREAT PLACE.

"Lawrence Leichtman" > wrote in message
...
> In article . net>,
> "Richard Neidich" > wrote:
>
>> Brix used to be great!!! I had a very good meal at REDD and it was
>> expensive.
>>
>> The best meal I have ever had was Chez Panisse in Berkely.
>> Outstanding...not pretensious.
>>
>> I have tried for 5 year to get into the French Laundry with no success so
>> I
>> really don't know what I am missing. But when I walk by their
>> building...it
>> looks great. The ambiance can be a very important part of a meal. REDD
>> was
>> very sterile.
>>
>> What I love is Bistro Jeanty. Country french food. That is really my
>> absolute favortite place in Napa. My other favorite place was the Pinot
>> Blanc...but apparantly others did not like as it closed since last year.
>> Honestly...it was not that good last year either.
>>
>> Dick
>
> I really like Bistro Jeanty as well and I have never had a bad meal at
> Mustards or Domaine Chandon. Redd was sterile looking and that was some
> influence. Just wasn't impressed for the price. I have been trying for
> about 5 years as well and have never gotten into French Laundry either.
> I have a narrow window in time I can go and I can never get a
> reservation when I try for the times I want.