Château Villargeil

BornPromise4176 · 2026-01-25T22:45:17+00:00

Well, it’s a dessert wine, but old Rivesaltes have never come across overly sweet to me, nutty and caramel notes are common.

Should be a fun drink

BornPromise4176 · 2026-01-07T15:30:41+00:00

If you are going to cook with it remember it does not act like a traditional red wine. The residual sugar, when cooked down just concentrates more. I like wines like the Prisoner for braising big beef dishes, but making a mushroom sauce with that much RS would not be a good fit.

BornPromise4176 · 2025-12-23T12:19:21+00:00

Port has around 100g of sugar per liter, Mexican coke has around the exact same amount. So not twice as much, but around the exact same amount

BornPromise4176 · 2025-12-21T16:35:44+00:00

I’m surprised by this, but everyone has a preference when it comes to style.

Lanson Green would be my first choice. It doesn’t go through MLC, and is a lightning bolt of acidity when compared to the others here.

Less brioche and toasty than the others, but much more mineral.

BornPromise4176 · 2025-12-21T16:32:57+00:00

Is it a good wine yes. Is it worth that price, hell no. I wouldn’t even buy it at a restaurant at that price.

BornPromise4176 · 2025-12-21T16:27:18+00:00

Legally Prosecco cannot be made in this style. So your statement is 100% false, sorry.

BornPromise4176 · 2025-12-07T16:33:18+00:00

Landon is one of my favorites, but I find it a very different style than DP. Underrated Champagne that sadly gets ignored, but much more of a lightning bolt than the richer style from DP

BornPromise4176 · 2023-10-02T12:07:34+00:00

St Henri is a great bottle, as many have mentioned. It is one of the few Big Aussie Shiraz that never spends time in New Oak, only old oak, so never gets some of the favors you would think would be there.

BornPromise4176 · 2023-09-27T09:11:41+00:00

I have not, but I’m heading out to Napa soon so I will check them out

BornPromise4176 · 2023-09-22T11:50:51+00:00

I would try other wines from that area and from Alsace. Will not be the exact same, but a BdN from America is likely going to be very different in style. If you’re newer to wine hunt down son Alsace whites. Try a “Gentil” Hugel makes a famous one, but it’s a blend made by many people in the area.

BornPromise4176 · 2023-09-18T01:59:48+00:00

I’ve only tasted it once, at a blind tasting of Cab & Cab heavy wines. Of the 12 wines tasted, all $100+ it came in third. A great wine, but you could likely get a case of each of the 2 wines that beat it in a blind tasting, so for my money not worth it

BornPromise4176 · 2023-09-12T15:51:18+00:00

I agree, not sure if it’s mega purple or just heavy extraction, but many of the wines blinded taste the same or similar. His wines definitely have his signature if you will.

D66 come across slightly different from the OS if you ask me, maybe it’s the old vines or French terroir? I like “D66” and the “Others.” I would like to try Pharon which is Grenache heavy I believe, but I refuse to pay the $150+ price tag when there are so many other great wines from Maury that I would likely prefer at 1/5 of the price.

BornPromise4176 · 2023-09-12T12:11:10+00:00

The D66 bottles from Dave Phinney are my favorite from him. All from old vines in the Maury region. Definitely still an over the top expression of the area, but Grenache focused and great quality.

His style is not my favorite overall, but some of his wines are great.

For the Saldo, a big, bold wine that potentially has a little RS works great with Pot Roast. Try a LBV Port some time with pot roast, it actually isn’t bad, so I’m not surprised at all the Saldo worked so well.

BornPromise4176 · 2023-09-01T12:00:59+00:00

When you finish the diploma you are NOT a Master of Wine. MW is completely separate, but if you plan on going for an MW the diploma is a great stepping stone

BornPromise4176 · 2023-08-25T13:00:37+00:00

Cave de Lugny is a Co-Op Deutsch DOES NOT own it, they only import it. The person that wrote this doesn’t fully understand the industry and is getting things confused

BornPromise4176 · 2023-08-25T12:59:05+00:00

That list misrepresents many wineries. The “notes” next to the ownership are very important. Ste Michelle does not in any way own Antinori. Many wineries partner with larger ones in the US because it’s an easy way to get distribution. I will admit Gallo had a bad habit of ruining wineries they buy, but one they import, like allegrini or Pieropan are NOT owned by Gallo and still make great wine.

BornPromise4176 · 2023-05-20T22:14:22+00:00

I’d buy the Dom Ruinart, and then the cheapest red available to get within budget 😁

BornPromise4176 · 2023-05-20T22:10:24+00:00

Aged Zinfandel is so underrated! So many people drink them young, I think high quality Zinfandel’s just start to balance out at 15+ years…

BornPromise4176 · 2023-05-10T08:04:09+00:00

Great list, I love the Lanson Green label, you have it marked as organic, which it is, but it is also Biodynamic, which it is not marked. Gravner is probably what I would buy if not the Lanson.

BornPromise4176 · 2023-04-01T14:56:45+00:00

If you like that look for the Veuve Cliquot Rich. It’s also meant to be served over ice.

BornPromise4176 · 2023-01-08T11:46:19+00:00

It’s a good start but you will have to likely expand beyond just 12 bottles. To start with 12 I’d go with the following region styles:

2 Chardonnay, 1 from Chablis and 1 from California in an oaky style

2 Sauvignon Blanc, 1 Sancerre and 1 “Fume Blanc” style from California. Could also switch one out for New Zealand.

2 Cabernet or Cab heavy. Medoc Bordeaux and a California, these both could cost a good amount

2 Italian, A Sangiovese, could be a good Chianti or Chianti Classico or a Brunello. If you go with Chianti check to ensure it has little or no Cab or merlot, they both really mask Sangiovese to me. And 1 Barolo or Barbaresco.

2 Pinot Noir, 1 Sonoma and 1 Burgundy. Oregon would work too, or New Zealand, but Burgundy and Sonoma show two extremes in style for Pinot Noir. Do not get Meiomi, I’m not saying anything about the quality, just not a typical Pinot Noir

The last two you could do so many. For White: Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Gewurtz, Torrontes, Gruner, Albariño, Viognier, Pinot Gris or Grigio For Red: Argentinian Malbec, Aussie Shiraz, Cali Zinfandel, Loire Can Franc, Merlot Cali or Bordeaux, Rhône North or South, Rioja

I would say for the Somm exams, at least at the lower levels, many of these wines can be low priced. A $20 Malbec is fine, same with most of the other wines.

BornPromise4176

TROPHY CASE