DRINKING BUDDIES

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Wine Bucket List

Sorry if I misled anyone into believing that this was going to be a top ten of the best ice buckets and whatnot, but I was inspired (and forced) by my dear friend Lacey to write a Bucket List of wines.
For anyone who doesn't know, a bucket list is a list of things you want to do or achieve before you 'kick the bucket.'
So I'm going to present wines I want to try before I die today, and maybe followup likewise with spirits and beer.

And be sure to check out Lacey and support her over at Simpleton Tips!



Joseph Phelps Insignia Cabernet 2005
I am already a fan of Joseph Phelps but the Insignia has always been a little pricey for me.  I know if it's anything like its famous little brother, it should be magical.

Waterbrook Columbia Valley Reserve Merlot 2007
An inexpensive wine priced at about $22 and number 46 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2010.  The reason  I'm so interested in this one is because I've been a fan of Waterbrook Melange Noir over the years and just a few months ago I actually had the pleasure of meeting the winemaker of this delicacy and tasting his two new products: Red Decadence and Chocolate Shop.

Murphy-Goode Snake Eyes Zinfandel NV
So I've drank this a few times before but I still have every intention of drinking a few times more before I become room temperature.  What I really want to do is taste it straight from the winery.  Thiefing  this incedible Zin would make my entire life worth putting up with.

Carlton Hill Reserve Pinot Noir 2011
This vintage is not available, just for reference.  The 2007 I just tried recently was amazing and I can imagine that the climate being sustainable for it's location this year will be much nicer.  So even though I may have to wait four years to try this one, it just means I can't die before then.

Babcock Identity Crisis Shiraz
The problem I have with this one, is the only time I actually managed to get my hands on it, I wound up selling the entire case to one very loyal customer.  Oh well, maybe he'll share.

Catena Zapata Malbec - The most expensive shit they have.
I've tried almost all of their malbecs, but I have to face the fact that they have like a million different ones in their family alone, and some go over $500 per 750ml bottle.  One day I will drink it.

Hacienda Araucando Carmenere 2002
One of the first wineries to master the art of Carmenere making and actually promote it as what it was and not mistakenly for a Merlot.  For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, do some research on the discovery and confusion of Carmenere.  But for only $69, this is probably one of the best wines in the world.

Ruffino Toscano MODUS 2007
Ruffino is one of my favorite vintners in Italy.  Partially for their incredible wines at decent prices, but mainly because I can actually pronounce their products.

Petrus Pomerol
Guy's gotta dream, right?

Duckhorn Vineyards Paraduxx Red Blend
The Decoy red blend is a very nice wine for about $30 but I have never tried Paraduxx.  I might actually make this a closer goal to try this before the end of the year.


Chateau Montelena Chardonnay NV
"Not bad for a bunch of pot-smoking kids from the sticks..."  That's all it took.  A little bit of America irresponsibility to completely freak out the French.  Also, Bottleshock is one of my favorite movies.

VitAlma Pinot Grigio NV
This is the proprietorial pinot grigio that 7-Eleven is about to release.  This will be the last wine on my bucket list because it might be the one to make me kick the bucket. 

Trimbach Pinot Blanc
Top wine producers in Alsace, France.  I've sampled most of their wines except for this one and I've yet to try a good Pinot Blanc so I have high hopes for this.

Chateau de Lascaux Couteaux du Languedoc 2008
Under $20 but damn near impossible to find.  Probably one of the best dry whites on the market but like I said, I've never been able to get my hands on it.

Marenco Moscato d'Asti Passito
Only comes in a 375ml at $68.99 a split.  never been a huge fan of Moscato but maybe this one will change my mind.

Eroica Riesling 2008
A combination of two of my favorite riesling producers: Dr. Loosen and Chateau Ste Michelle.

That's about all I can think of right now but I will have some more ideas when it comes to beer and spirits. But I know one thing I would really like to accomplish among drink all of this wine, is seriously get into more cork art.  It may just be a small hobby of mine but I still love to do it.  Now only if there was something I can do about synthetic cork art.... 
And like I said before, don't forget to go check out Lacey over at http://simpletontips.blogspot.com/.

Bon Boire!



8 comments:

  1. Great list. One of my favorites, and maybe a good addition to your list would be Stag's Leap Cabernet. 2002 was an amazing year, but 04 wasn't bad either. Bottles aren't cheap, but still under-or-around the 3-figure mark, depending on where you buy.

    Amazing stuff. Salut!

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  2. I'm not a big fan of wine, but probably because I've never had a really nice bottle of it before. If these wines are worth it, then I'll probably check a couple out.

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  3. I am not a huge fan of wine but since you suggested these I will be sure to give them a try some day as soon as I am 21. lol.

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  4. That $500 Malbec must be fantastic. I'm a big Malbec fan, and we have a few promising Argentinean and Chilean ones in our wine rack.

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  5. I enjoy wine with a meal but on it's own not so much.

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  6. have u ever seen that part of its always sunny in Philadelphia where they drink wine out of pop cans? heh

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  7. I love it!! Don't forget that you promised me a full white, champagne, and vodka list.

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  8. i've sampled a few of those wines before.

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