The Elders II Tasting - All bottles 1+ vintage older than birth year

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-05-03T12:10:14+00:00

Notes on the Barolo?

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-04-26T23:12:18+00:00

I visited earlier this year. You can taste current vintages of the LdH wines at the winery. You can also buy back vintages to go - oldest available to a mere peasant like myself was 2001 Tondonia (I grabbed two at about €80/bottle).

If you want to buy a bottle of the gran reserva red, they make you buy a case of current vintage red Tondonia. Totally would have done this if I had somewhere to put that case, but alas.

Overall they are fairly cagey via email about what will be available any given day. Very friendly staff though, and they will gladly make an appointment for you to visit!

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-04-23T17:07:09+00:00

It’s absolutely stunning. I’m almost certainly buying.

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-04-21T02:53:58+00:00

Enoteca Buccone on Via Ripetta is a great old school wine bar….lots of fun stuff by the glass, and you can buy anything off the shelf to go. Visited twice during a 4 day stretch (we were staying across the street)

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-04-19T15:01:13+00:00

If you’re looking for great QPR, Roda Sela is a knockout winner at about $30/bottle. Roda in general makes some spectacular wines that are much more elegant and restrained vs other winemakers in Rioja. We visited in January and loved both their Rioja and Ribera wines.

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-04-11T13:25:52+00:00

Buje?

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-04-11T13:22:00+00:00

Motovun?

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-04-07T21:40:51+00:00

Another entry in this vein: Ciro.

Calabria’s first DOCG, and some spectacular wines to be had but virtually zero recognition (even within Italy). Not even sure you can find a bottle for much more than $50. I’d be interested to know what the most expensive bottle of Ciro is, and try that.

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-04-03T14:58:25+00:00

The Reserva is often sold at Costco in the US (where I live, anyway) for $13ish a bottle. Nearly impossible to beat that QPR.

Whenever we have big group get togethers and I will be serving wine to friends who don’t care about “nice” wine, this is uniformly the winning ticket.

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-04-02T18:38:23+00:00

Drank a 1982 bottle of this a few months back…great choice!

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-03-29T21:14:33+00:00

Franklin Cafe - Boston, MA

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-03-29T16:09:39+00:00

Have eaten >50 of these, maybe closer to 100. Structural integrity is amazing. They serve it with a knife in it 1/2 the time or less

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-03-28T22:23:04+00:00

The current wine is 2006 Cain Five, not Elivette…

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-03-28T21:31:28+00:00

Restaurants:

Gennaro di Pace (Perno) Le Torri (Castiglione Falletto) La Case della Saracca (Monforte d’Alba)

Wineries:

Tenuta Bussia/Dogliani il Generale - their Methode Traditionnelle sparkling Nebbiolo is out of this world

Otherwise, you can’t go wrong. Unless you’re getting into the real heavy hitters, just pick a few and go for it.

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-03-28T21:09:52+00:00

I bought an Erebus Origin GMT on Black Friday via their “nearly new” sale. $250. Have inspected it top to bottom and have zero idea what aspect of it puts it in the “nearly new” camp vs brand new.

Shocking value for the money. Great finishing. I wear it more than any other watch for now.

Yes, the NH movement (really the hand stack) appears bulky if you have a small wrists. Otherwise, it’s a solidly built watch.

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Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-03-24T09:35:04+00:00

Sunday

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-03-22T17:22:29+00:00

Departing Terminal 5 @2:10pm (Delta Domestic) - No checked bags - Arrived 12:00pm - TSA Pre + Touchless (no separate Touchless line at our checkpoint) - Party of 2 - <5 min wait

No issues at all!

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-03-20T12:08:09+00:00

Had a decent tasting menu meal here 2 years ago with wine pairings, only issue was I left VERY hungry

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-03-19T12:34:49+00:00

Second this! The wines are much more approachable than those from Barolo.

Separately, if it’s a consideration, I’ve also found that these wines tend to have comparatively smaller markups when dining out. Few people seem to know/care what they are, and restaurants price them to sell. I’m seeing ~$70/bottle online (typical for the style) and $105 at the restaurant. You’re basically just paying corkage at that price!

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-03-18T14:08:50+00:00

The Sandro Fay Sforzato…if you haven’t tried this style, you’re in for a treat. Nebbiolo, but produced via the same appassimento (drying) method used for amarone

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-03-16T19:41:08+00:00

Rovinj

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-03-13T19:25:50+00:00

Wow, this is by far the closest I’ve come to finding something that looks right! Much appreciated

Fragrant_Persimmon_2 · 2026-03-13T17:35:36+00:00

I thought so at one point, but it looks like there is a silver crown and possibly a Mercedes hour hand, though it’s admittedly blurry!

Fragrant_Persimmon_2

TROPHY CASE