Wine Recommendations

Sometimes we share a great bottle of wine with friends and I think, gosh, I’d like to have that wine again.  But of course, my memory fades and I forget the name of the bottle and the year, and I’m left combing the wine store with an image of what I think maybe the label looks like. Not such a great way to source wine.

Other times I run past a good wine recommendation – even a list – and I need a place to stash the list. Some place that I can pull up on my iPhone in the middle of Spec’s when I’m looking for nice table wines. Some place that I can go back and edit again and again.

Et voila.

Champagne & Sparkling Wine

Why save champagne and sparkling drinks for “special” occasions?

Gruet Blanc de Noirs - Our “standard” sparkling wine. We served this for our wedding toast, and people who don’t drink wine commented about how good it is. ~$14/bottle.

Varichon & Clerc Privilege Blanc de Blancs – Very sweet, but very good. Definitely for dessert. Perfect as a gift because it has a beautiful label of deep, rich blue and gold

Philipponnat Royale Reserve – We shared a half bottle of this at a delightful champagne bar called Pops in Chicago. Somewhat pricey (especially if you’re buying at a restaurant), but excellent.

Pinot Noir

Block 906 Pinot Noir (Block Vineyard Estates) – Hands down the best pinor noir we’ve ever had. The benchmark against which all other pinots are judged. Difficult to find. Related bottles produced by the Block Vineyard Estates – 512, 706 are also good, but don’t reach the exceptionality achieved by the 906.  We used this wine for my in-laws 40th Anniversary party and it was the favorite wine of the evening. It was also the least expensive, which his nice.  Buy by the case. ~$20/bottle (but prices have been going up) Here’s a bit more about the the other offerings from Block Vineyards.

2008 A-to-Z Pinot Noir – Even on the heels of the 906 (whose memory lasts for weeks), we came upon the very nice, and more widely available, A-to-Z Pinot. The vintner claims it’s the finest pinot noir they’ve ever made, and we can see how they’d make that kind of claim.  (I’d go into to tastes and body and stuff, but quite honestly would feel like a fraud.  It’s been awhile since we had the bottle, so I can trust that my recollection is accurate. Nevertheless, it was a memorable bottle.)

Lists from Other Sources:

• Budget-Friendly Wines (Houston Press)